Studio Ghibli Theme Park Opens Late 2022
A theme park based on the animation house Studio Ghibli and its visionary director Hayao Miyazaki–the Walt Disney of Japan–will open on November 1, 2022 in Japan. This post offers a sneak peek at Ghibli Park, which will be an excellent counterpart to Tokyo Disneyland, DisneySea, and Universal Studios Japan.
Plans for Studio Ghibli’s theme park were first announced back in 2017 and plans have slowly been revealed since. As background, Ghibli Park will be located on the site of the 2005 World Expo in Aichi Expo Memorial Park in Nagakute City, Aichi Prefecture.
For those who are unfamiliar with Japan, Ghibli Park is in between Tokyo and Kyoto (closer to the latter), and is easily accessible while traveling between the two as it’s a stop on Tokaido Shinkansen (bullet train) line. When it comes to major cities and tourist destinations in Japan, the Studio Ghibli theme park is closest to Nagoya, which is roughly the size of Chicago.
The latest development with regard to Ghibli Park is the announcement of the opening date for the first phase of the theme park. Studio Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki and Aichi Governor Hideaki ÅŒmura just revealed that the planned Ghibli Park will open on November 1, 2022.
The Aichi Tourism Bureau launched a new website with a promotional teaser video to accompany the announcement:
In addition to this, Ghibli Park’s official website will be launched on February 1, 2022 and should provide more specifics, including ticket prices and (hopefully) actual photos and videos of the Ghibli Park’s themed areas, attractions, and what else visitors can expect. For now, here’s everything we know about Ghibli Park.
For starters, only a portion of the theme park will debut this year. The Ghibli no DaisÅko (Ghibli’s Giant Warehouse), Seishun no Oka (Hill of Youth), and Dondoko Mori (Dondoko Forest) areas of the Ghibli theme park will open on November 1, 2022. Let’s offer a quick run-through of these three areas…
The Hill of Youth is the gateway to Ghibli Park. An old pedestrian overpass building has been transformed into a steampunk-inspired observation tower doubling as the main gate of the theme park. It features 19th-century icons you’ll recognise from Studio Ghibli films, Laputa: Castle in the Sky and Howl’s Moving Castle.
This area will also be home to an antique shop inspired by Whisper of the Heart, which is set in a small neighbourhood of Western Tokyo. You’ll also find a miniature version of the Cat Bureau from the Cat Returns.
Next up is Ghibli’s Giant Warehouse.
The 9,600-square-meter (about 2.4-acre) Ghibli’s Giant Warehouse will have about four times the floor space of the existing Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Tokyo. It appears this will be the core of Ghibli Park, with the most attractions, exhibits, and other things to do.
Ghibli’s Giant Warehouse was previously a public swimming pool, and is entirely indoors. Based on the concept art, it feels a bit like World Bazaar at Tokyo Disneyland (which is covered) or Sanrio Puroland (which is entirely indoors). It’s common for theme parks in Japan to have more sheltered areas, since snow is an occasional possibility.
Ghibli’s Giant Warehouse indoor area will feature an exhibition area, children’s playground, shops and restaurants, and more. The exhibition room will house a small cinema with about 170 seats. This warehouse will feature an eclectic design, incorporating Japanese and Western architectural styles.
Among many other things, Ghibli’s Giant Warehouse will offer a playroom based on My Neighbor Totoro, complete with a lifesize Catbus, just like the one in the Ghibli Museum.
Before you get too excited about this, I have to warn you that one of the greatest travesties of all time is that adults are not allowed to play in the Catbus. Don’t let your dreams be crushed like mine were, and let my experience serve as a cautionary tale.
The final area to open on November 1, 2022 is Dondoko Forest.
This is literally set amidst a forest, with the goal of resembling a rural landscape from the Showa period. Dondoko Forest features Satsuki and Mei’s house from My Neighbor Totoro, which was actually already in this area of the park as a holdover from the World Expo.
In the first half of 2023, the Mononoke no Sato (Mononoke Village) and Majo no Tani (Witch Valley, inspired by Kiki’s Delivery Service) areas of Ghibli Park will debut.
Let’s take a look at each of these areas…
Mononoke’s Village will include a real-life recreation of Tatara-ba, the Irontown depicted in the movie Princess Mononoke (arguably Studio Ghibli’s best film).
It’ll feature a variety of giant statues from the classic Princess Mononoke, including the god of destruction, the boar god Lord Okkoto, and other mythical creatures. The transportative scenery evokes a rural landscape from the Muromachi period.
Finally, the Valley of Witches draws inspiration from two classics: Howl’s Moving Castle and Kiki’s Delivery Service (I think they also mentioned the newest Studio Ghibli film that was just awful, too).
Valley of the Witches is essentially a quaint European town lined with restaurants, parks, storefronts, and residences–such as Kiki’s family home. It’ll also have the bakery where Kiki works–and of course, you’ll be able to buy baked goods from the movie.
Studio Ghibli and the Aichi Prefecture forecast that 1 million people will visit annually in 2023, and then 1.8 million people annually will visit once the park is fully open by 2024.
The city has improved infrastructure in the surrounding area, also adding 1,500 more parking spaces. (Although it’s likely the vast majority of visitors will arrive by rail.)
Work on the designs began in 2019, and construction started in Summer 2020. Physical construction of the park cost 31 billion yen (~$280 million) plus another 3 billion yen (~$30 million) for the design and planning process.
To put that into perspective, the record-setting Fantasy Springs expansion to Tokyo DisneySea will cost 250 billion yen (over $2 billion). The total cost of Ghibli Park is about on par with a headliner Disney attraction.
The difference is that rides are not the focus of the Studio Ghibli theme park. The name “Ghibli Park” is fitting, as the emphasis here is on the Ghibli-themed park. You won’t find any blockbuster thrill rides or elaborate attractions here. It’ll be more like World Showcase meets Busch Gardens Williamsburg, minus the rides.
To that point, Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli pledged to build this theme park without cutting down any trees or disturbing the natural environment. If the concept art is any indication, Ghibli Park looks like it’s always been there, with human developments coexisting with nature. The park was buildings built in clearings, with the goal of enhancing nature. That should be unsurprising to Studio Ghibli fans, as environmentalism and the downfalls of development are common themes/motifs of the films.
I’m cognizant of the fact this is a very niche topic, and will only appeal to a handful of you–probably quite literally. I’m writing about it as a “point of personal privilege” as it is incredibly interesting to me, relevant to the generalized topic of theme parks, and is newsworthy.
Honestly, I’ve been trying to come up with an excuse to cover Studio Ghibli on this blog for a while, and even drafted an (unpublished) list of my top 10 Studio Ghibli films back when HBO Max launched. As much as I love Disney and Pixar animation, I far prefer Studio Ghibli. I could go on and on about the differences in tone, style, messages, and much more–I’ll spare you all of that.
Despite the studio depriving my dream of playing in a Catbus, we’ve also visited the Ghibli Museum on multiple occasions. It’s incredible and a destination we recommend to everyone visiting Tokyo.
We’ve also spent a good amount of time in Nagoya, and highly recommend it as a stopover between Tokyo and Kyoto. Nagoya is actually home to my favorite museum in the entire world, and also has a ton of great food–especially if you like eel.
As someone who loves simply wandering around theme parks and not necessarily doing anything–just being there for the sense of place–this looks like it’ll be right up my alley. In fact, one of our favorite things to do in Japan is simply wander–walk down a quiet path, hike up a mountain temple, or peruse a secluded alley in quaint parts of town.
When it comes to Japan, I’m not alone in this sentiment. It seems like the top demographic for railroad museum annual passes is older people who go there to fall asleep on trains (hashtag goals) and slowing down to simply enjoy being present in a place is incredibly common. To be sure, Ghibli Park will be significantly different from Universal Studios Japan or Tokyo Disneyland, but it’ll have a huge audience among the Japanese. Presumably, the same will be true with Studio Ghibli fans. We absolutely cannot wait.
Planning a trip to Tokyo Disney Resort? For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea Trip Planning Guide! For more specifics, our TDR Hotel Rankings & Reviews page covers accommodations. Our Restaurant Reviews detail where to dine & snack. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money post. Our What to Pack for Disney post takes a unique look at clever items to take. Venturing elsewhere in Japan? Consult our Ultimate Guide to Kyoto, Japan and City Guide to Tokyo, Japan.
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think of this Studio Ghibli theme park? Does the idea of this–a theme park with an emphasis on the park part–appeal to you, or does the lack rides make it a non-starter? Would you consider visiting Ghibli Park during a trip to Japan? Are you a fan of Studio Ghibli films? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
This makes me wish even more that I could visit Japan.
Walt Disney’s original vision was for a clean, restful, safe place he could take his daughters. The only rides he considered were a train and merry-go-round.
If there are truly only a small handful of your followers who are interested in Ghibli, then I feel fortunate to be one of them. This post caught my attention immediately. I had no idea there was a Ghibli Park in the works. We are saving right now to go to Japan in a few years, so I am THRILLED to hear that 2024 will be a good target date to catch the full park experience. My family LOVES Studio Ghibli. Have you had a chance to see the Hayao Miyazaki exhibit at the Academy Museum in LA? It is there until June 5. We’re excited to see it, although I’m sure it will be small potatoes compared to the Ghibli Museum. Thank you so much for taking time to wander down this niche path. You totally made my day! 🙂
My husband and I lived on Kyushu for three years. We had a similar experience with the Cat Bus lol! I felt like your article was written for me. Studio Ghibli environments are the most incredible creations period. Nothing tops them. To read that an entire park is dedicated to experience those environments, is more than a wish come true. There doesn’t need to be any rides, characters, or gimmicks. I truly feel they would take away from what Miyazaki is legendary for, incredible landscape for his characters to experience. For those that are sceptical, I promise his vision will be enough to make it magical, singular, and long lasting. Isn’t that what Disney is all about?
(Please try Huis Ten Bosch & Nagasaki BioPark on your next visit. Kyushu is highly underrated.)
So excited for this. Planning a trip to Japan when our son graduates from high school. Totoro has been a favorite since he was little and we regularly marathon watch Studio Ghibli movies. Thanks for the coverage. I’m sure there are a lot of Ghibli/Disney parks crossover fans. Keep it coming!
the theme park sounds great and would it be possible to make a video of it on youtube because i don’t travel anyway so i would see what it looks like i’m looking forward to
It is a crime we are not allowed on the Cat Bus. More Ghibli please!
Imo, Ghibli park checks more Disney Park related boxes than I can start listing. And definitely frequent readers of your blog share more of your touring style than not. Value conscious, experiences over stuff, walking, big joy in the small details. I know every article is a quick read for us, with a TON of work for you behind it. I humbly ask for more Ghibli updates and DEFINITELY pictures and report from your first visit!!
Thanks for the feedback, and perhaps you’re right! This post has garnered more interest than I expected–still not as much as the garden variety WDW announcement, but still a pleasant surprise.
I’ll do a post once we visit. Content that’s a lot of work (and you’re right, that would be) doesn’t feel like it when it’s topics that I enjoy! 🙂
Seems more like an expanded museum…not that there’s anything wrong with that.
I think it depends upon how you define “theme park.” This will definitely be a highly themed park.
We made a “once in a lifetime” trip to Japan in 2018. Now we live with the constant desire to return. One more reason we must do so.
We saw the ghibli museum while there and I adored it.
I’m super excited about this. Right up there with my excitement about Galaxy’s Edge. Planning a trip there in 2024. Thanks for the write up!
Please post your top ten list! And it better include Pom Poko!
Please post your top 10 list! I downloaded Zelda because of this blog, and it was amazing! I’ll be watching everything on your top 10 list for sure. I hope you get to go to Super Nintendo World on your next trip to Japan too!
Well, the promo video makes Starcruiser look good, so there’s that! 🙂
Unlike Starcruiser, I think that video will resonate with the park’s target audience. It’s like a moodboard in video form.
This sounds amazing. Thanks for the post. Hope very much to go one day. One disappointment: no mention of Nausicaa. I know it was made before Studio Ghibli was formed, but it is a Hayao Miyazaki film and I have always considered it as one of their films (whether rightly or wrongly). I think it’s certainly a spiritual predecessor to the art style, tone, and themes of subsequent Ghibli films, and one that is criminally underrated. (Alright, alright, I admit it’s my favorite “Ghibli” film. ;))
Nausicaa is represented in the Ghibli Museum, so I’d expect the same here. There’s just a lot that hasn’t been revealed yet (and possibly won’t ever be–the museum is incredibly secretive).
I appreciate the Ghibli posts and would definitely be interested in reading more. We watched many of the movies for the first time when we got HBO Max and now have several go to’s we watch over and over. This park sounds amazing.
Maybe I’ll publish that top 10 list, after all. It’s literally 80% written…I just figured it was a stretch for here, even though Disney once distributed Ghibli films and Pixar cites Ghibli as a huge inspiration.
So excited about the Ghibli theme park! It sounds like an expanded version of the museum, which my family loves. We are big Ghibli movie fans and would definitely include a visit to the theme park in our itinerary for our next visit to Japan.
Wow, this looks amazing! I’ve been wanting to plan a trip to Japan for years, and just when we thought about seriously going for it, the pandemic hit. I’ll definitely add this to our itinerary when we do get the chance to go. Thanks for posting this article!
Would love to see more Ghibli posts! One of the greatest disappointments of my life is that the Ghibli Museum was closed for renovations during my 2014 visit to Tokyo. We had planned a Japan trip for 2021 before the pandemic hit, and are now looking forward to getting to visit both Ghibli outposts in 2023, covid permitting.
This looks amazing!! My son and I visited the Ghibli Museum on our trip to Japan in 2019 and it was definitely a highlight for us. The new park will give us another reason to plan a return trip to Japan.
This is amazing! Thank you for sharing and please keep any Miyazaki posts coming! I’m a big fan of his animated films and we are watching them again with our kids. We just finished my favorite – Spirited Away – tonight. Such beautiful animation and so full of magic!