Girls' Last Tour 少女終末旅行

Girls' Last Tour – Manga Review (Rating: 5/5)

Overview

Girls' Last Tour is a Japanese manga by Tsukumizu, serialized in Kurage Bunch from 2014 to 2018. It consists of six volumes and is a completed work. The story takes place in a post-apocalyptic world, where two girls travel through the ruins of a once-thriving civilization. More details can be found on the Wikipedia page.

Synopsis

The setting is a city that once flourished with human life, now reduced to silence and ruins. Very few people remain, and only abandoned structures dominate the landscape. The protagonists, Chito and Yuuri, travel on a small Kettenkrad (half-track motorcycle), searching for food, fuel, and shelter.
Their journey is not simply about survival. Instead, it gently explores the meaning of living, as fragments of the world’s past are revealed through their daily conversations and discoveries.

Characters

• Chito: Calm, thoughtful, and rational. She prefers to read books and carefully analyzes situations before acting.

• Yuuri: Cheerful, impulsive, and food-loving. Although reckless at times, she brings a sense of lightness to their travels.
  The contrast between their personalities creates a natural balance, enabling them to continue their journey together.

Story Development

The manga does not rely on grand battles or dramatic turning points. Instead, it unfolds through small, almost mundane events: exploring crumbling buildings, observing remnants of machinery, or sharing scarce food.
Amid these quiet moments, deeper themes emerge—questions about why humans live, what civilization means, and whether meaning exists at all in a world stripped of people. Rather than philosophical debate, these themes surface naturally in their everyday exchanges, leaving the reader to reflect on them.

Distinctive Features

One of the most notable aspects of Girls' Last Tour is its gentle depiction of a post-apocalyptic setting. The background art conveys vast, cold ruins, yet the character designs are soft, almost comforting. This contrast creates a unique atmosphere that is both melancholic and warm.
Unlike typical adventure stories, the girls’ destination remains ambiguous. They move upward toward the “upper layers,” but what lies at the end is never clearly defined. This sense of uncertainty—leaving some mysteries unresolved—gives the series its distinctive tone.

Personal Impressions

What struck me most about this manga is its approach to the post-apocalyptic theme. Even after finishing the final volume, the full picture of the world is never fully revealed. Instead, through Chito and Yuuri’s perspective, the end of humanity is quietly portrayed.
The girls continue their journey with a calm, almost resigned outlook, observing both humanity and themselves with a detached objectivity. As a reader, I found myself wishing for a happy ending—not only for the two of them but also for humanity as a whole. That emotional pull is part of the series’ strength.
The final chapter has inspired many interpretations, and I too wonder about what might lie beyond the ending. Yet, I also feel that the deliberate choice to end the story with such lingering questions is one of its greatest charms. It is, without doubt, one of my favorite manga.

Conclusion

Girls' Last Tour presents a world of ruins and silence, yet fills it with small moments of tenderness and meaning. Without relying on spectacle or heavy drama, it captivates the reader through subtle dialogue, fleeting discoveries, and philosophical undertones.
It is a rare post-apocalyptic work that emphasizes tranquility and warmth over despair. For readers interested in stories that quietly question what it means to be human, this manga is highly recommended.