Japan Nagoya Castle with Cherry Blossoms Sakura

You are here

TRAVEL NEWS: All about Japan’s new Ghibli Park!

5th October 2022

 

Love Studio Ghibli? 

Japan is about to open the world's first Ghibli Park.

Image by Gemma Edwards

I’m probably (read: definitely) biased.

My love for Ghibli films was a seed planted in my heart in childhood that has only continued to blossom since then. I have a deep connection to the environmental messages coded in Ghibli films, and believe the whimsy and soulfulness is a remedy for the spiritual poverty we face in the modern world (not to be dramatic).

But biased and melodramatic or not, there’s no denying that there’s a special soulfulness to Ghibli films. They’re at once melancholic and joyous; a fantastical escape for children, and a call to environmental activism for adults. This beloved animation studio changed the world’s perception of anime as something exclusively for kids, to an artform in its own right – with the Oscar award-winning films enjoyed by children and adults alike.

Ranging from the playful and innocent My Neighbour Totoro, to the grim and soul-heaving Princess Mononoke, every Ghibli film tugs on the heartstrings and inspires hope and wonder, joy and astonishment, and a deep empathy for the world and all beings within it.

And as of November 1st 2022, you can step into the magical world of Studio Ghibli in a brand new way – Ghibli Park.

How is the Ghibli Park different to the Ghibli Museum?

Images by Gemma Edwards

Of course, if you’re a Ghibli lover and have been to Japan before, you’ve probably already explored the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Tokyo.

I was lucky enough to live in the neighbourhood when I spent a year in Tokyo, and so can tell you first-hand that it’s a truly magical and immersive experience.

The official name is Museo d’Arte Ghibli, (in Italian because the brilliant director, Miyazaki, has a special fondness for the country and its landscape features a lot in Ghibli films).

As its name suggests, this museum focusses on the art of Studio Ghibli.

In the museum, you can also watch special-made short films exclusive to the museum cinema, and the entire colourful building is filled with intricate details from floor to ceiling.

It doesn’t take long to walk the entire area, but you get so lost in the art and whimsy of it all that it’s very easy to spend several hours there.

Images by Gemma Edwards

TRAVEL TIP

If you’re on a Ghibli pilgrimage in Tokyo, don’t forget to check out Shirohige’s Cream Puff Factory in Setagaya – the only official baker of Totoro Cream Puffs (known as シュークリーム shūkurīmu in Japanese).

Shūkurīmu is the Japanese rendition of the French choux crème, (also known as profiteroles).

They’re one of my absolute favourite Japanese sweets - light, fluffy, crisp choux pastry wrapped around a delicious and creamy custard filling that puts the runny custard you know to shame. This delicious Japanese dessert is made even sweeter by the adorable Totoro shape.

As for the Ghibli Park…

It’s a different experience entirely.

The Ghibli Park is designed to bring scenes to life, so you can walk through the different magical worlds in Ghibli Films. It’s much larger than the Ghibli museum, and in a different prefecture – located in Aichi, just outside Nagoya.

What can I expect from the new Ghibli Park?

Ghibli Park Concept. Image by Studio Ghibli.

Firstly, there’s Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse – an indoor exhibit where you can find restaurants, movie screenings, various shops, play areas, and more Ghibli whimsy.

Then there’s Dondoko Forest, the enchanted forest where My Neighbour Totoro is set. Here, you can find the Satsuki and Mei’s house.

The final area to visit once doors open in November is The Hill of Youth; which merges the 19th century European worlds of Laputa: Castle in the Sky and Howl’s Moving Castle. There’s also a real-life version of the antique shop featured in Whisper of the Heart and The Cat Returns.

In 2023, there’s more to be revealed, with plans to open Mononoke Village, a recreation of Irontown (or Tatara-ba in the original Japanese version) with a life-size statue of Okkoto, the ancient Boar God. Ghibli Park will also unveil the Valley of Witches, where you’ll find Kiki’s house, and the bakery from where she ran her magical delivery service (yes, you will be able to purchase pastries here!), as well as a 16 metre tall replica of Howl’s Moving Castle.

How do I get tickets?

Similar to the Ghibli museum, there are set dates where you can order tickets, and you can only enter with a pre-purchased ticket. According to the official Ghibli Park video, tickets will be available on the 10th of every month. You’ll need to get a different ticket for each of the park areas.

TIP:  It’s cheaper on weekdays than weekends.

How much does it cost?

 

In Japanese Yen (JPY):

The Great Warehouse: Weekday ¥2000 JPY, Weekend ¥2500 JPY (children ¥1000-1250 JPY). 
Hill of Youth: Weekday and Weekends ¥1000 JPY (children ¥500 JPY).
Dondoko Forest: Weekday and Weekends ¥1000 JPY (children ¥500 JPY.

Next year, when Mononoke Village and Valley of Witches open, it will most likely be priced about the same as the other exhibit areas.

This means for a full day for a family of two adults and two children visiting on a weekday in 2022, it would cost about ¥12,000 JPY (approximately $136 AUD) or ¥13,500 JPY (approx. $153AUD) on a weekend.

Come and visit us at Travel Money Oz to grab your Japanese Yen (JPY)!

 

Japan is primarily a cash country, so you’ll want to take Japanese Yen (JPY) for all your day-to-day transactions (food, market stalls, public transport, temple and shrine offerings etc).

For bigger purchases and hotel reservations, pay with your Travel Money Oz Currency Pass

There’s also heaps of ATMs found in Japanese convenience stores (affectionately known as コンビニ konbini), but be savvy about fees.

For more info on planning travel money for your Japanese holiday, see our Destination Guide and How Much Money do I Need to Travel Japan blog.

For more inspo for your Japanese holiday, read our Japan: Broke vs Baller blog, Japan: Your Guide to Japanese Festivals blog, Japan: 8 Best Things to Do on a Budget blog, and Japan: 5 Cool New Things To Do blog.

REFERENCES:

 

Boo-Woo Tickets. (2022). Ghibli Park Admission Tickets. https://l-tike.com/bw-ticket/ghibli/ghibli-park/
(Official) Ghibli Park Website. (2022). What is Ghibli Park? https://ghibli-park.jp/en/about/
(Official) Ghibli Museum, Mitaka Website. (2022). Welcome to The Space of Wonder. https://www.ghibli-museum.jp/en/welcome/
Greuner, Tabea. (2022). Everything we know so far about the world’s first Ghibli Park. Time Out Tokyo. https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/news/what-we-know-so-far-about-the-worlds-...
Moon, Kat. (2021). How Spirited Away Changed Animation Forever. Time Magazine. https://time.com/6081937/spirited-away-changed-animation-studio-ghibli/
Nagase, Youka. (2022). Here’s how to get tickets for Ghibli Park – and what they cost. Time Out Tokyo. https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/news/heres-how-to-get-tickets-for-ghibli-p...
Westgeest, Nora. (2022). All About the Ghibli Park Opening Its Doors This November. Tokyo Weekender. https://www.tokyoweekender.com/2022/09/ghibli-park-opening/