Shumatsu Touring Volume 9 Released: The Girls Finally Set Foot in Hokkaido!
We have great news for motorcycle enthusiasts and fans of post-apocalyptic atmospheres! The 9th volume of the Shumatsu Touring (Touring After the Apocalypse) series, written by Saito Ei and taking readers on a melancholic yet peaceful journey, hit shelves in Japan as of June 26. Published under KADOKAWA's Dengeki Comics NEXT label, this new volume represents a very important geographical turning point in the story.
In this new chapter, our main characters Yoko and her robot companion Airi cross the Tsugaru Strait and finally set foot on Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan. Traveling on a modified electric Yamaha Serow 225 in a silent world where civilization has collapsed and people have disappeared, the duo sets out to explore the harsh but fascinating nature of the north. The series' greatest appeal, the theme of "seeing ruined versions of real tourist spots," is taken to a new dimension with the vast plains and desolate roads of Hokkaido.
Shumatsu Touring has been highly acclaimed for blending the "iyashikei" (healing) genre with a post-apocalyptic scenario since it began in Dengeki Maoh magazine in 2020. The success of the series was also crowned with an anime adaptation produced by Studio Nexus in late 2025. Author Saito Ei is known as an expert in detailed mechanical drawings and character dynamics, recognized for his previous success on projects like Katana Maidens: Toji no Miko and Heavy Object S.
To celebrate the release of the new volume, special illustration cards and bonus content are being offered to fans at select bookstores in Japan such as Comic ZIN, Manga-Oh, and Melonbooks. If you enjoy works like Girls' Last Tour or Yuru Camp, exploring this silent world accompanied by Yoko's endless energy and Airi's mysterious nature will be a great experience for you. With the start of the Hokkaido arc, what new ruins and memories the duo will discover in these desolate lands is already a subject of curiosity.
