For those who are big fans of Studio Ghibli, you can now witness the real-life Studio Ghibli with your own eyes. The first Ghibli Park in Japan will open on November 1, 2022. It’s located within the Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park in Nagakute city near Nagoya, about three hours by train from Tokyo.
Who is Studio Ghibli?
Studio Ghibli Inc. (Japanese: 株式会社スタジオジブリ, Hepburn: Kabushiki-gaisha Sutajio Jiburi) is a Japanese animation studio headquartered in Koganei, Tokyo.It is best known for its animated feature films, and has also produced several short subjects, television commercials, and two television films. Its mascot and most recognizable symbol is a character named Totoro, a giant spirit inspired by raccoon dogs (tanuki) and catsfrom the 1988 anime film My Neighbor Totoro.
Among the studio’s highest-grossing films are Spirited Away (2001), Howl’s Moving Castle (2004) and Ponyo (2008). The studio was founded on June 15, 1985, by directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata and producer Toshio Suzuki, after the successful performance of Topcraft’s Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984). It has also collaborated with video game studios on the visual development of several games.
Five of the studio’s films are among the ten highest-grossing anime feature films made in Japan. Spirited Away is second, grossing 31.68 billion yen in Japan and over US$380 million worldwide; and Princess Mononoke is fourth, grossing 20.18 billion yen.
Many of their works have won the Animage Grand Prix award. Four have won the Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year. Five of their films have received Academy Award nominations. Spirited Away won the 2002 Golden Bear and the 2003 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
Photo: ©Studio Ghibli
On August 3, 2014, Studio
Ghibli temporarily suspended production following Miyazaki’s retirement. In February 2017, Suzuki announced that Miyazaki had come out of retirement to direct a new feature film, How Do You Live?, which he intended to be his last film
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Photo: ©Studio Ghibli
Studio Ghibli has announced that its first theme park will be divided into five areas: Hill of Youth, Ghibli’s Large Warehouse, Mononoke’s Village, Valley of Witches and Dondoko Forest. All these attractions are based on the studio’s most famous flicks and will blend in seamlessly with the existing nature in the park.
Some of the interesting highlights include This trailer, released by the Aichi Tourism Bureau, which introduces the best sightseeing spots in Aichi prefecture, including a short sequence of Satsuki and Mei’s house from ‘My Neighbor Totoro’.
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Photo: ©Studio Ghibli
Some of the scenic location in Ghibli Park that you can see in real life includes The elevator tower features fictitious 19th-century objects you may recognise from Ghibli films such as ‘Laputa: Castle in the Sky’ (1986) and ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’
(2004)
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Photo: ©Studio Ghibli
Asides from that, there is a dining area based on the Spirited Away film, a replica of Irontown from the Princess Mononoke movie, a life-sized Howl’s Moving Castle (which is rumoured to be four to five storeys tall!), a Totoro-themed outdoor playground, a replica or Kiki’s childhood home, galleries and cinemas with statues of Ghibli characters, Japanese and Western architectural designs, nature trails, rest areas, and more.
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Photo: ©Studio Ghibli
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Photo: ©Studio Ghibli
Oh ya, as we would love to visit them but we were not that lucky for this round.
This is because you need to pre-booked the ticket earlier and also it will be on lucky draw basis if you are lucky to be one of them to purchase the ticket.
November tickets for the three areas – Hill of Youth, Ghibli’s Large Warehouse and Dondoko Forest – will go on sale August 10 at 10am. Unfortunately, it will be a lottery-based booking system. You have to pick a specific date and time as well as your preferred area at the time of application.
For more information on how to get tickets, see here.
Located within Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park (Moricoro Park)
1533-1 Ibaragabasama, Nagakute, Aichi