Best Historical Isekai Anime and Manga, Ranked

The isekai genre has long been popular because of its escapist elements. Who wouldn't want to change from a monotonous life to a more exciting and fantasy-filled life? While many isekai worlds take the standard fantasy route of medieval Europe, others are more creative and borrow from other historical or mythological settings.

Set in Sengoku-era Japan, ancient China, medieval Europe, or any other era in history, these anime take world-building to a whole new level. The series weaves time travel elements, legendary characters, and ancient battles to add richness and depth to the fantasy world.

8 amatsuki

It was transferred to an alternate version from the Edo period in Japan.

• release date: April 4, 2008
• creator: Shinobu Takayama
• studio: Studio Dean
• number of episodes: 13

amatsuki It's about a high school student named Tokidoki Rikugou. Having trouble with history class, he attends a lecture at a museum that recreates Edo-era Japan in virtual reality. In true isekai fashion, a series of strange events end up trapping him in a fantastical version of the Edo period.

amatsuki It combines elements such as yokai, mystical beings, and spirits with the aesthetics of the Edo period, creating a neat blend of history and fantasy. Fans of isekai and Japanese folklore will undoubtedly enjoy watching Amatsuki.

7 How a Realist Hero Rebuilt His Kingdom

Medieval European fantasy with a touch of realism

The isekai genre is no stranger to the world inspired by medieval Europe; How a Realist Hero Rebuilt His Kingdom It puts a different spin on the formula by discussing real-world issues of the time, such as political corruption, food shortages, and inefficient architecture.

Kazuya Soma, a man summoned to the fantasy world of Elfrieden, neither swings a sword nor has magical powers. Instead, he uses modern world knowledge to implement sound economic and social policies to strengthen his kingdom. The series focuses more on political strategy and intrigue rather than fast-paced action.

6 Oda Nobuna's Ambition

It was transferred to an alternate version from the Sengoku period in Japan.

Oda Nobuna's Ambition A delightful take on Japan's most iconic historical figures. It follows a high school student named Yoshiharu Sagara who returns to the Sengoku period, except that famous historical figures have been re-imagined as young women.

Yoshiharu teams up with female versions of legendary figures from the Sengoku period, including Akechi Mitsuhide, Matsunaga Hisahide, and Niwa Nagahide, to help the female Oda Nobunaga (Oda Nobuna) achieve her ambitions for a unified Japan.

5 Yugi Fushigi: A Mysterious Play

Transport yourself to a world inspired by ancient China

Fushigi Yugi It was one of the first Shunjo isekai manga to neatly blend romance and action in a fantasy world. It tells the story of two high school girls, Yuki Miaka and Hongo Yui, who are transported into a world of fiction inspired by ancient China.

The series pioneered the isekai genre for shoujo audiences and had a major influence on both isekai and fantasy shogunate. Fushigi Yuugi also gave birth to the reverse harem trope that is common in modern Shōjo isekai stories, such as: In the next villain life, all roads lead to destruction!.

4 The Saga of Tanya the Evil

You are transported to a World War I-inspired environment.

Fans of dark, gritty historical isekai settings can look no further. The Saga of Tanya the Evil. The story follows a salaryman who, after angering a god-like being, is transported to a world very similar to Europe during World War I. He finds himself trapped in the body of a young girl and vows to resist the powerful being until his last breath.

This anime stands out in the isekai world due to its morally questionable protagonist and brutal wartime setting. It's definitely not a 'turn off your brain and enjoy the ride' type of show, as it deals with a lot of difficult questions about morality, faith, and power.

3 inuyasha

Transport yourself back in time to a supernatural version of the Sengoku period

There's a reason this classic Rumiko Takahashi series is still talked about today. inuyasha It blends fantasy, romance, action, and history in a way that will appeal to both shonen and shoujo audiences. The story is about a 15-year-old girl named Kagome Higurashi who falls into a well and is transported to the Sengoku period in Japan.

She soon discovers that she is the reincarnation of a powerful priestess named Kikyo and that she possesses a powerful artifact known as the Shikon Jewel. After accidentally breaking the jewel, she teams up with a half-demon named Inuyasha to retrieve the jewel pieces before they fall into the wrong hands.

2 twelve kingdoms

Transport to a parallel realm reminiscent of ancient Japan and China

story twelve kingdoms It unfolds on islands of another dimension with unique cultures resembling ancient Japan and China. It tells the story of Yoko Nakajima, a high school student who is unexpectedly dragged into this realm by a strange man. She learns to survive in a world filled with mythical creatures, diverse kingdoms, and complex political systems.

Both the novel and anime were well ahead of their time when it came to the isekai genre, focusing more on the growth of the protagonist, the challenges of leadership, and complex world-building rather than the fantasy of power or escapism.

1 Drifters

Historical figures are transported to a war-torn fantasy world

Many historical isekai stories involve characters traveling back in time to different versions of specific historical periods and meeting famous historical figures. What about a series where historical figures themselves are transported to another world? It was made by the same person later. hellsing, Drifters It likewise features dark humor and historical intrigue.

Drifters It is the story of Shimazu Toyohisa, a samurai from the 1600s, who is seriously injured on the battlefield. However, instead of dying, he finds himself in another world with famous historical figures such as Oda Nobunaga, Joan of Arc, and Akechi Mitsuhide.