10 Books/Manga Like A Place Further Than The Universe
A Place Further Than The Universe is a manga series that’ll inspire any reader to explore their surroundings. This tale is illustrated and written by Meme Yoimachi and contains fantastically written characters and storytelling. Our story follows a group of female companions as they embark on a trip to Antarctica. Their goal is to uncover the mystery surrounding one of their mothers who went missing during her expedition through the Arctic. This is a series you’ll want to have a box of tissues at your side for.
If you’re in the mood for more slice-of-life, comedy, or adventure-themed books/manga that offer a similar vibe, fear not! We’ve gathered 10 books/manga to check out when you’ve caught up with A Place Further Than The Universe. Of course, if you feel we’ve missed any of your favorites, comment below and let us know!
Girls’ Last Tour – Tsukumizu
Similarities – Adventure & Themes
Another adventure series with a poignant narrative is what you’ll find with Girls’ Last Tour. This tale emphasizes the importance of human connection and personal growth much like A Place Further Than The Universe. With its engaging story beats and charming characters, Girls’ Last Tour is a great alternative tale that’ll motivate readers to keep moving forward.
The story follows two girls named Chito and Yuuri as they traverse through a desolate landscape that served as a battleground for a previous war. Like A Place Further Than The Universe, readers will enjoy seeing how Chito and Yuuri’s relationships grow stronger throughout their journey.
Moreover, both stories explore themes regarding self-discovery and the search for meaning. Throughout their endeavor, Chito and Yuuri encounter remnants of past civilizations. This will entice them to question the meaning behind their existence. This mirrors Mari, Shirase, Hinata, and Yuzuki’s reasons for traveling to Antarctica to break free from their mundane lives.
Odd Girl Out – Morangg
Similarities – Comedy & Slice-0f-Life
Odd Girl Out is a cozy webtoon with adorable illustrations, enjoyable characters, and a wonderful comedy. This tale follows Nari, a pure-hearted high school freshman who wants to experience the joys of high school life. Like A Place Further Than The Universe, this story intertwines many compelling and emotional concepts together.
Concepts concerning bullying and friendship come to mind and are handled beautifully within the story. Like Meme Yomaichi, Morangg dedicates several story arcs to several characters in this work. This helps the story’s side cast feel more authentic and engaging to follow alongside Nari. Morangg gives them interesting personalities, and backgrounds, and struggles to make you care for them.
If you happen to like comforting tales with strong-willed characters, Odd Girl Out is worth your time.
Hanayamata – Sou Hamayumiba
Similarities – Themes, Story Structure, Slice-of-Life
A fascinating and cozy tale featuring a female-dominant cast awaits you with Hanayamata. This story delves into themes regarding friendship and personal growth and is one that’ll motivate you to step out of your comfort zone. In it, we follow Naru, an introvert who stumbles upon a yosakoi dance club which changes her life for the better.
Like Mari and her friends, Naru and her companions will embrace new challenges and conquer their dormant insecurities. Moreover, the manga spends time highlighting Naru’s journey to becoming a skilled dancer alongside these issues. This resembles the way Yoimachi structures A Place Further Than The Universe’s plot.
While A Place Further Than The Universe highlights the individual issues that plague Hinata and Yuzuki’s growth, the tale’s main agenda involves Shirase and her worries for her mother’s safety in Antarctica.
With its relatable characters, emotionally charged messages, and cozy atmosphere, Hanayamata is a must-read for A Place Further Than The Universe fans.
Laid-back Camp – Afro
Similarities – Atmosphere & Characters
Laid-back Camp is the epitome of coziness. This manga follows a group of females as they learn more about each other and the world around them during camping sessions. Those looking for a complex plot will be disappointed with this one though. However, if you’re someone who doesn’t mind heartwarming stories, you’ll find yourself at home with Laid-back Camp.
As for its relation to A Place Further Than The Universe, both tales surround themselves around female-dominant friend groups. Through their interactions, readers will recall moments of their past time spent with friends and loved ones. Moreover, both tales embrace adventure with open arms and have their characters travel to different locations.
In Laid-Back Camp, Nadeshiko and her companions travel to different campsites throughout Japan. Readers will enjoy taking in the beautiful sites Afro presents to them in the manga. This mirrors the joy Mari and the others have while visiting different cities and attractions within A Place Further Than The Universe.
K-On! – Kakifly
Similarities – Themes & Characters
K-On is a popular manga series known for having a charming female cast and a heartwarming narrative. Like A Place Further Than The Universe, this manga explores the bonds of friendship, personal growth, and why it’s important to pursue one’s dreams. In K-On, we follow a group of females who aim to become successful musicians.
Like Mari and her friends, readers will admire these girls’ determination to strive for their goals, despite the many hurdles that’ll come their way. From their varied skill levels to events that cause a rupture in their growth, you’ll root for these female characters to overcome the odds stacked against them.
In addition to emphasizing the joy and fulfillment one receives while pursuing their passions, K-On is an excellent tale of music and companionship that all A Place Further Than The Universe fans should read.
Space Brothers – Chuya Koyama
Similarities – Adventure & Themes
Space Brothers is a fabulous slice-of-life comedy with great life messages. While Space Brothers and A Place Further Than The Universe are set in different locations, they capture what makes adventuring exciting for people. The story follows Mutta and Nanba, two siblings who strive to become great astronauts.
Like A Place Further Than The Universe, this tale shows how being a hardworking person has its merits. You’ll see our characters struggle to reach their goals and feel defeated when they can’t conquer them. However, through their willpower, they’ll conjure the strength necessary to overcome these annoyances. This mirrors the monetary issues Mari and her groups have while reaching Antarctica.
In addition to having great illustrations, Space Brothers is a slice-of-life series worth checking out.
Hibike! Euphonium – Hami
Similarities – Themes
Hibike! Euphonium is an enjoyable music manga with great romance elements. Much like A Place Further Than The Universe, this story evokes a sense of exploration by examining its cast’s goals concerning a national competition. This mirrors Mari and her friends’ quest since they’ll need to accomplish mundane undertakings to reach Antarctica.
Furthermore, both manga feature characters who must endure internal issues and setbacks, adding layers of drama and suspense to their respective stories. Fortunately, our cast will find ways to persevere through their internal complications, leading to many satisfying resolutions.
In conjunction with its outstanding illustrations and emotionally rich scenarios, Hibike! Euphonium is a stellar music series that’ll impress you.
Bocchi The Rock – Aki Hamaji
Similarities – Themes, Characters, Comedy
Bocchi The Rock is a phenomenal ongoing 4-koma manga that tackles similar ideas as A Place Further Than The Universe. The story follows Hitori, a girl who suffers from severe social anxiety. However, she’s an excellent guitarist and songwriter. One day, she meets a girl named Nijika and helps her form a band called Kessoku Band.
Determined to break free from her insecurities, Hitori vows to help Nijika and others make Kessoku Band popular. Like A Place Further Than The Universe, this tale emphasizes the importance of friendship and personal growth. While Hitori struggles to defeat the social issues that plague her life, she forms strong connections with those around her.
From earning a job to attending outdoor shops with friends, Hitori’s character provides viewers with a gateway to overcome their own problems that plague their lives.
With its excellent humor and pleasing artwork, Bocchi The Rock is another great comfort series to read.
Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! – Sumito Oowara
Similarities – Characters & Themes
Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken is a series of passion, friendship, and dreams. Both manga follow the journey of a young protagonist who leaves their comforting home to explore something greater. During their quests, they’ll form deep connections with others and learn more about themselves and the world around them.
In Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken, we follow three girls named Asakusa, Mizusaki, and Kanamori, who come together to form an animation club. This mirrors how Mari, Shirase, Hinata, and Yuzuki, who stem from different walks of life, come together to assist Shirase in accomplishing her goal of reaching Antarctica to find her mother.
As with Mari’s friend group, Asakusa and her friends will pour their souls into their animation projects. They’ll push themselves to achieve nothing but the best no matter what. Both groups’ infectious determination to strive toward their goals can influence audiences to pursue their desires in life.
If you happen to need a motivation boost, Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken promises to give you that edge.
Yokohama’s Shopping Log – Hitoshi Ashinano
Similarities – Adventure & Slice-of-Life
Yokohama Shopping Log is a unique sci-fi manga that’s more laid-back compared to other manga in the genre. While it takes place in a post-apocalyptic world, it focuses on its protagonist Alpha’s charming adventures through multiple towns and terrain. This is a slow-burn series for the most part, but offers significant world-building and excellent characters that’ll warm your hearts.
It explores similar themes of loss and change like A Place Further Than The Universe. The way Hitoshi Ashinano presents these ideas in the Yokohama Shopping Log will make you contemplate and apply them to the life you have experienced thus far.
Moreover, Alpha receives incredible depth and development throughout the course of the series like Mari and her friends. She happens to be a robotic organism, who slowly learns to appreciate the small detours in life. While the side characters in this tale aren’t as rounded as the ones found in A Place Further Than The Universe, they have enough defining traits to help them feel memorable.
Therefore, if you’re after a sci-fi series that’s adventurous, laid-back, and a joy to binge, check this out.
So there we have it, our 10 books/manga to read after you’re caught up with A Place Further Than The Universe.
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!