Ghibli Park ジブリパーク

  • Published on : 01/11/2022
  • by : Japan Experience

Everything you need to know about the Studio Ghibli theme park

Located in the Aichi Expo Memorial Park, near the city of Nagoya, Ghibli Park is the most prominent attraction of the end of the year. After 5 years of construction, it is about to officially open its doors on November 1st. What should you expect? How can you book your ticket to Wonderland? Let's take a look.

 

An ode to nature

Contrary to the most famous amusement parks, such as Disneyland, Ghibli park does not rely on its rides. And for good reason: there will be none (or almost).

As in the films of the franchise, the park is intended to be an ode to nature. It has been designed to minimize its impact on the environment and be one with the 7.1 hectares of green grass that host it. “If trees were on the construction sites of certain buildings, we transplanted them." confided Goro Miyazaki, the prodigal son of the master of the walls and producer of several studio classics.

With an investment of around 34 billion yen (240 million euros), the park is destined to be a major asset for the region. We would even speak of a “symbol”, even an “ambassador” of Japanese culture, according to the governor of Aichi, Hideaki Omura, questioned on the subject during a recent press conference.

Currently, 1.8 million visitors ready to discover the bucolic world of the country's most emblematic animation studio are expected annually!

 

Parc Ghibli

© Studio Ghibli

Parc Ghibli

© Studio Ghibli

Parc Ghibli

© Studio Ghibli

"Hill of Youth"

Gateway to the world of Miyazaki, the “Hill of Youth” is located near the old north entrance of the exhibition park.

One after the other, discover life-size reproductions of the franchise's flagship works, such as Castle in the Sky (1986), Howl's Moving Castle (2004), or The Cat Returns (2002).

Among the points of interest, there will be an old pedestrian bridge converted into an observation tower which will offer a global view of the park. The latter will feature post-industrial architecture, such as can be seen in the successes of the studio.

Fans of Whisper of the Heart (1995) will also be seduced by a setting inspired by the Seiseki-Sakuragaoka district (Tokyo), where the sets of the story would be planted. Here you will find the famous orange-colored antique shop, as well as the quaint atmosphere that brought the film to life.

 

Parc Ghibli

© Studio Ghibli

Parc Ghibli

© Studio Ghibli

Parc Ghibli

© Studio Ghibli

"Ghibli's Grand Warehouse"

It is a former public swimming pool – closed in 2018 – which served as the base for the large Ghibli warehouse. Three times larger than the Mitaka Museum, it houses an exhibition hall, a children's play area, shops, and restaurants. As well, it houses a movie theatre with approximately 170 seats, which rebroadcasts tour the 10 short films present at the Ghibli museum.

The showroom is then the heart of this space. It stages the sets of 13 major works of the franchise, including Spirited Away (2001) and the office of his witch, a reconstruction of the celestial garden of the Castle in the Sky, the catbus of My Neighbor Totoro (1988), and a room specially designed to pay homage to table scenes with plastic reproductions of the studio's most famous dishes!

You will particularly appreciate the finesse and the attention to detail, which goes as far as the reconstitution of the drops of water in Arrietty's house (Arrietty the Borrower (2010)).

 

« Le Grand Entrepôt » (Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse)

© Studio Ghibli

« Le Grand Entrepôt » (Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse)

© Studio Ghibli

« Le Grand Entrepôt » (Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse), Parc Ghibli

© Studio Ghibli

« Le Grand Entrepôt » (Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse), Parc Ghibli

© Studio Ghibli

“Dondoko Forest"

This fairy forest will make you walk on the footsteps of Totoro. As in the film, walk its paths and enjoy its playground. In the distance, you can see the heroines' house, as well as a 5m high wooden statue of our favorite neighbor !

 

"Mononoke Village"

Still closed to the public, the Mononoke village will be presented as a reconstruction of the Tataraba village, presented in Princess Mononoke (1997). Its decorations are inspired by Japanese landscapes that were then found in the Muromachi period (1336-1573), the period in which the story takes place. The opening is scheduled for fall 2023.

Parc Ghibli

© Studio Ghibli

« La Forêt de Dondoko » (Dondoko Forest), Parc Ghibli

© Studio Ghibli

« Le Village Mononoké » (Mononoke Village), Parc Ghibli

© Studio Ghibli

“Valley of Witches”

This enigmatic valley – still closed until 2023 – will include reproductions of the homes of Ghibli's most famous witches. You will also find Kiki's Bakery (Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)), where you can buy something to eat for the day. You will also find a 16m version of Howl's Moving Castle and its kitchen.

Parc Ghibli

© Studio Ghibli

«  La vallée des sorcières » (Valley of Witches), Parc Ghibli

© Studio Ghibli

Between Manga and Tradition


Address, timetable & access

  • Address

    1533-1 Ibaragabasama-otsu

    480-1342

    Japan

  • Timetable

    Opening: November 1, 2022

    Hours: 9am-4pm. Please note that each area has its own opening hours.
  • Price

    Price: varies according to the spaces
    Ghibli's Grand Warehouse : 2,000 yen (13.57 $) on weekdays for adults (child 1,000 yen =6.78 $), 2,500 yen (16,96 $) on weekends and holidays (child 1,250 yen (8.48 $))
    Hill of Youth: 1,000 yen for adults (child 500 yen = 3.39 $)
    Dondoko Forest: 1,000 yen for adults (child 500 yen)
  • Access

    From Nagoya Station: Meitetsu Bus Center – 4F Bus Stop No. 24 Bound for Aichi Expo Memorial Park
  • Website

    https://ghibli-park.jp/en/

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