Like most entertainment mediums, animecan elicit a wide spectrum of emotions and reactions. Aching for a scare? Then watchShikiorAnother. In need of a good laugh?Gintama,Asobi Asobase, andAzumanga Daiohexist.Feel like a cry?Your Lie in AprilandClannad Afterstoryshould be able to help. There is an anime for every circumstance, but what about when someone just wants to feel at peace?
Well, that’s where iyashikei comes in. Known ashealing anime, these movies and shows are typically slice-of-life stories with calming content and plenty of depictions of nature. Stripped of any significant tension or outlandish comedy, thebest iyashikei animenourish the heart and mind.
Updated July 18, 2025, by Mark Sammut:Glancing at theWinter 2025 anime lineup, iyashikei stories do not seem to be that present. That said, Okitsura and Welcome to Japan, Ms. Elf! should be decent options since they revolve around characters exploring Japanese culture. If does two shows do not hit the mark, fans can check out some older iyashikei anime.
Mr. Villain’s Day Offhas an inspired premise for aniyashikei anime: A sentai baddie needs time off just like everybody else. Warumono-san is in charge of subjugating the Earth, a goal that is not easy to achieve due to some Japanese heroes. While he works hard for most of the week, Warumono always makes sure to dedicate one day to relaxation, which often involves walking among humans and going to a zoo to see the pandas.
While arguably not showing enough of the protagonist’s work life to create a strong contrast with his rest periods,Mr. Villain’s Day Offstill works as a lighthearted series that does not take itself seriously. Warumono is pretty cool as well, with seemingly nothing fazing him.
Encouragement of Climbcan fill a similar void as a few more popular slice of life anime, especiallyLaid-Back Camp. Both series focus on a group of girls who connect through a shared passion, with the protagonist being fairly new to the activity. In the case ofEncouragement of Climb’s Aoi, she used to love mountaineering when she was a child, only to turn against it due to a fear of heights. The anime chronicles her attempts to return to this hobby, following her inspirational journey.
While generally quite relaxing,Encouragement of Climbdoes not shy away from the challenges synonymous with taking on these types of hikes, and disappointment is part of the experience. Still, the characters are relentlessly likable, and they are aided by consistently great animation.
Fate, in general, is about as far removed from iyashikei as a franchise gets; however, its popularity pretty much guaranteed the creation of a slice of life spin-off. Rather than battle royales, conflicting ideologies, and bloodbaths,Today’s Menu for the Emiya Familysimply follows Shirou as he showcases Japan’s famous foods tobelovedFatecharacters, specifically focusing on theFate/stay nightcast.
While familiarity with the mainline entries is recommended,Today’s Menu for the Emiya Familycan still be enjoyed as an isolated experience, particularly for viewers craving an anime that focuses on food.
18Tanaka-kun Is Always Listless
Tanaka Moves At His Own Relaxed Pace
Although most school comedies fall within slice of life territory, very few can be truly defined as iyashikei. In many ways,Tanaka-kun is Always Listlesshas most of the ingredients associated with something likeThe Daily Lives of High School Boys, particularly when it comes to its secondary characters. However, the anime sets itself apart in one key area: its protagonist. Tanaka-kun’s goal in life is to simply do nothing.
He yearns to sleep in class, prefers to not walk unless necessary, and avoids drama at all costs. More importantly, he pursues this dream with everything he has. Tanaka-kun’s personality echoes throughout the show, to the point that even the art style has a vibrancy reminiscent of nature despite the fact the anime takes place within an urban environment.
Sports animeare not great candidates for iyashikei since there is usually a competitive element to their stories.Anima Yell!is the exception as it centers around a cheerleader club whose main priority is to spread good vibes and make a few friends along the way.
While there is a tournament towards the end of the season, it isn’t treated like the be-all and end-all. For those looking for a relaxing sports anime,Anima Yell!should not be missed.
Known as theromance anime that starts with its couple getting married,Tonikawa’s reputation can be a touch misleading since Nasa and Tsukasa are essentially strangers when they tie the knot. Consequently, their relationship moves at a very slow pace since they are still getting to know each other. Still, due to their circumstances, their dynamic develops quite a bit, and they spend time with each other doing fairly mundane everyday things.
Going by the currently adapted content,Tonikawais a (mostly) carefree slice of life story revolving around two incredibly likable characters who are adorable together. Tsukasa tends to steal the limelight with her sharp wit, but Nasa is also a shining light and one of the best male leads in the romance anime genre.Tonikawais pure wholesome fluff.
Teasing Master Takagi-sanis about two middle school students who engage in a seemingly endless (and harmless) war, with one side of the battlefield generally winning most of the conflicts. These challenges are presented as short skits, and while the pranks do drive the story to an extent, the anime is essentially a slow-burning romance featuring two charming and innocent characters.
Even though Takagi knows exactly what to do and say to push Nishikata’s buttons, her teasing is never mean-spirited or aggressive, which makes the series a pleasant watch rather than a potentially uncomfortable one.Teasing Master Takagi-sanalso gets better with each new cour, although the anime can be frustrating to watch since the three seasons are on different streaming platforms.
School Babysittersis the definition of cute and wholesome. Except for the main brothers' depressing backstory, the anime mostly revolves around a school’s daycare that asks its students to take turns babysitting each other’s young siblings. That generally covers each episode, and the season does not have an overarching story, which is standard practice for aslice of life iyashikei anime.
School Babysittersdoes a great job of defining its characters' personalities, ensuring they are unique enough to allow for fun dynamics to flourish between them. Even the babies are personable and have more to offer than just naturally adorable designs. The anime touches upon themes of family, friendship, and responsibility, all the while maintaining a light and relaxing tone.
A classic series that is still ongoing,Aria the Animationtakes place on a distant planet that also feels somewhat familiar. Clearly inspired by Venice,Ariais set on Mars and follows a group of women who serve as gondoliers.
Slow-paced and splendidly animated,Ariawarmly guides viewers through its lovely scenery while touching upon the lives of its strong cast of characters. The music is also fantastic, perfectly complementing the anime’s visuals and carefree mood.
Iyashikei is about tone, not setting. Sure, it makes sense to set this type of story in a small village deep in the mountains; however, there is nothing that forbids the subgenre from going all post-apocalyptic.Girls' Last Tourpresents an utterly devastated world set after the collapse of civilization, and it follows two girls named Yuuri and Chito.
Humanity may lie in ruin but that doesn’t meanGirls' Last Tour’s protagonists cannot choose to live. Following the everyday lives of Yuuri and Chito, the anime is oddly uplifting, sweet, and hopeful; it just happens to be set in a really grim climate.
