So, it hasn’t been your day, your week, your month (or even your yeeear)? Time to turn to Iyashikei anime, the slice-of-life subgenre, and the Japanese secret to pretending everything’s fine. “Iyashikei” literally means “healing,” and these series are so peaceful and mundane that you’ll find yourself aggressively relaxed, possibly drooling, and definitely better off for it. So, if you’re looking to unwind—or at least fake it ’til you make it—stick around. My stash of 13 top-shelf, soul-soothing Iyashikei anime is just a scroll away.
1. Mushishi
2 seasons | 46 episodes
Watch on: Crunchyroll, Hulu
Ginko is wandering around, fixing spirit problems in a world that’s basically a moving painting. Deep, earth-lovin’ stories, soothing colors, and soundscapes that are like forest ASMR— your Iyashikei go-to for when you need to chill but feel intellectual about it.
SEE ALSO: Best Seinen Anime With Mature Themes: Mushishi & More!
2. Laid-Back Camp (Yuru Camp)
2 seasons | 28 episodes
Watch on: Crunchyroll
It’s girls in beanies doing sweet FA in the great outdoors. That’s it. And it’s so zen—serene Mt. Fuji vistas, folksy tunes, and crackling campfires. If the idea of turning into a human burrito on your couch while living through animated campers sounds like a plan, then get on it.
3. Aria
3 seasons | 52 episodes
Watch on: Crunchyroll
It’s utopian life at 0.5x speed with pretty gondolier girls, Akari, Aika, and Alice, rowing around and being happy. The Venice-on-Mars setting is a pastel dream, the water’s sparkly, and piano tunes are auditory bliss. Watch this if you need to kill your adrenaline levels dead.
4. Barakamon
1 season | 12 episodes
Watch on: Crunchyroll
A twitchy city boy, Handa, ends up on an island with a bunch of nosy neighbors, hyper kids, and big-ass bugs and discovers the wild concept of not being a stressed mess. Sunny, heartfelt, and hilarious slice-of-boonies-life—perfect to guilt-trip yourself for being a workaholic.
SEE ALSO: 20 Best Comedy Anime Will Make You LOL for Days
5. Bunny Drop (Usagi Drop)
1 season | 15 episodes
Watch on: Crunchyroll
30-year-old Daikichi becomes a dad overnight to his tiny relative, and instead of sitcom shenanigans, it turns into a heartwarming journey. The everyday life, the growth, the real talk about what family is—ideal Josei anime if you’re craving some feels without the drama overload.
6. Girls’ Last Tour
1 season | 12 episodes
Watch on: Prime Video
The world’s gone to hell, but Yuuri and Chito are cruising through it on a Kettenkrad, finding beauty in ruins and making you feel oddly at peace with their existential bantz. If you want to ponder the meaning of life but keep it CGDCT, this is it.
7. Natsume’s Book of Friends
6 seasons | 74 episodes
Watch on: Crunchyroll
Natsume can see spirits, but it’s less “I see dead people” freaky and more “let’s understand each other” kind of deal. Hit this up for a dose of gentle, ghostly wholesomeness and Ghibli-worthy scenery. And Natsume’s cat guardian. What a chonk legend.
SEE ALSO: Best Yokai Anime: Natsume & More Anime With Ghosts and Spirits
8. Non Non Biyori
3 seasons | 38 episodes
Watch on: Crunchyroll
Hotaru moves from Tokyo to the inaka and discovers that yes, watching grass grow with the right people is peak entertainment. The kids are quirky, the rural scenery is a 10/10 desktop wallpaper, and not a single damn is given about the hustle.
9. Flying Witch
1 season | 22 episodes
Watch on: Crunchyroll
Makoto is a witch-in-training who moves to rural Japan, and it’s 95% just her living her best life—cooking, gardening, and chilling with a black cat. Come for the witchcraft and stay because you’ve fallen asleep. It’s magically tranquilizing.
SEE ALSO: Can’t Get Enough of Magic? Here Are 13 Witch Anime You’ll Love
10. Super Cub
Seasons: 1 | Episodes: 12
Watch on: Crunchyroll
High schooler Koguma buys a cheap Honda Cub bike and discovers freedom—or, at least, the freedom to go places really, really slowly. It’s a love letter to the joy of small adventures and even smaller engines. Watch it for the quiet rebellion against a world obsessed with speed.
11. Slow Loop
1 season | 22 episodes
Watch on: Crunchyroll
Fly fishing, Iyashikei style. Hiyori and Koharu, the new step-sis duo, bond over bait and life lessons caught on a hook. If watching people fish while unpacking their emotional baggage sounds like your kind of therapy, press play.
12. Sweetness and Lightning
1 season | 12 episodes
Watch on: Crunchyroll
Kouhei, a widower dad, learns to cook for his munchkin, and it’s like every cooking show you’ve ever seen but with real stakes: a child’s happiness. A cozy slice-of-life anime to watch to feel all warm and fuzzy but also kind of sucky for your takeout habit.
13. Hakumei and Mikochi
1 season | 12 episodes
Watch on: Prime Video
Two ladies living in a forest, doing tiny lady things, like riding insects and making mushroom umbrellas. Tune in to forget your giant-sized problems for a bit and immerse yourself in a miniature fantasy world where everyone’s happy and nothing hurts.
That’s it for the ultimate chill-out anime list. Thoughts? Drop a comment, share on your socials, and check back for more anime recommendations.