Explorers! Prepare to embark on a brand new adventure in an animated world as Studio Ghibli joins the theme park scene.

Initially announced in 2017, Japan’s renowned animation company, Studio Ghibli, has finally opened its doors to the public in November 2022. The 200-hectare site of the 2005 World Expo has been transformed into “Ghibli Park,” an immersive wonderland based on the beloved films of Studio Ghibli.

It’s important to note that Studio Ghibli Park is not to be confused with the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Tokyo.

Tickets & Opening Hours

When the park opens on November 1, 2022, Ghibli Park will be open from 10:00 to 17:00 on weekdays and will open one hour earlier, at 9:00 on weekends and holidays. Ghibli Park will be closed every Tuesday. The park’s maximum daily capacity for the park is around 5,000 people.

Ticket pricing has been announced for Ghibli Park. All tickets must be reserved for a specific date and time. Separate reservations are required for each area, noting only the entrance time is specified, and there is no limit on the exit time. Admission is free for children under 3 years old. Tickets are scheduled to go on sale in August via Boo-Woo Tickets.

Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse (weekdays)
Adults: 2,000 yen ($15.40 USD)
Children (4 years old through the end of elementary school): 1,000 yen ($7.70 USD)
Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse (weekends, holidays)
Adults: 2,500 yen ($19.25 USD)
Children: 1,250 yen ($9.63 USD)
Dondoko Forest
Adults: 1,000 yen ($7.70 USD)
Children: 500 yen ($3.85 USD)
Hill of Youth
Adults: 1,000 yen ($7.70 USD)
Children: 500 yen ($3.85 USD)

Ticketing Information For February 2023 Admission:

From February 2023 admission (on sale November 10th), Ghibli Park ticket reservation and sales methods will change. The lottery system will end, and tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis from the 10th of every month until the day of admission. Youth Hill tickets will also be sold as a set with Ghibli Warehouse.

Youth Hill and Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse (weekdays)
Adults: 3,000 yen ($20.49 USD)
Children (4 years old through the end of elementary school): 1,500 yen ($10.25 USD)
Youth Hill and Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse (weekends, holidays)
Adults: 3,500 yen ($23.91 USD)
Children: 1,750 yen ($11.95 USD)

How to buy Ghibli Park tickets

Hotel / Train / Ghibli Park Ticket Package: Klook has a package with a hotel in Nagoya, a bullet train ticket from Tokyo, and your ticket to Ghibli Park. This is by far the easiest way to see Ghibli Park. Klook is a trusted third-party seller, so use them with confidence!

INTERNATIONAL TICKET SALES: Overseas Ghibli fans will be able to buy tickets to the park through the park’s new international ticket site from January 10, 2023 (for visits for March 15 to April 30, 2023).

WITHIN JAPAN: Currently, tickets for Ghibli Park can only be purchased in Japan through Boo-Woo Ticket and Loppi machines at Lawson and Mini Stop convenience stores throughout Japan or with a JTB travel agency accommodation package deal.

Tickets for the following month go on sale on the 10th of the month before. For example, January tickets would go on sale on December 10.

Location

Address: 1533-1 Ibaragamama Otsu, Nagakute City, Aichi Prefecture Aichi – Expo Memorial Park

Studio Ghibli Park is located in Aichi Expo Memorial Park in Nagakute City, Aichi Prefecture – about an hour east by train from Nagoya. A Tokyo to Nagoya Shinkansen (bullet train) will get you to the park in under 2 hours. After arriving in Nagoya, guests can access Ghibli Park via the Aichi Rapid Transit Tobu Kyuryo Line (Linimo), alighting at ‘Aichi Expo Memorial Park station.

Meitetsu Bus company will operate several services to Aichi Expo Memorial Park (Ghibli Park) from November 1st. For a detailed timetable and prices, please visit the Meitetsu Bus official website.

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

From Chubu Centrair International Airport: Terminal 1 “Fujigaoka” Bound for Aichi Expo Memorial Park

The Aichi Kanjo Railway plans to operate Ghibli Park-themed trains, with details yet to be released.

Founder Hayao Miyazaki made a commitment to build the park without cutting down any trees before construction began. Instead, the buildings have been constructed in existing clearings, which enhance the natural areas and create a stunning, eco-friendly theme park. The park embraces the environmental themes that are present throughout many of Ghibli’s animated features.

While there will be rides at Studio Ghibli Park, don’t expect roller coasters and other standard theme park fares. Instead, Studio Ghibli Park will offer guests a unique experience by immersing them in Ghibli’s fantasy world through lush gardens, highly themed buildings, dining, and other intimate experiences.

Studio Ghibli Park will be divided into five distinct areas based on the cherished Ghibli films. The park will open in phases, with Youth Hill, Ghibli’s Giant Warehouse, and Dondoko Forest opening with the park, followed by Witch Valley and Mononoke’s Village in 2023.

What to Expect at Studio Ghibli Theme Park

Youth Hill

The park’s entrance area, Youth Hill, will feature an elevator observation tower featuring steampunk design elements invoking Howl’s Moving Castle, granting guests a great view of the whole park. The area will also feature a replica of the antique shop Chikyuu-ya, from the 1995 film Whisper of the Heart.

Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse

This large heated indoor area will primarily function as an event and exhibition space featuring Ghibli exhibits, a children’s playground, a recreation of the small town area in Spirited Away, plus a 170-seat theatre that will all 10 short animations previously screened at Ghibli Museum. The Giant Warehouse will be about four times bigger than the Ghibli Museum.

The area will host many special exhibitions, including an expanded “Draw eating” exhibition previously held at the Ghibli Museum, which covers the delicious food featured in the works of Ghibli, including “Spirited Away,” “From Up on Poppy Hill,” and “Aya and the Witch.”

Dondoko Forest

Guests are invited to step into the world of My Neighbour Totoro with its lush nature and rural landscape. The area features a recreation of Satsuki and Mei’s house from My Neighbour Totoro, which was initially built in 2005 for the 2005 World Expo. Studio Ghibli has released several beautiful photos of the house, highlighting the detail that guests expect throughout the park.

Witch Valley (Opening 2023)

Inspired by the wastelands of Howl’s Moving Castle and Kiki’s Delivery Service, guests will be able to visit Kiki’s home from Kiki’s Delivery Service, plus the castle from Howl’s Moving Castle, which will stand five stories tall. Inside the castle, guests will be able to visit Howl’s bedroom.

Princess Mononoke Village (Opening 2023)

Princess Mononoke Village will transport guests to the Muromachi period (1336-1573) in which the film is set. Based on the movie’s Irontown (Tataraba) village, the area will feature giant statues of the Tatarigami spirit monster plus other creatures from the treasured film.

Construction Photos

Until recently, we were limited to the concept art and illustrations of the upcoming park. Thankfully, Studio Ghibli’s Twitter account has given fans a rare insight into how construction is coming along on the much-anticipated theme park.

Most recently, Studio Ghibli released a number of images of the completed Observation tower in Youth Hill, found at the park’s entrances inside Aichi Expo Park. The elevator is tower’s design is based on the late 19th-century fantasy scientific world of “Castle in the Sky”. The tower itself will be accessible to the public from today, free of charge.

Do you plan to visit the Studio Ghibli Theme Park when it opens? Let us know! Also, don’t forget to check out where to find Studio Ghibli merchandise when you’re shopping in Japan.

Featured photos and information from the Studio Ghibli Official Twitter account, Ghibli Park website and the Aichi Prefecture Policy Planning Bureau website.