The BEST episodes of Natsume's Book of Friends season 1

Every episode of Natsume's Book of Friends season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Natsume's Book of Friends season 1!

Natsume Takashi has the ability to see spirits, which he has long kept secret. However, once he inherits a strange book that belonged to his deceased grandmother, Reiko, he discovers the reason why spirits surround him. Containing the names of these spirits, a binding contract was formed between the spirits and the owner of the book. Now, Natsume is determined to free the spirits and dissolve the contracts. With the help of a spirit cat, his days are filled trying to return the names to these spirits.

Last Updated: 2/3/2024Network: TV TokyoStatus: Ended
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The Little Fox's Hat
star
9.12
69 votes

#1 - The Little Fox's Hat

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 8/18/2008

Natsume goes to a hot spring for a school trip, with an errand from Shigeru to pick up Teacups from a near by pottery. While there he meets and helps a little fox spirit, who quickly grows attached to him.

Directors: Takahiro Omori
Watch Now:Amazon
Five Day Mark
star
9.02
61 votes

#2 - Five Day Mark

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 9/22/2008

Natsume is cursed by an evil spirit which is sealed to a tree, not wanting to trouble his adopted family, he decided to run away from home.

Directors: Takahiro Omori
Watch Now:Amazon
Fleeting Light
star
9.00
70 votes

#3 - Fleeting Light

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 8/25/2008

Natsume meets a spirit who used to be friends with a man who could also see spirits, but one day lost this ability.

Directors: Takahiro Omori
Watch Now:Amazon
The Swallow at the Water Bottom
star
8.90
73 votes

#4 - The Swallow at the Water Bottom

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 8/11/2008

Natsume gets possessed by a swallow spirit, who wishes to meet a human that helped her before. Natsume agrees to help her and the two grow attached. When Swallow finds the human, Natsume feels bad that she can't actually meet him, but when of he hears of a kimono that can turn a spirit human for a day, he strives to find it...

Directors: Takahiro Omori
Watch Now:Amazon
Ayakashi Purification
star
8.87
63 votes

#5 - Ayakashi Purification

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 9/1/2008

Natsume meets a popular actor named Natori Shuuichi who can also see spirits, and has a side job as an exorcist.

Directors: Takahiro Omori
Asagi's Koto
star
8.82
66 votes

#6 - Asagi's Koto

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 9/8/2008

Natsume is possessed by a sick koto player, whose friend wants her to be able to play one last time.

Directors: Takahiro Omori
Watch Now:Amazon
Autumn Banquet
star
8.76
63 votes

#7 - Autumn Banquet

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 9/29/2008

Tanuma finds out Nyanko-Sensei is a spirit. Tanuma and Natsume enjoy the autumn festival and previous acquaintances are seen again.

Directors: Takahiro Omori
Watch Now:Amazon
Shigure and the Girl
star
8.73
73 votes

#8 - Shigure and the Girl

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 7/28/2008

Natsume's secret is found out by Sasada, the class president, during the "Trial of Courage." She asks for his help to find the spirit that lives in the abandoned school. Natsume denies the fact that he can see anything, but she won't take no for an answer. Meanwhile, the spirit, Shigure, captures the rest of their school mates, in fury of the school being torn down...

Directors: Takahiro Omori
Watch Now:Amazon
Nyanko's Book of Boredom
star
8.68
66 votes

#9 - Nyanko's Book of Boredom

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 9/15/2008

When Natsume finally has enough of Nyanko's behavior Nyanko leaves, wandering about by himself and causing trouble.

Directors: Takahiro Omori
Watch Now:Amazon
The Mysterious Person at the Eight Fields
star
8.65
79 votes

#10 - The Mysterious Person at the Eight Fields

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 7/21/2008

Natsume is implored to help spirits who are currently being exorcised. He finds a kindred spirit in Tanuma, a boy who also senses spirits although not as powerful as Natsume.

Directors: Takahiro Omori
Watch Now:Amazon
Heart-Colored Ticket
star
8.49
73 votes

#11 - Heart-Colored Ticket

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 8/4/2008

Natsume comes across an old ticket in Reiko's belongings and decides to go to the abandoned train station to see why she kept it. There, he meets a slow witted spirit named Santo, who was waiting for Reiko the entire time to go Kiriganuma, to see and make up with his friend, Mikuri, but the trip isn't as easy as it first seems...

Directors: Takahiro Omori
Watch Now:Amazon
The Dew God's Small Shrine
star
8.43
92 votes

#12 - The Dew God's Small Shrine

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 7/14/2008

Natsume is visited by the village's local god who is currently fading because of the lack of devotees.

Directors: Takahiro Omori
Watch Now:Amazon
The Cat and the Book of Friends
star
8.37
96 votes

#13 - The Cat and the Book of Friends

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 7/7/2008

Natsume discovers that the heirloom "Book of Friends" that his grandmother, Reiko, gave him possesses the names of the spirits she defeated and bound to her will. Assisted by a cat whom Natsume addresses as Nyanko-Sensei (lit. Master Little Meow), Natsume aims to return all of the names to their rightful owners.

Directors: Takahiro Omori
Watch Now:Amazon