Movies like Natsume's Book of Friends: The Waking Rock and the Strange Visitor (2021)
The best movies like Natsume's Book of Friends: The Waking Rock and the Strange Visitor (2021) are Hotarubi no Mori e (2011), Natsume's Book of Friends the Movie: Ephemeral Bond (2018) and Mushi-Shi: The Next Chapter - Drops of Bells (2015). If Natsume's Book of Friends: The Waking Rock and the Strange Visitor hooked you with its animation and drama, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedHotarubi no Mori e (2011)8.3/10 from 1,266 votes
- NewestThe Keeper of the Camphor Tree (2026)Released 2026
- In JapaneseHotarubi no Mori e (2011)Also in Japanese
- Same seriesNatsume's Book of Friends the Movie: Ephemeral Bond (2018)Natsume's Book of Friends
Hotarubi no Mori e (2011)
One hot summer day a little girl gets lost in an enchanted forest of the mountain god where spirits reside. A young boy appears before her, but she cannot touch him for fear of making him disappear. And so a wondrous adventure awaits...
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & fantasy
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisNatsume's Book of Friends the Movie: Ephemeral Bond (2018)
Natsume has been busy, navigating between humans and Yokai when he coincidentally reunites with an old classmate, Yuki. It brings back painful memories of a certain Yokai. Meanwhile, Natsume also became acquainted with Yorie Tsumura, a woman in the memories of a Yokai whose name he had returned. Yorie knew much about Reiko, but now lived a peaceful life with her only son, Mukuo. Being with this family was comforting for Natsume, but apparently a mysterious Yokai has been lurking in their town. On the way back from investigating, a “Yokai seed” that had latched itself to Nyanko Sensei drops into the Fujiwaras’ garden and grows overnight into a fruit tree. When Nyanko Sensei eats a fruit that is somehow shaped like himself, he suddenly splits into three!
Why it matches: Same series: Natsume's Book of Friends · both animation & fantasy
Mushi-Shi: The Next Chapter - Drops of Bells (2015)
On a warm summer day, a boy heard the sound of bells ringing, as if in celebration, in the mountain near his home. Several years later in that same mountain, the mushishi Ginko stumbles upon a young girl in a mountain with branches and leaves growing out of her body. He later realises that she is the lord of that mountain but finds it strange that a human like her was chosen as the lord. He meets her older brother who has continued to search for her ever since she disappeared while accompanying him on a stormy day. The story is about Ginko’s peculiar journey amidst the occult to unravel the mystery behind the enigmatic girl called Kaya and the mountain that has become her home.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & fantasy
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisChildren of the Sea (2019)
Ruka is a young girl whose parents are separated and whose father works in an aquarium. When two boys, Umi and Sora, who were raised in the sea by dugongs, are brought to the aquarium, Ruka feels drawn to them and begins to realize that she has the same sort of supernatural connection to the ocean that they do. Umi and Sora's special power seems to be connected to strange events that have been occurring more and more frequently, such as the appearance of sea creatures far from their home territory and the disappearance of aquarium animals around the world. However, the exact nature of the boys' power and of the abnormal events is unknown, and Ruka gets drawn into investigating the mystery that surrounds her new friends.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & fantasy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisGold Kingdom and Water Kingdom (2023)
Once upon a time, there were two neighboring countries that did not get along. They bickered over trivial things day in and day out. Finally, they went to war over the issue of cleaning up dog feces. God intervened in a hurry and said to the chiefs of the two countries. Country A gives its most beautiful girl to Country B as a bride and Country B gives its wisest young man to Country A as a bridegroom. Then, the princess of country A, Saara, happens to meet a young man from country B...!
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & fantasy
Drifting Home (2022)
One fateful summer, a group of elementary school kids set adrift on an abandoned apartment building must look within themselves to find a way back home.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & fantasy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisOkko's Inn (2018)
12-year-old Oriko Seki, who lost her parents in a car accident, ended up living in her grandmother's Onsen Ryokan "Haru no Ya." With the ghost "Uribou" cohabitating with her and all the other odds, she ended up training to be a young female innkeeper. At first, she didn't like the training, but gradually felt her admiration for her title and began to train seriously. Thus, the growth of the young warrior Oriko begins.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & drama
Worth the HypeMovies like thisChild of Kamiari Month (2021)
A year after losing her mother, a young girl learns that she must journey across Japan to the annual gathering of gods in the sacred land of Izumo.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisViolet Evergarden: Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll (2019)
Violet Evergarden, a former soldier returned from war, comes to teach at a women's academy and changes a young girl's life.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & fantasy
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisThe House of the Lost on the Cape (2021)
A strange old woman allows a teenage runaway and a young orphan to stay in an abandoned house that overlooks the sea. However, when a menacing entity threatens their new home, they must band together and face their fears to save it.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & drama
The Keeper of the Camphor Tree (2026)
Reito Naoi, a young man fired unfairly from his day job, finds himself hitting rock bottom when he's arrested after a desperate attempt to get back on his feet. With nothing left to him, he surrendered himself to fate, giving up on any hopes for the future, and lost the will to make his own choices in life. But one day, a chance encounter threw him a lifeline that could change his fate forever.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & drama
The Garden of Sinners: Future Gospel - Extra Chorus (2013)
Mikiya Kokutou gives Shiki Ryougi a cat to watch, as he will be away for a little while. Though Shiki protests, he leaves the cat anyway, and Shiki is stuck trying to understand her new feline companion. But as luck would have it, the cat seems to have taken a liking to Mikiya and misses him. Later in another part of the city, Ririsu Miyazuki visits the place where her dear friend committed suicide. She intends to end her life as well, but she meets Fujino Asagami, a blind classmate with a traumatic past. Though the two girls don't have much in common, Asagami reminds Miyazuki of her lost friend and helps her understand her pain. Two months later, Mikiya elects to celebrate New Year's with Shiki instead of his family, which makes his sister Azaka very upset, leading to her spending the holiday with her school friends. As the snow begins to fall, Mikiya reflects on what he wishes for most of all: that Shiki's life be filled with happiness.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & fantasy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisFortune Favors Lady Nikuko (2021)
Brash single mother Nikuko is well-known for her bold spirit, much to the embarrassment of Kikuko, her pensive yet imaginative daughter. In contrast to her mother, Kikuko wants nothing more than to fit in as she navigates the everyday social dramas of middle school. Life in the harbor is peaceful until a shocking revelation from the past threatens to uproot the pair's tender relationship.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & drama
Worth the HypeMovies like thisPompo the Cinephile (2021)
Operating out of the movie capital "Nyallywood," Pompo has been shooting one B-grade entertainment flick after another that anyone would enjoy. One day, Pompo's "movie buff" assistant Gene spots a new script written by Pompo and is moved by its exquisite story. In a fit of passion, he proclaims, "I want to see this as a finished work in theaters as soon as possible!" However, Pompo tells him, "So you shoot this film." Thus, Gene takes on his first directing gig. Meanwhile, Natalie, an ordinary girl who just arrived in town with movie actress dreams, has been discovered by Pompo...
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & drama
Worth the HypeMovies like thisWhen Marnie Was There (2014)
Upon being sent to live with relatives in the countryside due to an illness, an emotionally distant adolescent girl becomes obsessed with an abandoned mansion and infatuated with a girl who lives there - a girl who may or may not be real.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & drama
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisMiss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid: A lonely dragon wants to be loved (2025)
Miss Kobayashi, Tohru, Ilulu, and Kanna’s peaceful lives are shaken when Kanna’s father, Kimun Kamui, forces her to return to the Dragon World. As a war brews between the Chaos and Harmony factions, Kanna tries to unite the two worlds, torn between her friends and father. When dragons clash, Ilulu uncovers a hidden force manipulating the war. Can they stop the war before it consumes both worlds?
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & fantasy
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisMushi-Shi: The Movie (2007)
Mushi are beings in touch with the essence of life, far more basic and pure than normal living things. Most humans are incapable of perceiving Mushi and are oblivious to their existence, but there are a few who possess the ability to see and interact with Mushi. One such person is Ginko who travels from place to place to research Mushi and aid people suffering from problems caused by them.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both fantasy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisAria the Crepuscolo (2021)
The season is fall and the city of Neo-Venezia is covered in fallen leaves. Something is bothering Anya, who works at Orange Planet. Her senior colleagues Alice and Athena haven't seen each other due to their busy schedules, which is making Athena feel sad. But for some reason, Alice seems to be avoiding her altogether. With her friends Ai and Azusa's help, Anya tries to find a definitive way for Alice and Athena to get together. But during this time, Anya learns of a situation that only she can see because of where she stands.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & fantasy
I Want to Deliver Your Voice (2017)
The story focuses on high school girl Nagisa Yukiai who lives in a seaside town. She has believed her grandmother's story that spirits dwell in words and they are called "kotodama" (word spirit). One day, she strays into a mini FM station that has not been used for years. As an impulse of the moment, she tries to talk like a DJ using the facility. But her voice accidentally broadcasted reaches someone she has never expected.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & drama
Yo-kai Watch: Friends Forever (2018)
The film tells the story of interweaving friendships between three children and yo-kai. The film is set in 1960s Tokyo, in Sakura Motomachi. A boy named Shin lives a poor but happy life. When his mother — his only family member — dies, Shin's unhappiness hits rock bottom. That is when another boy named Itsuki saves Shin. Itsuki has also lost his older sister. Shin, Itsuki, and a young girl named Tae who can see yo-kai all become friends. Shin's guardian spirit Suu-san, a "Nekomata" cat, and other new yo-kai join their group, and this group is able to regain what it means to have a precious family. This new family must now face a mysterious incident, and a shocking reality awaits them.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & fantasy
Colorful (2010)
Upon reaching the train station to death, a dejected soul is informed that he is lucky and will have another chance at life. He is placed in the body of a 14-year-old boy named Kobayashi Makoto, who has just committed suicide. Watched over by a neutral spirit named Purapura, the soul must figure out what his greatest sin and mistake in his former life was, before his time limit in Makoto's body runs out. He also has a number of other lesser duties he must complete, such as understanding what led Makoto to commit suicide in the first place and learning how to enjoy his second chance at life.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & drama
Worth the HypeMovies like thisBelle (2021)
Suzu is a 17-year-old high-school student living in a rural town with her father. Wounded by the loss of her mother at a young age, Suzu one day discovers the massive online world "U" and dives into this alternate reality as her avatar, Belle. Before long, all of U's eyes are fixed on Belle, when, suddenly, a mysterious, dragon-like figure appears before her.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & drama
Worth the HypeMovies like thisSummer Ghost (2021)
An urban legend says that lighting fireworks at an abandoned airfield will beckon the "summer ghost," a spirit that can answer any question. Three teenagers, Tomoya, Aoi, and Ryo, each have their own reason to show up one day. When a ghost named Ayane appears, she reveals she is only visible to those "who are about to touch their death." Compelled by the ghost and her message, Tomoya begins regularly visiting the airfield to uncover the true purpose of her visits.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & drama
Worth the HypeMovies like thisanohana: The Flower We Saw That Day - The Movie (2013)
A year has passed since Menma's ghostly return to the Super Peace Busters. Although the time they spent together during that summer was short, the five members reminisce about what happened as they each write a letter to their lost friend.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & drama
Worth the HypeMovies like thisRide Your Wave (2019)
Hinako is a surf-loving college student who has just moved to a small seaside town. When a sudden fire breaks out at her apartment building, she is rescued by Minato, a handsome firefighter, and the two soon fall in love.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & drama
Worth the HypeMovies like thisRascal Does Not Dream of a Sister Venturing Out (2023)
After a draining December, Sakuta is quickly nearing the end of his second year of high school. Since Mai is a third-year student, they don't have much time left together before graduation rolls around. Meanwhile, his sister, Kaede, is slowly but steadily venturing outdoors again. Just as she begins to find her footing, she announces her most ambitious goal yet—attending her brother's high school! Sakuta knows better than anyone how difficult this will be for Kaede, and he's ready to support her however he can. He's just not sure if that's what's best for her...or what she really wants...
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & drama
Worth the HypeMovies like thisMiyori's Forest (2009)
After being deserted by her parents, 11-year old Miyori shuts her heart from the rest of the world and denies any form of human relationships. She was entrusted in the care of her grandmother who lives near a forest. Miyori will take a walk in the forest where she felt a strong sense of loneliness in the forest which seems to have nothing. However, she soon encounters unbelievable things...
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & fantasy
A Letter to Momo (2012)
A shy 11-year-old's life takes a strange turn when she discovers three hungry goblins living in the attic of her new house. She misses her old life. She misses her father so very much. Until she makes some new ghoulish friends.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both fantasy & animation
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Boy and the Heron (2023)
While the Second World War rages, the teenage Mahito, haunted by his mother's tragic death, is relocated from Tokyo to the serene rural home of his new stepmother Natsuko, a woman who bears a striking resemblance to the boy's mother. As he tries to adjust, this strange new world grows even stranger following the appearance of a persistent gray heron, who perplexes and bedevils Mahito, dubbing him the "long-awaited one."
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & fantasy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisMidori (1992)
After losing her parents, young flower selling Midori is put up by a fairground group. She is abused and forced to slavery, until the arrival of an enigmatic magician of short stature, who gives her hope for a better future.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both animation & drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like this
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like Natsume's Book of Friends: The Waking Rock and the Strange Visitor?
The closest matches to Natsume's Book of Friends: The Waking Rock and the Strange Visitor are Hotarubi no Mori e (2011), Natsume's Book of Friends the Movie: Ephemeral Bond (2018) and Mushi-Shi: The Next Chapter - Drops of Bells (2015). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after Natsume's Book of Friends: The Waking Rock and the Strange Visitor?
People who watched Natsume's Book of Friends: The Waking Rock and the Strange Visitor most often go on to Hotarubi no Mori e (2011), Mushi-Shi: The Next Chapter - Drops of Bells (2015) and Children of the Sea (2019).
What is the highest-rated movie like Natsume's Book of Friends: The Waking Rock and the Strange Visitor?
Hotarubi no Mori e (2011), rated 8.3/10 by 1,266 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like Natsume's Book of Friends: The Waking Rock and the Strange Visitor?
The Keeper of the Camphor Tree (2026) is the most recent release on this list.
Is Natsume's Book of Friends: The Waking Rock and the Strange Visitor part of a series?
Yes. It belongs to Natsume's Book of Friends, which includes Natsume's Book of Friends the Movie: Ephemeral Bond (2018).
Are there Japanese movies like Natsume's Book of Friends: The Waking Rock and the Strange Visitor?
Yes: Hotarubi no Mori e (2011), Natsume's Book of Friends the Movie: Ephemeral Bond (2018) and Mushi-Shi: The Next Chapter - Drops of Bells (2015).
How are movies similar to Natsume's Book of Friends: The Waking Rock and the Strange Visitor chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Natsume's Book of Friends: The Waking Rock and the Strange Visitor, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.