More than five years after the initial announcement, Ghibli Park finally opened its doors to visitors in early November. And according to the early reactions, it was well worth the wait.
Ghibli Park is inspired by the animated works of Japan’s renowned Studio Ghibli. It features attractions based on Princess Mononoke, My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, and many of their other iconic animated movies.
Unlike most other theme parks, Ghibli Park doesn’t have rides or similar attractions. Instead, it features recreations of scenes seen in the Ghibli movies. This allows visitors to wander through the park, see their favorite locations and characters in person, and get immersed in the fantasy world of Ghibli.
“Take a stroll, feel the wind, and discover the wonders,” says the official website of the park.
At the moment, there are three areas open to public: Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse, The Hill of Youth, and Dondoko Forest. They will allow you to sit on a train next to No Face (Spirited Away), take a peek inside Satsuki and Mei’s house from My Neighbor Totoro, or explore Whisper of the Heart’s antique shop. Two more areas, Mononoke Village and Valley of Witches, are expected to be added at a later date.
Ghibli Park is located at Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park in Nagakute, Aichi, Japan. It will take you two hours from Tokyo to get here by train. It is open six days a week, being closed on Tuesdays, with tickets needing to be purchased online.
