Perfect Guide to Ghibli Park

Yusuke-s
Update: Nov 22, 2023

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The new biggest Studio Ghibli themed facility Ghibli Park is opening at Aichi Earth Expo Memorial Park, which is also known as Moricoro Park, in November, 2022. The whole park that is larger than other famous theme parks all over Japan represents the world of the Studio Ghibli movies.

Fans of Studio Ghibli had been already given the opportunity to enjoy other Ghibli attractions such as Ghibli Museum in Tokyo and Satsuki and Mei’s House in the park. However, Ghibli Park is the first chance to touch the enormous authentic world of the greatest works in the forest preserving its nature as much as possible.

At the opening of Ghibli Park, three areas are available: Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse, Hill of Youth and Dondoko Forest. They will be followed by additional areas such as Valley of Witches and Mononoke Village within 2023.

For every fan of Studio Ghibli both in Japan and overseas, here is the perfect guide to Ghibli Park with its highlights, ticket information and other related events. Don’t miss the chance to get to the heart of the renowned Japanese anime studio!

Highlights of Ghibli Park

There are three major areas opening at the beginning in the site while some new themed zones are being developed. Let’s see things to do in each area highlighting the unique character of Ghibli Park!

Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse

Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse is one of the eye-catchers in Ghibli Park, where a fantastical town is formed in the building. It consists of an exhibition, a playing room for kids, a video theater room, a cafe, a shop and so on.

Cinema Orion

Cinema Orion is one of the main facilities in Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse. The theater has about 170 sheets to show 10 short Studio Ghibli films on a rotating basis, which you had been able to watch only at Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Tokyo.

Three Exhibitions

There are three exhibitions with the theme of Studio Ghibli movies in the early stage of Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse. For example, they focuse on life-sized recreations of some famous scenes and foods from Ghibli movies.

Garden in the Sky

Yubaba’s Office

Cat Bus Room

The House under the Floorboards and the garden of Tiny People

Children’s Town

Central Stairs

Minami-machi

Philosophy Club Room

Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse Shop: Adventurous Flying Squadron

Café: Transcontinental Flight

Milk Stand: Siberi❆An

Hill of Youth

In the Hill of Youth area, the real-life Earth Shop from Whisper of the Heart sits on the hill. You can have a grandstand view of the entire park on the building balcony that you must have seen in the romantic drama movie.

Elevator Tower

Earth Shop (Chikyuya)

Cat Office

Rotary Square

Dondoko Forest

Dondoko Forest is the symbolic area based on one of Hayao Miyazaki’s masterpieces My Neighbor Totoro. It features Satsuki and Mei’s House, which has been well known as the recreation of their house in the movie since it was founded for Expo 2005 in Aichi. In addition, there is a playground called Dondokodo that only children can enter.

Satsuki and Mei’s House

Dondoko-do

Mononoke Village

The section Mononoke Village, themed after Hayao Miyazaki’s 1997 masterpiece Princess Mononoke, opened on November 1, 2023. It is an area in Ghibli Park that reflects the traditional Japanese rural landscape seen in the movie. You can see statues of iconic characters from the film, such as Lord Okkoto and the Demon Spirit. At the Tatara-ba Learning Center, you can enjoy unique experiences like making Gohei Mochi, a local traditional dish.

Tatara-ba Learning Center

Lord Okkoto Slide

Demon Spirit Structure

Valley of Witches

Similar to Mononoke Village, the Valley of Witches is a second-phase opening section, scheduled to open on March 16, 2024. This theme park section is based on witches. The highlight is undoubtedly the building that magnificently replicates Howl’s Castle. Inside, you can view areas such as the living room with Calcifer’s familiar hearth and Howl’s bedroom.

Moreover, in Valley of Witches, there is a two-story Hatter’s Millinery, inspired by the hat shop run by the protagonist Sophie in Howl’s Moving Castle. From Kiki’s Delivery Service, The Okino Residence and Guchokipanya Bakery, where the protagonist Kiki grew up, are also recreated, complete with an adjacent lush garden. Speaking of witches, Earwig and the Witch is not to be missed, and you can also see The House of Witches from Earwig and the Witch.

How to Get to Ghibli Park

It takes less than an hour to get from Nagoya Station to the nearest Aichikyuhaku-kinen-koen Station by Higashiyama Line and Linimo (formally known as Aichi Rapid Transit Tobu Kyuryo Line).

-Taking Higashiyama Line from Nagoya Station, Aichi’s largest train and Shinkansen station, to Fujigaoka Station (28 minutes).

-At Fujigaoka Station, making a transfer to Linimo for Aichikyuhaku-kinen-koen Station (13 minutes).

▽This is a perfect access guide from Tokyo▽

How to Get to Ghibli Park from Tokyo Best Way to Get to Ghibli Park from Tokyo jw-webmagazine.com

How to Get Tickets for Ghibli Park

It is required to get a pre-ordered ticket to admit the park, which is sold on a first-come-first-served basis through online ticket services Boo-Woo Ticket and Lawson Ticket or a ticket dispensing system Loppi located at Lawson convenience stores. Reservations goes on sale from 2:00 p.m. (JST) on the 10th of each month for visits three months later. For example, tickets for April are offered from the 10th of January.

Tickets are available for purchase internationally from the beginning of 2023! International tickets that you can book in English are released at different times, so check the guide below.

▽More details to get Ghibli Park tickets from overseas!▽

How to Buy Tickets for Ghibli Park from Overseas Ghibli Park: How to get tickets for the Ghibli Park from abroad jw-webmagazine.com