Ghibli Park - the world’s first Studio Ghibli park is set to open this November in Japan. The beloved animation studio has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions of children and adults alike, right around the world, since their first film debuted in the 1980s and they continue to reach new generations today. On the back of their hugely successful museum, the new Ghibli Park - the first in the world - will bring to life the studio’s magical animated films on a scale like never before.
When it opens this November, it will instantly become one of Japan’s most exciting and in-demand visitor attractions. Millions of tourists will flock to Japan and the timing could not be better with the country officially reopening to international travellers.
If you’re a Ghibli fan, then a visit to the studio’s first ever park will undoubtedly be the trip of a lifetime for you and your family. In this in-depth guide, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about the Ghibli Park, where you can find it, how to get there with the JR Pass, plus a few bonus recommendations for fans of this incredible Studio’s beautiful and captivating films.
All pictures (c) Studio Ghibli/Ghibli park.
What Is Ghibli Park?
The key question: what is Ghibli Park? First of all - it is not a theme park. There are no rollercoasters or traditional funfair rides. Located in Nagakute, Aichi Prefecture, Ghibli Park is much more of an experience - a unique, interactive, magical experience and adventure - like stepping into your favourite animated films.
From visiting the life-size home of Satsuki and Mei from My Neighbour Totoro to sitting in a real-life and very soft-looking cat bus, to eating food inspired by scenes from the films, such as dining in the yatai from Spirited Away, or sitting on the train next to the iconic No Face from the same film, the list of incredible experiences goes on and on.
Ghibli Park is the world (or worlds to be exact) of these magical animated films brought to life, as only Studio Ghibli could, for you to explore and enjoy.
In the words of Studio Ghibli itself, from the new park’s official website, Ghibli Park is:
“A park that represents the world of Studio Ghibli. With close consultation with the surrounding forest, it is being built on and within the grounds of Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park (Moricoro Park). There are no big attractions or rides in Ghibli Park. Take a stroll, feel the wind, and discover the wonders. “Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse,” “Hill of Youth,” and “Dondoko Forest” will be the first to open on November 1, 2022. Welcome to the great warehouse of Studio Ghibli’s secrets and iconic architectures you have seen in the films.”
There you have it - the perfect description of Ghibli Park from the beloved studio itself, and one thing is clear, the park continues the company’s commitment to, and love of, preserving and being at peace with the natural world, particularly the landscape and the forest.
A few days before the official opening, Studio Ghibli released a charming and delightful hand-drawn guide to Ghibli Park which sent their fans into a frenzy. As you can see from this screenshot below from the studio’s official Twitter account, the guide is absolutely beautiful and full of classic Studio Ghibli detail.
A Brief History Of Studio Ghibli
While 2022 sees a new chapter in the Studio Ghibli story, it all began almost 40 years ago. The legendary animation studio was founded in Tokyo on 15 June 1985 by directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, and producer Toshio Suzuki. The company was launched after the success of the 1984 animated film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, which was written and directed by Miyazaki. It is often thought of as a Studio Ghibli film, but in reality, it was produced and distributed by a different company. There are several stories around the name of the studio and the world ‘Ghibli’. One explanation is that it comes from the Libyan-Arabic word for hot desert wind because the studio was determined to ‘blow a new wind through the film industry’. Another is that it refers to an aircraft – the Caproni Ca.308 Ghibli. The studio’s mascot is a ‘Totoro’ – a large furry deity from one of its most famous films. Since the studio’s formation, it has created some of the highest grossing and most award-winning anime films of all time, including Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Howl’s Moving Castle, Princess Mononoke, and Ponyo on the Cliff By The Sea. All of these films and more will be celebrated and brought to life like never before in the new Ghibli Park set to open this November.
What To Expect From The World’s First Studio Ghibli
Since the Ghibli park was first announced, excited fans have been waiting with bated breath for more news. Thankfully, their long wait is almost over. For the last year or so, Studio Ghibli has been gradually revealing more detailed information about what the park would contain as well as a series of stunning artist impressions of the park’s zones. This was followed by the launch of a beautiful Ghibli Park official website. Studio Ghibli then released a series of teaser photos and videos, including this thrilling and atmospheric trailer from Aichi Tourism Bureau: on Youtube.
Since then, Studio Ghibli has been posting more and more teasers on their social media accounts, as the build-up to the official opening gets ever closer. This teaser (below) was one of the most recent videos and shows off the finished park, its many beautiful, iconic attractions and even delicious-looking bento boxes based on food from the films:
Now that the park is officially open from November, we have much more of an idea of what to expect from phase one, which opens this year, and future phases in 2023-4 and beyond. Let’s give you a quick rundown. Overall, the new park will feature five areas spread over an impressive 7.1 hectares, each inspired by and bringing to life one of Studio Ghibli’s films. These areas are: The Hill of Youth, Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse, Mononoke’s Village, Valley of Witches and Dondoko Forest.
1.) The Hill of Youth
(c) Studio Ghibli - all rights reserved.
A quaint-looking suburban area filled with lush greenery and pretty buildings inspired by Whispers of the Heart, The Cat Returns, and more. Hill of Youth serves as the park’s official entrance with architecture inspired by Western Tokyo’s Seiseki-Sakuragaoka neighbourhood.
2.) Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse
(c) Studio Ghibli - all rights reserved.
An expansive indoor area with large roof, playgrounds, shops, restaurants, and shops, including the famous sky garden from Laputa: Castle in the Sky, a giant Cat bus from My Neighbour Totoro, the mysterious tunnel that takes the main character to another world in Spirited Away, and an area of giant objects from Arrietty. The grand warehouse also features a small cinema with 170 seats.
3.) Mononoke’s Village
(c) Studio Ghibli - all rights reserved.
A full recreation of the Muromachi period irontown of Tatara-ba from the film, Princess Mononoke, surrounded by dense, magical woodland, with characters and creatures from the story.
4.) Valley of Witches
(c) Studio Ghibli - all rights reserved.
Drawing inspiration from the films Howl’s Moving Castle and Kiki’s Delivery Service, this area features a townscape and landscaped green area. Arguably the highlight will be a 16-metre tall recreation of Howl’s Moving Castle itself complete with moving cannons. This is surely going to be one of the park’s many highlights.
5.)Dondoko Forest
(c) Studio Ghibli - all rights reserved.
A rural landscape with Showa period architecture, this area will feature Satsuki and Mei’s house from one of the studio’s best loved films, My Neighbour Totoro.
As well as these main areas, Ghibli Park will feature a wealth of interactive features, playgrounds, cafes and restaurants (with the aforementioned Ghibli themed food and drink), and much more, all inspired by the films. The studio has been keen to express that the park is not a typical theme park with rides like Disney or Universal, but more of an experience akin to stepping into another world rather than a funfair.
While the majority of Ghibli Park will open this month, Mononoke’s Village in 2023 and the Valley of Witches will follow in 2024. Admission to the Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park is free, but there are priced tickets for the Ghibli Park. Visit the Ghibli Park official website for more info. At present, tickets are available via a lottery system, online, or bought in person from a Lawson or Ministop shops.
Ghibli Park: Key Facts
Opens on 1 November 2022.
Located in Nagakute, Aichi Prefecture.
Covers 7.1 hectares of land.
Three main areas will be open this year - Hill of Youth, Dondoko Forest, and Ghibli Grand Warehouse.
Two more areas - Mononoke Village and Valley of Witches - will open by 2024.
Photographs are permitted at Ghibli Park - unlike the Ghibli Museum in Tokyo.
A hand-drawn official park guide was announced in October.
Tickets are available in-person from particular Japanese shops and online.
How To Get To The Ghibli Park
As we mentioned above, the new Ghibli Park will be located within the Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park (also known as Moricoro Park) in Nagakute City near Nagoya. Travel to Nagoya - a major city which famously has the world’s biggest train station - is easy from other major Japanese cities (such as Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka) using the Japan Rail Pass and the JR Tokaido Shinkansen, specifically the Hikari Shinkansen, which stops at Nagoya. Once in Nagoya, you can use the subway, specifically the Higashiyama Line and the Linimo followed by the Tobu Kyuryo Line to get to Nagakute City. It takes one hour to get from Nagoya to Nagakute and you should get off at the Aichikyuhaku-Kinen-Koen Station for the Expo 2005 Park. As a bonus, read our guide to Activating Your JR Pass at Nagoya Station. You may also want to invest in a prepaid travel card such as an ICOCA, PASMO or Suica card, for subways, as well as a JR Pass for getting around the rest of the country. Check out our Top 30 Tips for Using Japan’s Metros for advice and guidance on using the city’s subway network.
Studio Ghibli Museum
As mentioned above, the Ghibli Park is not the studio’s first foray into creating a visitor attraction for its fans. Arguably one of Japan’s most in-demand attractions in recent years, the Studio Ghibli Museum is notoriously difficult to get tickets for, and they must be booked in advance. Located in Mitaka, Japan, the museum opened in 2001 and quickly became an integral part of any anime tour through Japan. Characteristics of the building’s design — such as the maze of spiral staircases, bridged passages, and overhanging terraces — often reflect storyboards of Hayao Miyazaki’s films. Widely considered ‘Japan’s Walt Disney’ by westerners, Miyazaki is Ghibli Museum’s director and designer as well. The museum’s storybook-like world exhibits an uplifting experience that will leave all who enter with an enriched feeling that may not have been there when they first entered. Although currently closed, the museum should open as normal again in the near future. To find the Ghibli Museum by rail, take the JR Chuo Line from Shinjuku Station to Mitaka Station. From the south exit of JR Mitaka Station, it’s a 15-minute walk to the museum. A community bus runs from JR Mitaka Station to the museum. Travelers can purchase bus tickets at the vending machine by bus stop No. 9. For more, read our guide to Studio Ghibli Museum Tour, Tickets, and Travel Information.
Bonus Recommendations
Japan has officially reopened to international travellers! Find out everything you need to know in our in-depth guide to Japan Reopening for Tourists.
Now that Japan is open, we know. But when should you visit this incredible country? Read our guide to When To Visit Japan for lots of helpful advice.
The island of Yakushima in southern Japan is home to a fairy-tale forest so magical that it inspired Hayao Miyazaki, the genius behind Studio Ghibli, to include it in one of his animated masterpieces, Princess Mononoke. Find out how to visit it in our guide to Visit Yakushima: the Real-Life Forest from Princess Mononoke.
If you love Studio Ghibli, there’s a very good chance you enjoy all things anime and cosplay too. You can find out lots more about everything related to this in our guide to Japan for Games, Otaku and J-Culture.
Similarly, Ghibli lovers will also find much to enjoy from the world of Japanese Manga and Anime. Our guide to The Top 10 Manga and Anime to Read will help you get acquainted with these world-famous exports.
Finally, for something similar (but also a little different) why not also consider a trip to Japan’s delightful Snoopy Museum in Tokyo.
D.J. Thomson
D.J Thomson is a freelance journalist, blogger, and experienced traveller who has worked for a wide range of newspapers, magazines, websites, international businesses, and other global organisations. Based in the UK, D.J has more than 20 years' experience as a professional writer.
