We love Studio Ghibli films! Hayao Miyazaki is a genius creative force who should never retire.
The last time we were in Japan we visited the Tokyo Ghibli Museum. To complete our Studio Ghibli Japan experience, this time, we went to Ghibli Park. Minds were blown, it had something wonderful from every film. To say we were kids in a candy store would be a massive understatement. We went inside Howl’s Moving Castle. INSIDE! We ate cakes at Kikki’s bakery. We hiked in Dondoko Forest, home of the great Totoro. We got our photos taken with No-Face on the train from Spirted Away. I even had a punch-out with Porco Rosso. We had a hamburger lunch in Princess Mononoke Village. We even got to see the latest Ghibli anime short in the Grand Warehouse Theatre. Holy shitballs! There were even real size Laputian Robot Troopers from Laputa: Castle in the Sky. See photo just below.
Ghibli Park’s Valley of Witches area features a carousel inspired by Studio Ghibli films. The carousel, decorated with vehicles and characters from movies like Kiki’s Delivery Service, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Princess Mononoke. It plays the “Merry-Go-Round of Life” from Howl’s Moving Castle during the ride. We could have watched this all day.
Ghibli Park is a uniquely immersive theme park in Nagakute, Aichi Prefecture—just outside Nagoya—designed to bring Studio Ghibli films to life through artful landscaping and architectural storytelling. Officially opened on November 1, 2022, and built within the grounds of the Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park, it spans approximately 7.1 hectares and is deliberately free of large rides, blending seamlessly into its forested surroundings.
1. Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse
Located in a transformed former pool facility, this central hub is over three times the size of the Tokyo Ghibli Museum. It showcases rotating exhibits, scene recreations (including a Totoro play area, Laputa-style sky garden, and Arrietty setting), a cinema for exclusive short films, restaurants, and shops stocked with original merchandise.
2. Hill of Youth
Opened alongside the first phase in 2022, this green hill features an observation tower inspired by Howl’s Moving Castle and Laputa: Castle in the Sky, plus World Emporium from Whisper of the Heart and a miniature Cat Bureau from The Cat Returns.
3. Dondoko Forest
Home to the real-life Satsuki and Mei’s House from My Neighbor Totoro, nestled amid lush woodland. Children can play in the Dondoko‑do wooden structure and admire a life-size Totoro statue. The area retains the forest—no trees were cut during construction, per Miyazaki’s wishes.
4. Mononoke Village
Inspired by Princess Mononoke, this area includes a Tatara‑ba hands-on workshop building, a Lord Okkoto mosaic slide, and a Demon Spirit statue. Seasonal experiences like grinding kinako for warabi‑mochi, and charcoal-grilling gohei‑mochi (coming later) offer interactive local flavor.
5. Valley of Witches
A magical, European-style village uniting Kiki’s Delivery Service, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Earwig and the Witch. Key features include a life-size Howl’s Castle replica, Sophie’s hat shop, Okino Residence, small children’s rides (like a Kiki carousel and Magic Bikes), cafés, and eateries
