Lucky Star Gets Real
Paying visits to shrines has always been a big part of celebrating the New Year in Japan. & for the second year in a row, the real-life Washinomiya shrine made popular by "Lucky Star" became a huge attraction. This year in fact, over 420,000 people visited the shrine during the first three days of 2009 alone. About 300,000 more than last year.
More interestingly though is the fact that real, life-sized model of Konata's house is being built in Japan. Creator Yoshimizu Kagami is moving out of his old house & will be turning it into an exact replica of the Izumi household that's seen in his manga & the anime series it inspired. This special otaku mecca will be open to the fans beginning this Spring.
Source: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-01-02/estimated-300000-visit-lucky-star-shrine-on-new-year