The long-awaited Park Ghibli, in Japan, is now open.

Studio Ghibli amusement park. They finally opened Ghibli Park. The long-awaited Park Ghibli, in Japan, is now open.

Studio Ghibli fans have another reason to travel to Japan. A new theme park dedicated to the productions of the popular animation company has finally opened in Aichi Prefecture, less than an hour by train from Kyoto.

Opening its doors on Tuesday, November 1, Ghibli Park brings to life some of the studio’s most beloved characters and scenes from the studio’s animations inside Aichi Earth Expo Memorial Park, the former grounds of Expo 2005.

“In the last three years, we have been in a very difficult situation due to covid-19, but even in the midst of the pandemic there was great joy… I feel that the opening of this exhibition at this time, when we are facing and overcoming firmly covid-19, it has great meaning,” said Koji Hoshino, president of Studio Ghibli Co., during an event held a few days before the park’s official opening.

The long-awaited Park Ghibli, in Japan, is now open.

The Dondoko Forest area houses the house of “My Neighbor Totoro” as well as a wooden statue of Totoro.

(Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images)

Since construction began, in 2020 (the news had been spread a few years earlier), small snippets of the park’s design have been shared.

Now that it’s open, fans of the Japanese animation studio’s works can look for soot spirits in the house of Satsuki and Mei from “My Neighbor Totoro,” or sit quietly on a train next to Sin Cara from “The Journey.” of Spirited Away.”

Para aquellos que no están familiarizados con las obras del Studio Ghibli, “Mi vecino Totoro” es una animación de 1988 sobre dos hermanas jóvenes, Satsuki y Mei, que se hacen amigas de las criaturas fantásticas en su nuevo hogar en el campo mientras esperan que su madre se recupere de una larga enfermedad.

For those unfamiliar with the works of Studio Ghibli, “My Neighbor Totoro” is a 1988 animation about two young sisters, Satsuki and Mei, who befriend the fantastical creatures in their new country home while waiting for them to die. your mother recovers from a long illness.

“Spirited Away” is an Academy Award-winning animation about a brave girl named Chihiro and her magical adventure to save her parents and friends.

First of all a park

Park Ghibli’s castle in the sky elevator tower.

According to those involved in the development of the Ghibli Park, visitors will not find a typical theme park.

The park’s website even warns that “there are no big rides or rides at Park Ghibli.”

Instead, he encourages guests to “take a walk, feel the wind and discover the wonders.”

“Although I am looking forward to the opening of the park, I am also worried about whether people will really come and enjoy it,” director Goro Miyazaki, the son of Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki, said during a promotional event ahead of the park’s opening. .

As for the park’s inspiration, the director says it was designed with the locals in mind.

“People think it’s a theme park, but I’ve always wanted it to be just a park. I think parks are for the locals first and foremost, so I want the people of Aichi to love it more than anyone else.” Even if the visitors don’t come at first, I would love it if the locals could take a look at the entrance and visit the exhibition.”

Five areas including an inner Ghubli city

With an extension of about 70,000 square meters, the Ghibli Park will finally have five different areas. Currently, three are open to visitors.

The Ghibli Department Store is the main area of the park.

It’s a huge “city” filled with streets, exhibits, and famous scenes from Studio Ghibli movies, including the Robot Soldier from “Castle in the Sky” and a life-size Catbus from “Totoro.”

A cinema screens short films available exclusively in the new park and at the Ghibli Museum in Tokyo.

There are also children’s play rooms, retro streets, gift shops and two cafes.

The second area now open to visitors is the Hill of Youth, where visitors can find the antique shop for “Whispers of the Heart,” a romantic musical, and its spin-off film “The Return of the Cat.”

It also has a viewpoint with a panoramic view of the park.

Dondoko Forest, the third region currently inaugurated, is dedicated to “My Neighbor Totoro”. It features the house from the movie and a Totoro-themed playground.

The two areas yet to be opened are Mononoke Village, which references “Princess Mononoke” and her adventures among the great animal gods of the forest, and the Valley of the Witches, which will include parts of “The Incredible Castle.” Tramp”, about a young milliner who accidentally gets caught up in a war, and “Kiki: Home Deliveries”, about a serious and hard-working young witch. (An artist’s rendering shows a teacup decorated with Kiki’s cat, Jiji.)

According to Park Ghibli officials, both Mononoke Village and the Valley of the Witches will open in 2023.

How to visit Park Ghibli?

The Ghibli Park is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday (except during school holidays) and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to 5 p.m. on holidays and weekends. Closed on Tuesdays (unless Tuesday is a holiday).

There is no general admission ticket for the park. Instead, tickets for each of the areas need to be reserved in advance, with costs ranging from 1,000 Yuan or US$6.70 (for Youth Hill and Dondoko Forest) to 2,500 or US$16. .90 (for Ghibli Department Store, on weekends and holidays).

The option to make reservations through the park’s official website is not yet available. For now, visitors need to book their tickets and select the entrance times for the different areas on this ticket booking website (Japanese only).

Aichi Earth Expo Memorial Park is located east of the city of Nagoya, which is less than two hours from Tokyo or about 50 minutes from Osaka and Kyoto by train.