Touring After the Apocalypse [Season 1 Episodes 1-12]

Touring After the Apocalypse: A Road Trip Through Ruins That Feels Like Hanging Out With Your Bestie

Let’s cut to the chase: if you’re here for a gritty, edge-of-your-seat post-apocalypse story with zombies or warlords, Touring After the Apocalypse isn’t it. But if you want to vibe with two girls on a motorcycle, eating expired snacks, geeking out over old anime merch, and accidentally befriending half-broken robots? This 12-episode ride is your new comfort show.

First off, let’s get the basics straight. Produced by Nexus (the studio behind stuff like Darling in the Franxx—wait, no, wait, no, this show is way chiller) and based on Sakae Saito’s manga, the anime dropped in Fall 2025. The premise? Yoko and Airi, two teens who grew up in an underground shelter, decide to ditch the bunker for a road trip across a Japan reclaimed by nature. Think overgrown skyscrapers, collapsed bridges, and a whole lot of empty—except for the weird stuff they stumble on, like a tank that still works (sort of) or a robot dad missing his lower half.

The first thing fans point out is how unapocalyptic it feels. One MyAnimeList user put it best: “While the setup is much like Girls’ Last Tour, it has a much brighter tone.” Instead of moping about the end of the world, Yoko and Airi are here to sightsee. Episode 1 has them escaping the shelter just to “see what civilization used to be”—and immediately getting chased by a tank. But even that chase feels playful, like a video game side quest rather than a life-or-death situation. (Shoutout to the Space Battleship Yamato nod with the plasma cannon—nerds, we see you.)

What makes the show click is the dynamic between Yoko and Airi. Yoko’s the dreamer, always dragging Airi into silly plans (like dressing up as a cat butler and maid in Akihabara, even though there’s no one to serve). Airi’s the grounded one—equipped with self-defense skills and a no-nonsense attitude—but she goes along with it anyway. Fans have theories about Airi being an artificial lifeform (one user noted, “After Yoko told the robot he was the first human she’s met, my guess is Airi is an artificial lifeform too”), which adds a tiny layer of mystery without overcomplicating things.

The episodes are mostly self-contained, each a new stop on their tour: Yokohama’s Minatomirai, where they meet Schwar-chan (the half-robot dad who just wants to remember his family), Akihabara’s otaku ruins overrun by zoo escapees, and even Tokyo Big Sight, where they find unsold doujinshi from old Comikets. Each stop has a bittersweet twist—like Schwar-chan rebooting and reliving his family memories before shutting down—but it never gets too sad. As one fan said, “Bittersweet. I guess it’s going to be one of those shows.”

Of course, there are weird moments. Episode 6 has them stuck in a storm on the Umihotaru bridge, fighting off rats and accidentally starting a fire with a torch. Episode 11? They meet a giant turtle that’s basically Great A’Tuin from Discworld (yes, a fan called that out). And don’t get us started on the boulder scene in Episode 10—where a lightning strike (or maybe a ghost?) shatters a falling rock inches from their heads. Fans roasted it: “Boy, they reeeeeeallly cheated their way out of that boulder fall. Even if it missed them there still should have been umpteen tons of rock crashing down around them, but nothing. Guess they didn’t want to animate it.” Fair enough—sometimes you just need to let the plot armor slide for the vibe.

The little details are what make the show feel lived-in. Yoko has “visions” of the past (like remembering going to a racetrack with her sister), which adds depth to her character without dumping exposition. They find hidden food stashes in old houses, sing while crossing bridges, and even do a digital stamp rally (because why not?). One of the funniest moments? Episode 3, where they find a bunch of dojinshi at Tokyo Big Sight and get excited like they just hit the jackpot. It’s relatable—who hasn’t geeking out over old merch?

By the finale, Yoko and Airi haven’t saved the world or found a cure for whatever ended it. They’re just… still traveling. The last episode has them climbing Mt. Mitsumine, looking out over the countryside, and reminiscing about their shelter days. It’s a quiet ending, but it fits. As one fan put it, “Even when the world ends, their journey goes on.”

Is Touring After the Apocalypse perfect? No. The pacing can be slow, some plot holes are hard to ignore (how does their motorcycle never run out of gas? Where do they get clean water?), and the singing scenes go on way too long (sorry, Yoko, but your Tsukuba song wasn’t a bop). But that’s part of its charm. It’s not trying to be a masterpiece—it’s trying to be a cozy, fun ride with two friends just living their best life, even if the world is in ruins.

If you’re into slice-of-life shows with a side of weirdness, this is for you. It’s the kind of anime you put on when you want to unwind, laugh at silly jokes, and maybe tear up a little at a robot dad’s last moments. As one fan summed it up: “A sweet simple show but with undercurrents of foreboding and weirdness.” And honestly? We need more of that.

So grab your motorcycle (or just a snack), hop on, and join Yoko and Airi. The apocalypse never looked so fun.