Travel to Japan in the footsteps of My Neighbor Totoro
- Published on : 22/05/2026
- by : Phoebe
- Youtube
My neighbor Totoro
@Wesley Chan on Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
There are many places in Japan that served as inspiration for the setting of Hayao Miyazaki's film "My Neighbor Totoro". From the home of Mei and Satsuki, the film's two heroines, to the Sayama hills forest, follow in the footsteps of one of Japan's most famous fictional characters with Japan Experience.
Totoro, an atypical neighbor who has become a symbol of Japan
Totoro, Studio Ghibli's iconic mascot, was born in 1988 . The eponymous hero of the film My Neighbor Totoro, Totoro is a forest spirit in the shape of a gigantic cat.
This imaginary being meets Mei and Satsuki, two curious little girls full of life, when they move into a house just a stone's throw from a clearing. Endearing and full of humor, Totoro takes them on a poetic adventure, during which the two girls discover everyday life under the benevolent gaze of the yokai, the spirits that inhabit the surrounding area.
A box-office smash, My Neighbor Totoro remains one of Hayao Miyazaki's most emblematic films to this day. Ghibli 's mascot enjoys great popularity in the archipelago, and many goodies featuring him are popping up everywhere, as are places dedicated to him.
My neighbor Totoro
@Widescreen
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The places that inspired My Neighbor Totoro
1. Nagakute (Aichi), Mei and Satsuki's home
You can visit Mei and Satsuki's house in the small town of Nagakute, Aichi Prefecture. Built for the 2005 World's Fair, whose theme was "Wise Nature", it now stands in the Ai Chikyuhaku Kinen Koen park.
A tribute to nature, Mon Voisin Totoro fits perfectly into this setting: the house of the two little girls symbolizes the harmony between human beings and their environment.
It's not just a re-creation of a film set: the house also provides an insight into the rural lifestyle of the 1950s. Visitors can wander freely through the house and admire furnishings faithful to those in the film, combining authenticity with an educational dimension.
Mei and Satsuki's house
@anthodomi on Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0
2. Sayama Hills, the yokai forest
The forest where Totoro lives is located some forty kilometers from Tokyo. It's Sayama Hills, in Saitama Prefecture, a forest popular with hikers and said to have inspired Studio Ghibli's sets.
With its winding paths through the trees, its agricultural crops and lost temples, the "Totoro Forest", as it's known, will delight all lovers of the film. Fans will undoubtedly recognize some familiar elements, such as the cornfield or the residential area, and may even come across the master of the place: a giant Totoro enthroned on the forecourt of a small wooden house.
Lost in the heart of the city, the forest also appeals to nature lovers. Bordered by Sayama Lake, it is home to several species of birds and plants protected by the Totoro no Furusato (Totoro Foundation), an organization dedicated to preserving the natural environment of Sayama Hills.
Lake Sayama
Pixabay
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Totoro locations in Japan
While the house in Nagakute and Sayama Hills were the inspiration for the film's sets, there are also many places in Japan that were in turn inspired by My Neighbor Totoro. Starting with the Ghibli Museum, home of Miyazaki's universe.
1. The Ghibli Museum (Tokyo)
Located in Mitaka, the Ghibli Museum is probably the most popular tourist attraction in western Tokyo. Home to many production secrets, its interior has always remained hidden from prying eyes, as photography is forbidden inside the museum.
That said, some photographable spots have revealed their share of mystery, including a giant Totoro at the museum reception desk and a cat-bus (another iconic character from the film), often reproduced in other museums during short-lived exhibitions on the theme of Miyazaki's work.
2. The bus stop (Miyazaki)
In the town of Takaharu in Miyazaki Prefecture, a couple in their seventies had the bright idea of reproducing the bus stop where Mei and Satuski wait for the cat-bus. Comprising a stop sign and a Totoro, the bus stop is now a popular photo spot for Ghibli fans around the world.
3. Themed stores
Whether in Tokyo, Kyoto, or Kamakura, there are many Ghibli stores in Japan. They sell goodies featuring the franchise's characters, including a number of items bearing the image of the funny gray tomcat.
Totoro bus stop (Miyazaki)
@Wikimedia, royalty-free
Follow in Totoro's footsteps with the Japan Rail Pass
The Japan Rail Pass or JR Pass is a single pass giving unlimited access to the JR (Japan Railways) network in Japan for 7, 14 or 21 days. It's the most economical and by far the most practical option for those wishing to travel by train in Japan.
Shinkansen
@unsplash
4. Shirohige Cream Puff Factory (Tokyo)
Did you always think Totoro was so chewy? Then the Shirohige Cream Puff Factory might be just the thing for you. Located in Setagaya, this little café offers delicious cream puffs in the shape of Totoro. Custard, chocolate, matcha (among others), there's something for everyone!
Shirohige Cream Puff Factory
@City Foodsters on Flickr, CC BY 2.0
5. Ghibli Park (Nagoya)
Ghibli Park is not a traditional amusement park. Located in the heart of nature in Nagakute (close to Mei and Satsuki's home), the park is designed to be explored on foot. Designed to be explored on foot, it blends in with nature to let you experience the films from the inside.
Ghibli Park is not your typical amusement park. Located near Nagoya, in Nagakute, it's a veritable poetic immersion in Studio Ghibli's sets. Designed to be explored on foot, it blends into the surrounding natural environment to let you experience the films from the inside. Five zones can be visited, including the Dondoko Forest, arranged around Mei and Satsuki's house.
Ghibli Park
@Koichi Unison on Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
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