What’s exciting inside Studio Ghibli’s theme park?

If you’ve ever seen a Studio Ghibli film, you’re probably familiar with the empty feeling of not living in a fantastical world full of forest spirits, teenage witches, and giant Totoros. Ghibli Park, inspired by the beloved films of the Japanese animation studio, is finally opening its doors to visitors. Let’s take a look around this amazing park.

Everything about Studio Ghibli’s theme park

The preliminary information has been revealed. The Studio Ghibli theme park recreates 13 famous animated scenes. including a seat next to a faceless ghost on Spirited Away’s mysterious train. The interior is divided into three sections: Ghibli Warehouse, Youth Hill, and Dondoko Forest, each with three special exhibition rooms, a shop, and a cafe. consisting of a large theatre room

Hill of Youth

The Hill of Youth is the gateway to this Ghibli wonderland, located near the Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park’s north entrance. An old pedestrian overpass has been converted into an observation tower that also serves as the main entrance. The elevator tower is decorated with fictitious 19th-century objects from Ghibli films such as “Laputa: Castle in the Sky” (1986) and “Howl’s Moving Castle” (2004). This orange building will be familiar to fans of the 1995 film ‘Whisper of the Heart,’ which was set in the Seiseki-Sakuragaoka neighborhood of Western Tokyo.

Ghibli’s Large Warehouse

A former public swimming pool that closed in September 2018 has been transformed into Ghibli’s Large Warehouse, which is three times the size of Tokyo’s Mitaka neighborhood’s Ghibli Museum. This section of the theme park will be protected from the elements, allowing you to enjoy the attractions regardless of the weather. The indoor area will include an exhibition hall, a children’s playground, shops, and restaurants, as well as a warehouse to house all of the exhibits. The exhibition space will include a small cinema with approximately 170 seats. The lively and eclectic setting will combine Japanese and Western architectural styles.

Sleeping Totoro

A space inspired by the enigmatic cityscape from the Oscar-winning film ‘Spirited Away’ is also in the works. Yubaba’s office will be featured. The famous tunnel that Chihiro travels through at the beginning of ‘Spirited Away’ is being built within the park.

Large Warehouse

Ghibli’s Large Warehouse will also include a section reminiscent of the setting of ‘Arrietty’ (2010). The right wall depicts the Borrowers’ family home, while the garden allows visitors to see the world through the eyes of the film’s tiny main protagonist, Arrietty.

Mononoke’s Village

Tatara-ba, the Irontown depicted in the film ‘Princess Mononoke,’ will be recreated in real life at Mononoke’s Village. Tatara is a traditional Japanese furnace for smelting iron and steel, and Mononoke is a spirit or supernatural monster. Within the premises, you’ll find statues of the powerful god of destruction (also known as ‘tatari gami’ in the film), the boar god Lord Okkoto, and other mythical creatures. The scenery transports you to a rural landscape from the Muromachi period (1336-1573), when the film is set.

Valley of Witches

The Valley of Witches’ design is inspired by ‘Howl’s Moving Castle and ‘Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989), both of which feature protagonists with magical abilities. This aerial view of a European townscape depicts restaurants, parks, and rest areas. You’ll have the opportunity to visit Kiki’s family home, which is surrounded by trees and a lavender garden. Visitors can even explore the inside of the house and spend time in Kiki’s room based on this artist’s impression.

Dondoko Forest

The Dondoko Forest, surrounded by lush nature, resembles a rural landscape from the Showa period (1926-1989) and features Satsuki and Mei’s house from ‘My Neighbor Totoro.’ The name of the area comes from the dondoko dance, which the two sisters perform with the spirit Totoro in the hopes that the seeds they sowed will grow.

The Cat Returns Play Area

The film ‘The Cat Returns’ inspired this play area near Mononoke’s Village (2002). The adorable playground includes slides, a maze, and a zip line with a Tarzan rope. It will open in the summer of 2023, and the best part is that admission will be free because it is located within a public section of the Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park.

We can’t wait to enter Studio Ghibli’s fantasy world after seeing these preliminary images of the incredibly ambitious Ghibli Park. But this isn’t your average theme park. There are no Ghibli-themed roller coasters or rides, nor are there character greeting events or Ghibli movie music playing over speakers. Like this post? Don’t forget to check out our other short stories in our Quick Read section