Ghibli Park, a Magical World Where Fans’ Dreams Come True

The Oscar-winning Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli is making fans' dreams of diving into the world of their favorite films come true. The physical manifestation of Ghibli's unique fictional universe has been accepting visitors since 2022, and the second phase was just completed at the beginning of this year.

Toromon Gate from Spirited Away (cr: Studio Ghibli)

Unlike traditional amusement parks with rides and attractions, Ghibli Park focuses on immersing visitors in the atmosphere of Ghibli's creations so that the small details become a priority. To make this happen, Goro Miyazaki, a landscape architect and animation director, as well as the son of Studio Ghibli founder Hayao Miyazaki, was in charge of being the park’s director and lead designer.

Totoro from My Neighbor Totoro (cr: Studio Ghibli)

Elevator Tower from Castle in the Sky and Howl's Moving Castle (cr: Studio Ghibli)

The 200-hectare park was built at the Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park near Nagoya. The development considered the site's historical origins while effectively using unused land and existing facilities. This park is divided into five areas with two building phases.

A magical world inside the Ghibli's Grand Warehouse (cr: Studio Ghibli)

This first phase of the park features three different areas: Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse, Hill of Youth, and Dondoko Forest. This area contains exhibition galleries, children's playrooms, and souvenir shops with designs featuring scenes from 13 films, including the famous animation Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro.

A sculpture of Yubaba from Spirited Away (cr: Studio Ghibli)

Dondoko Forest (cr: Studio Ghibli)

Inside the Grand Warehouse, visitors can view a collection of posters, film and music packaging, books, and more, watch screenings of original animated shorts, walk through a replica of the Ghibli world, and even act as their favorite characters. In the Hill of Youth area, visitors will find the Elevator Tower with a late 19th-century sci-fi architectural style that appeared in Castle in the Sky and Howl's Moving Castle, World Emporium from the film Whisper of the Heart, a cat-sized one-story wooden building The Cat Bureau from The Cat Returns, and more. Meanwhile, Dondoko Forest displays various features such as Satsuki and Mei's house and various objects and characters from My Neighbor Totoro’s setting.

Satsuki and Mei’s House from My Neighbor Totoro (cr: Studio Ghibli)

The Cat Bureau from The Cat Returns (cr: Studio Ghibli)

Meanwhile, the new area that fans have been waiting for is Mononoke Village, which is inspired by Princess Mononoke, and Valley of Witches, which adapts the animated world of Kiki's Delivery Service, Howl's Moving Castle, and Earwig and the Witch. Mononoke Village is a Japanese mountain village landscape with various features such as hands-on learning on making a local specialty called Gohei-mochi in an iconic grass-roofed house, several sculptures of characters, and a shop building that was once an office building for Expo 2005 Aichi. Valley of Witches offers European-style city views with several iconic spots such as Guchokipanya Bakery, Howl's Castle and The House of Witches, as well as Carousel and Flying Machine.

Howl’s Moving Castle (cr: Studio Ghibli)

Tatara-ba and character sculpture of Princess Mononoke (cr: Studio Ghibli)

Seeing various architecture, settings, and characters emerge from your favorite movies almost feels like living in a magical dreamland. Ghibli Park, which has now been completed, has successfully attracted fans from all over the world to visit.