The renowned Japanese animation Studio Ghibli, creator of such iconic films as My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, and Spirited Away, has enjoyed massive global success over the past several decades. The studio’s very own Ghibli Museum 三鷹の森ジブリ美術館, located in Mitaka, Tokyo, attracts visitors from around the world.
So, after Studio Ghibli came to an agreement with the Aichi Prefecture on May 31, 2017, it came as no surprise when they announced that they would be working on a Studio Ghibli-themed park called — you guessed it — Ghibli Park. Since its opening on November 1, 2022, the park has been filled with excitement and nostalgia for all the studio lovers who have visited it.
What is Ghibli Park?
Studio Ghibli was, is, and continues to be a cultural phenomenon, and Ghibli Park is an extension of this phenomenon. Much like Nintendo’s plans to open Super Nintendo World in Universal Studios Japan, this theme park aims to build on the studio’s decades of famed works and rich history to attract fans both domestically and abroad. However, unlike many other theme parks, this one is located inside a public park, namely the Moricoro Park (officially the Aichi Earth Expo Memorial Park / 愛・地球博記念公園). Don’t expect to find big rides or roller coasters, this theme park offers a unique sensory experience.
Ghibli Park is split into five distinct areas: the Hill of Youth Area 青春の丘エリア, the Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse Area ジブリの大倉庫エリア, the Mononoke Village Area もののけの里エリア, the Valley of Witches Area 魔女の谷エリア, and the Dondoko Forest Area どんどこ森エリア. In the latter area, there is a wooden playground called “Dondoko-do” どんどこ堂.
The Hill of Youth Area
Located in the northern section of Moricoro Park, the Hill of Youth area welcomes visitors into the world of Ghibli with a Howl’s Moving Castle-esque 19th century steampunk elevator. This area also features a 1990s Japanese residential district-inspired area featuring Whisper of the Heart’s antique shop, and The Cat Returns “Cat Bureau,” recreated as a cat-sized wooden one-story building, with furniture and accessories in miniature size.
The Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse Area
The Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse is an indoor area that replaces the heated swimming pool that closed in 2018, three times the size of the Ghibli Museum. It stores all of the Studio’s secrets, from large to small artifacts and exhibits from past Studio Ghibli movies. The Ghibli Warehouse also features permanent and temporary exhibition halls, a 170-seat theater, and a children’s play area. As an adult, I was a little jealous!
Among the exhibits there is Arrietty’s house set, complete with vegetation, allowing visitors to experience the perspective of “borrowers.” The area also hosts a reproduction of Laputa’s ruined garden and a large-scale flying ship, six meters long, from the movie Laputa, Castle in the Sky. And, of course, there is no shortage of stores, authentic Ali Baba’s caves for collectors.
The Mononoke Village Area
Mononoke Village Area is based on the Irontown building from Princess Mononoke. It features a reconstruction of Emishi Village, where Ashitaka lives at the beginning of the film, forest spirits’ statues, including kodama (little white spirits), and a replica of Lady Eboshi’s forge, where visitors can learn more about iron making.
The Dondoko Forest Area
The name of this area comes from the “Dondoko Odori” dance performed by Satsuki, Mei, and Totoro in a famous scene from My Neighbor Totoro. Also, much like the film, it focuses heavily on the theme of nature. Dondoko Forest is home to the small 1950s Japanese cottage featured in the anime, which you will be thrilled to enter.
On the hill behind the house, there is also a playground with wooden structures called Dondoko-do. Don’t miss the kawaii funicular called Dondoko-go.
The Valley of Witches Area
The Valley of the Witches Area is located in a large grassy area of the park, a space that was not used before the creation of Ghibli Park. This area is based on Howl’s Moving Castle and Kiki’s Delivery Service. It features a reproduction of Koriko village, where Kiki lives, the famous bakery, where visitors can buy bread inspired by the movie, and a recreation of Howl’s Moving Castle. Another reason to immerse yourself in this magical world.
Right: Concept drawings of the 16-meter Howl’s Moving Castle. Picture: Studio Ghibli
How Much Do Ghibli Park Tickets Cost?
If you want to enjoy Ghibli Park’s different areas, you have to go through the ticketing process. And Voyapon will tell you all about it.
Everything You Need to Know About the Ghibli Park Passes
Before we talk about pricing, it’s important to know that there are two passes available on the English-language website: the Ghibli Park O-Sanpo Day Pass and the Ghibli Park O-Sanpo Day Pass Premium. As the word “premium” suggests, there are some notable differences between these two passes. Although each pass offers access to all five zones, there are some locations, such as Satsuki and Mei’s house and the reproduction of the Wandering Castle, that you can only access with the premium pass. So if you want to see everything in one day and feel a bit VIP, we recommend the premium pass. Other more affordable passes offer reduced access to the park (between one and three places). But these passes are only available to residents of Japan.
The price for an adult on weekdays is 3,500 yen with the Ghibli Park O-Sanpo Day Pass and 7,300 yen with the Ghibli Park O-Sanpo Day Pass Premium (slightly more expensive on weekends). For children, the entrance fee is half-price and the entrance fee for children from 0 to 3 years old is free of charge. You can check the different prices and specific features on Ghibli Park’s official website.
How Can I Purchase Ghibli Park Tickets?
Since its opening, Ghibli Park has simplified its reservation system. Previously, you had to choose an entrance time for each zone, which made the experience more complicated. But now, you can enter the park with a single pass. When booking tickets, it is important to know that they are on sale in batches every month, the same as they do with the Ghibli Museum. They are available two months in advance, every 10th of each month at 2pm (Japan time). From overseas, there are two options: Lawson Ticket and Klook. From Japan, there is a specific website to book tickets.
There is only one requirement for booking: you have to select a time slot for the Ghibli Grand Warehouse. The time slots range from 9am to 3pm, in one-hour segments. Once you have chosen a time slot, you can enter the area at any time within that time slot. Finally, tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. So you will have to juggle between the virtual queue and your various devices (computer, phone, tablet) to maximize your chances of getting a ticket.
Access to Ghibli Park
Ghibli Park is located inside Aichi Prefecture’s Moricoro Park, known officially as Aichi Earth Expo Memorial Park, just east of Nagoya.
Train access: From Nagoya Station, take the Higashiyama subway line to Fujigaoka Station. Then change to the Linimo (リ ニ モ, Rinimo) magnetic levitation express train line to Aichikyuhaku Kinen Koen station and take Exit 2. It is easy to reach Nagoya by bullet train from Tokyo and Osaka, taking about 1h 40 min and 50 min, respectively.
Bus access: The park is also accessible via Meitetsu bus at the Aichikyuhaku Kinen Koen Station bus stop. The park is then about one minute’s walk from the bus stop.
Car access: There are several parking lots available for private vehicles. However, none are dedicated exclusively to Ghibli Park.
Ghibli Park is an incredible place for fans who want to enter the Studio Ghibli universe and relive the essence of its films. With every detail carefully designed, the park conveys the creativity and charm that have made the studio a benchmark in animation. Its opening marked the beginning of a unique destination that will continue to thrill generations of visitors.
Original article written by Joseph Wentz in November 2020
