The anime world extensively tells romantic stories and evokes a range of emotions like happiness, sadness, and more. However, there are some stories that are just wholesome and super cute. So, we've compiled a list of the best wholesome romance anime that you should watch!
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Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie
Setting the stage with this wholesome offering based on Keigo Maki’s manga of the same name.
Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie follows a high school student named Izumi whose life is all about misfortunes.
However, in his second year of high school, he wishes to spend more time with her affectionate girlfriend named Shikimori.
She is immensely caring and popular and has been dating Izumi for a year. Izumi has always seen her adorable and cute side.
However, when Izumi is in trouble, she unleashes her cool side. He can avoid his misfortunes because Izumi always appears to save him.
Meanwhile, Izumi is mesmerized by her sheer presence and she absolutely loves saving him from any kind of trouble.
Lovely Complex
Lovely Complex twists things up a bit but not in an evil way. This unusual story is filled with wholesome moments for viewers.
The rom-com anime revolves around Atsushi Ootani and Risa Koizumi who are working toward finding their perfect partner.
Risa is taller than any average girl while Atsushi is shorter than an average boy. Atsushi and Risa’s friendship and comical bickering is renowned throughout the school.
They love the same kind of music and laugh their hearts out when they are around each other.
Suddenly, Risa realizes that she has feelings for him. She wonders if Atsushi can see her beyond a friend.
Meanwhile, her friends are hyping her up and she decides to make him see her true feelings for him.
She feels that a tall girl and a short guy falling in love with each other is not taboo.
Risa then goes on to find different ways to convey her feelings and her unconventional tactics are hilarious.
Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions!
Yuuta Togashi is happy to leave behind his middle school days and start as a freshman in high school. He was once a chunibyo (an overthinking and self-conscious middle school student).
He wants to completely forget his embarrassing past and start high school. Sadly, his chunibyo days are not yet over.
Yuuta’s classmate Rikka Takanashi is still going through her chunibyo days.
She could sense that Yuuta still has traces of chunibyo in him. Rikka forces Yuuta to make a contract with her and resume his life as a chunibyo.
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My Love Story!!
A kind-hearted high schooler named Gouda Takeo appears intimidating because of his massive size. He is popular among his male peers but never had a girlfriend in his life.
He is good friends with the popular and attractive boy named Makoto Sunakawa. Whenever he shows interest in any girl, she ends up getting into a relationship with Makoto.
One day, while on the train, he comes across a girl getting groped by a creep. Gouda takes charge and saves the girl named Yamato Rinko.
Later, Yamato and Gouda start exchanging messages and the latter realizes he is falling for Yamato. However, he fears that she might fall in love with Makoto.
My Love Story!! is a great wholesome romance anime with an intriguing plot and lovable characters.
Taisho Otome Fairy Tale
This historical anime follows Tamahiko Shima, a young man who lost the ability to use his right arm after an accident.
Tamahiko is now leading a quiet life in the rural region of Chiba prefecture and taking care of his health.
Meanwhile, on a snowy night, he gets a knock at the door and meets a 14-year-old girl named Yuzuki Tachibana.
Yuzuki informs him that she is going to be his future wife. Yuzuki recalls that his father wanted to send him a bride who will help him in leading a comfortable life.
Yuzuki was sold to repay her family’s debt, but she is an earnest and diligent girl who genuinely cares for Tamahiko.
How will Tamahiko respond to this sudden burst of wholesomeness in his rather boring life?
Snow White with the Red Hair
Snow White with the Red Hair is a fantasy anime that follows Shirayuki, a cheerful and pretty girl living in Tanbarun.
She is working hard as a medical expert at her herbal shop. Unfortunately, one day, the prince of the country confesses his feelings and chases after her.
Shirayuki has no choice but to cut her beautiful red hair and run into the forest. There, she meets Zen, the prince of the neighboring nation.
Zen ends up saving her life and as a token of gratitude, Shirayuki decides to serve him as the country’s court doctor.
Snow White with the Red Hair showcases Zen and Shirayuki’s pure bond. The fact that their relationship is a little vague makes the plot more interesting.
This is good romance anime that is about lovers working together to make things happen for them.
TONIKAWA: Over The Moon For You
Nasa encounters a cute girl named Tsukasa on the day of his high school entrance exam. He instantly falls in love with Tsukasa.
He even decides to confess his feeling to her. However, Tsukasa states that she will only date him if he marries her.
He agrees and kickstarts his new married lifestyle with Tsukasa. Nasa and Tsukasa’s chemistry shines in this anime and the overall pace of the series is great.
It is a highly entertaining and light-hearted gem in the world of anime where most stories are pretty complex.
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Tada Never Falls in Love
Mitsuyoshi Tada is a photographer who has never known the feeling of being in love with someone. He is taking pictures of cherry blossoms and runs into a foreigner named Teresa Wagner.
She is a transfer student from Larsenburg and after coming to Japan, she got separated from her travel partner.
Mitsuyoshi decides to assist her and brings her to his family’s coffee shop. Later, Teresa reunites with her travel companion named Alec.
After bidding their goodbyes, Teresa and Mitsuyoshi parted ways. However, fate brings them together when Teresa appears at Mitsuyoshi’s high school as a transfer student.
As the anime progresses, he realizes that he needs to think about love from a different perspective. Moreover, his interactions with Teresa change something in him.
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Horimiya
Horimiya follows Hori, who is the most beautiful and popular girl in school. Meanwhile, Miyamura is an introverted and geeky-looking boy.
Later, they both realize that their appearances are not who they actually are in real life.
It is revealed that Hori is a homely girl who is laid back and loves to spend time at home.
Elsewhere, Miyamura turns out to be a handsome young boy who is covered in tattoos and piercings.
Horimiya is a comforting and easy-to-watch anime with a great story. The anime also beautifully depicts school life.
Tsuki ga Kirei
Kotaro Azumi and Akane Mizuno become classmates in the third year of middle school. Kotaro is the president of the literature club and wants to become a writer.
Meanwhile, Akane is big on sports and is part of the school track team. They both are poles apart and the chances of them dating each other appear slim.
Moreover, people around them make the possibility of love between the two a little complicated.
Tsuki ga Kirei beautifully portrays a realistic romance between the characters. Moreover, the series and the setup are highly relatable.
Wotakoi: Love Is Hard for Otaku
Narumi is an office worker who ensures nobody finds out about her fujoshi lifestyle.
Elsewhere, Hirotaka is a hardworking salary man who loves video games and is an otaku.
Both Narumi and Hirotaka are made for each other, but love is hard for geeks and otaku.
Wotakoi: Love Is Hard for Otaku is a treat to watch and wholesome in every sense.
It is a great work-life anime with healthy doses of romance and otaku culture.
The Way of the Househusband
Once feared as the Immortal Dragon, Tatsu has moved past his criminal days and given up on the yakuza lifestyle.
Tatsu, renowned for battles against rival gangs, is now staying with his wife in an apartment leading a quiet life.
He now wears an apron and attempts to be the best house-husband he can. In this process, he has mastered the art of cooking tasty food, getting things done at home, and grabbing the greatest deals at the supermarket.
Tatsu has forgotten his questionable and criminal past and now lives a peaceful life with his loved ones.
The Way of the Househusband is a comedy anime with wholesome vibes. Tatsu in his homely avatar is goofy yet charming.
Kaguya-sama: Love Is War
Considered a pathbreaking anime in the romantic genre, Kaguya-sama: Love Is War shines in character development and sharp writing with a unique plot.
At the prestigious Shuchiin Academy, Kaguya Shinomiya and Miyuki Shirogane are the top representatives of the student body.
Moreover, they both are extremely popular and revered by their peers at the academy. Many even consider them the perfect couple.
Despite having feelings for each other, they both are not willing to acknowledge them. The first person to give in and confess loses, and will be ridiculed.
With their honor on the line, Kaguya and Miyuki come up with plans to make the other confess and win this war of love.
The relationship, or the lack of it, between Miyuki and Kaguya is fierce, adorable, and wholesome.
Komi Can't Communicate
Shouko Komi is the most popular girl studying at Itan Private High School. Her schoolmates are drawn to her beauty and grace.
During the introductions, Hitohito Tadano realizes that Komi isn’t a reserved person due to her popularity. It looks like she suffers from an extreme form of social anxiety.
Komi finds it difficult to communicate with others. However, Tadano and Komi find a way to exchange words.
Then, Komi reveals that she wishes to make 100 friends. Tadano, who is her first friend, promises that he will help her gain 99 more.
Komi Can’t Communicate tenderly addresses and deals with social anxiety.
Tadano and Komi’s friendship is innocent, and they both try their best to take one step forward toward their dreams.
My Dress-Up Darling
Wakana Gojo enjoys perfecting the art of crafting Hina dolls, and he hopes to become as good as his grandfather, a craft veteran. However, he tries his best to keep this hobby a secret from the world.
My Dress-Up Darling then introduces Marin Kitagawa, a pretty girl who loves fashion.
Marin exudes confidence and looks like a model. No one could ever imagine she would become friends with Wakana.
However, the thinkable happens and Marin finds out about Wakana’s exceptional skills on the sewing machine.
She then tells him about her secret hobby – cosplaying. She is impressed by his sewing skills and asks him to work with her on her cosplay outfit.
Wakana and Marin’s friendship blossoms and they eventually get closer to each other. However, they are still far from addressing the love aspect of their relationship.
My Dress-Up Darling is a delightful watch with a stellar art style. Plus, Marin looks diva-like in Wakana’s designed outfits.
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