Japan’s Studio Ghibli Theme Park, officially called Ghibli Park, opened in Aichi Prefecture on 1 November 2022, and all five of its areas have been open since March 2024. Through the attraction, guests can enter the idyllic worlds created by Hayao Miyazaki.
Ghibli Park sits inside Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park in Nagakute, a public park that carries on around it. Goro Miyazaki, the park’s director, told reporters before the opening that it had been designed to have “minimal impact” on the surrounding nature, with instructions that “trees shouldn’t be cut down or changes made to the environment.”
In fact, Studio Ghibli’s films often touch on nature and environmentalism, with the films often featuring lush grasslands and verdant forests. Ghibli’s films are also known for their warm, comforting and indulgent depictions of food, where cuisine functions as a character of its own and a beautiful cinematic element that draws the viewer in.
You’ll be happy to know that the theme park has both nature and food in spades! Every ticket must be booked in advance, and none are sold at the park itself. Overseas visitors can book through Lawson Ticket or Klook from the official Ghibli Park ticket page. Tickets go on sale two months ahead, on the 10th at 2pm Japan time, and popular dates sell out quickly. Ghibli Park is also separate from the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Tokyo, and tickets for one are not valid at the other. The five areas are spread across a large public park, so it pays to plan your route before you arrive.
Here are the best things to do at Ghibli Park so that you can include it in your next visit to Japan!
Image Credit: Ghibli Park
- Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse: the Central Stairs, Giant Flying Ship and Garden in the Sky
- Yubaba’s office and the No Face train from Spirited Away
- Satsuki and Mei’s House, Dondoko-do and the Cat Bus from My Neighbour Totoro
- The tanuki council from Pom Poko
- When Marnie Was There and the December 2025 scene changes
- Porco Rosso in the Becoming Characters exhibition
- Ponyo running across the waves
- Sandwiches, pizza and ketchup spaghetti at the Transcontinental Flight Café
- From the Drawing Eating food exhibition to Hayao Miyazaki’s 31 Panorama Boxes
- Souvenirs from Dondoko Forest, Minami-machi and the Adventurous Flying Squadron
- Studio Ghibli short films at Cinema Orion
- The Elevator Tower, World Emporium and Cat Bureau on the Hill of Youth
Image Credit: Ghibli Park
1. Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse: the Central Stairs, Giant Flying Ship and Garden in the Sky
Image Credit: Kyu3 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The park’s main attraction is Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse, a huge indoor building filled with set pieces that recreate iconic moments from the films. Inside, a mosaic tiled Central Stairs links the two floors, while the Giant Flying Ship turns its propeller slowly beneath the skylight.
For example, you can visit the Garden in the Sky from Studio Ghibli’s first film, “Castle in the Sky”, where a Robot Soldier waits patiently for his master to return.
Image Credit: lumoplank / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
The Becoming Characters in Memorable Ghibli Scenes exhibition lets you step into 14 famous film scenes. Its recreation of a scene from “From Up on Poppy Hill” is lived-in and homey, yet gorgeous in its details. Enjoy all this and more in Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse!
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2. Yubaba’s office and the No Face train from Spirited Away
Image Credit: Best-Japanese
Inside Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse, the Director’s Room transports visitors into the fantastical realm of Spirited Away through an exquisitely detailed recreation of Yubaba’s office, with the witch fully engrossed in her work as contracts float through the air. Every lamp, desk and ornament is designed to match the film. The park serves as a tribute to the storied heritage of Studio Ghibli’s cinematic masterpieces, offering an array of immersive experiences.
Guests step into the sets themselves and pose as the characters, revisiting the film’s unforgettable moments. Photography is permitted throughout the Becoming Characters exhibition, although it is restricted in some other parts of the park.
Ride the train with No Face
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Stumble into the Spirit World through a perfect recreation of the iconic scene from Spirited Away! From the velvety train seats to the packages and handrails, this set piece will make you feel like you are travelling through the world of Spirited Away with the lovable No Face!
Spirited Away won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2003, so it is no surprise that this scene was recreated for the theme park. It is one of the seven original scenes kept when the exhibition was remodelled in December 2025.
Image Credit: Ghibli Park
3. Satsuki and Mei’s House, Dondoko-do and the Cat Bus from My Neighbour Totoro
Image Credit: lumoplank / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
Within Ghibli Park is Dondoko Forest, a heartfelt homage to the cherished classic My Neighbour Totoro, a film that has touched the hearts of audiences worldwide with its charming characters and heartwarming story. Dondoko Forest is covered by the O-Sanpo Day Pass Premium only.
Visit the Dondoko Forest
Through swathes of trees and shrubbery, you will see the entrance to Dondoko Forest! The area is largely themed around the adorable creatures in “My Neighbour Totoro,” one of Studio Ghibli’s most famous and comforting films.
Follow the acorns along the hill trail behind Satsuki and Mei’s House and you reach Dondoko-do, a 5 metre tall wooden Totoro that children aged 12 and under can climb inside. Little soot sprites and small easter eggs are also visible, so watch out for all the hidden details!
Sit at the bar beside a giant Totoro in the Grand Warehouse
Image Credit: Best-Japanese
Back inside Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse, the Everything Ghibli! exhibition has included a room with a rustic wooden bar where you can sit beside a giant, wide-eyed Totoro. That exhibition was partly renewed in July 2026, so check the official Grand Warehouse page for what is on show when you visit.
Climb aboard the Cat Bus in the Grand Warehouse
Image Credit: Best-Japanese
Climb the Central Stairs in Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse, look for the whimsical neko sign, and you will find yourself face to face with the delightful Cat Bus.
There are two Cat Buses in the Grand Warehouse, both real life renditions of the iconic character from My Neighbour Totoro. A life-sized one that children and adults can both climb into greets you at the entrance to the Everything Ghibli! exhibition, with soft furry seats and windows to pose through. The second sits in the Cat Bus Room, a play area themed on the film, and is for children aged 12 and under. In the same room, a tree soars up to the ceiling, and you can step inside it for a rest.
Image Credit: ShotasPOV (on YouTube)
Make sure to look out for this neko sign so that you don’t miss the Cat Bus!
Hunt for Soot Sprites in Satsuki and Mei’s House
You can step into the shoes of “My Neighbour Totoro’s” protagonists Satsuki and Mei as you enter their house, which has a kitchen, bathroom, sitting room, bedroom and study. Search every room for the elusive soot sprites. Entry to the house is included in the O-Sanpo Day Pass Premium. Every detail, from the charming Totoro-inspired attire to the house’s nostalgic and fanciful design, is a faithful tribute to the beloved film.
The park’s life-sized recreation of the girls’ house is perfect: down to the adorable Totoro-themed clothes and its nostalgic whimsical aesthetic.
Image Credit: Ghibli Park
4. The tanuki council from Pom Poko
Image Credit: Best-Japanese
In the Becoming Characters exhibition, you’ll find yourself in the midst of the playful tanuki from Pom Poko, Isao Takahata’s 1994 film, as they gather to plan how to save their forest. These mischievous raccoon dogs, known for their shape-shifting antics, are ready to whisk you away on an adventure filled with laughter and joy.
The Pom Poko scene is one of the seven originals kept when the exhibition was remodelled in December 2025, so it is still there to step into.
5. When Marnie Was There and the December 2025 scene changes
Image Credit: Best-Japanese
From the park’s opening until 1 December 2025, the Becoming Characters exhibition included a scene from the beautiful tale of When Marnie Was There, with Marnie standing at the water’s edge in front of a painted sea. It was one of seven scenes changed when the exhibition was remodelled, reopening on 17 December 2025.
The scenes from When Marnie Was There, The Ocean Waves and The Wind Rises were retired, along with the Castle in the Sky scene where Sheeta falls from the sky. New scenes replaced the old ones from Only Yesterday, Porco Rosso and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, and four films joined the line up: On Your Mark, My Neighbors the Yamadas, the GHIBLIES episode 2 and The Boy and the Heron, where you can become Mahito facing his granduncle with Himi. Details are on the official Ghibli Park announcement.
6. Porco Rosso in the Becoming Characters exhibition
Image Credit: Best-Japanese
Porco Rosso, Hayao Miyazaki’s 1992 film about a seaplane pilot cursed with the face of a pig, has had a scene in the Becoming Characters exhibition since the park opened. The original set, pictured above, put you among the cheering crowd as Porco squares up for his fist fight with Curtis. In the December 2025 remodel it was replaced by a different Porco Rosso scene.
Fans of the 1920s aviation hero can also raise a glass to him. The Transcontinental Flight Café and the Flying OVEN restaurant both serve a Porco Rosso red wine by the glass, and the café at Rotunda Kazegaoka, by the park’s main entrance, displays a wooden art piece of the Savoia S-21 seaplane from the film.
7. Ponyo running across the waves
Image Credit: Best-Japanese
Splash into a sea of adventure with the iconic scene of Ponyo running atop the waves, brought to life in the Becoming Characters exhibition in a stunning display that captures the essence of the film’s poetic tribute to the forces of nature. The little fish girl’s dream of becoming human invites visitors of all ages to explore her wondrous underwater world. The Ponyo scene is one of the originals kept after the December 2025 remodel. From the Hill of Youth to the Valley of Witches, each area of Ghibli Theme Park is infused with the charm and whimsy of Studio Ghibli’s creations.
Image Credit: Ghibli Park
8. Sandwiches, pizza and ketchup spaghetti at the Transcontinental Flight Café
Image Credit: SoraNews24
The Transcontinental Flight Café inside Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse serves sandwiches and square pizzas you can eat with one hand, just right for a long distance pilot who needs the other hand to steer. Sandwiches include a BLT and the prosciutto ham and cheese pictured above, and each one comes with a little illustrated flag chosen at random. For dessert there is a sweet bean and butter sandwich, a maritozzo or a Monte Bianco. The official café menu lists the current prices.
When the park opened, SoraNews24 reported that the Napolitan pasta sandwich was the favourite of Hayao Miyazaki’s son Goro, the park’s director. It is still on the menu as the ketchup spaghetti sandwich, so it definitely sounds like a must-try!
The café does not recreate the exact foods from the films, so you won’t find the bacon and egg breakfast from “Howl’s Moving Castle” or the ham and egg ramen from “Ponyo” here.
For a taste of the films, the Siberi An milk stand in the Grand Warehouse sells local milk and a sweet bean cake like the “Siberia” that Jiro buys in “The Wind Rises.” In the Valley of Witches, Guchokipanya Bakery from “Kiki’s Delivery Service” sells baguettes and boules like the ones in the film, and the Flying OVEN restaurant nearby serves hearty European pies, roasts and a weekend breakfast.
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9. From the Drawing Eating food exhibition to Hayao Miyazaki’s 31 Panorama Boxes
Image Credit: The Washington Post
Image Credit: @myhlee (from X)
Until 8 June 2026, Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse hosted an exhibition entitled “Taberu wo Egaku,” which means “Drawing Eating.” It was an expanded version of a food exhibition first shown at the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Tokyo.
Look at those gorgeous eggs, pancakes, and chocolate cakes with melting butter and garnish! Studio Ghibli’s mouthwatering replica dishes from the films were on full display here.
Since 8 July 2026, the same exhibition room has shown 31 Panorama Boxes that Hayao Miyazaki drew especially for Ghibli Park. Peer into each box and a layered scene opens up with real depth. The subjects run from Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind to The Boy and the Heron, along with his short films and brand new works.
Image Credit: Nerdist
For more Studio Ghibli food, check out this video below, featuring all of the foods across the films.
10. Souvenirs from Dondoko Forest, Minami-machi and the Adventurous Flying Squadron
Dondoko Shop, on the hilltop in Dondoko Forest, sells omamori amulet pouches to protect you from bad luck, alongside keychains and original Dondoko Forest souvenirs. Make sure to stop by if you want to bring home some keepsakes from your trip here.
There are plenty of other souvenirs to watch out for in the park. Adventurous Flying Squadron in the Grand Warehouse is the largest shop in the park, with items from every Studio Ghibli production plus Ghibli Park originals, and the Minami-machi shopping street nearby has Penny Candy Shop Cat Princess for old fashioned sweets.
11. Studio Ghibli short films at Cinema Orion
Image Credit: Mothership
If you need a break from exploring, just find the large yellow building that says “Cinema Orion.” Inside, the screening room seats about 170 people and shows Studio Ghibli short films that are otherwise only screened at the Ghibli Museum, one film at a time. Until around June 2027, it is showing A Night in the Valley of Witches, the first original short film set in Ghibli Park, directed by Goro Miyazaki and Akihiko Yamashita.
12. The Elevator Tower, World Emporium and Cat Bureau on the Hill of Youth
Image Credit: Ghibli Park
The Hill of Youth is home to the World Emporium antique shop from “Whisper of the Heart,” the cat sized Cat Bureau from “The Cat Returns,” and an Elevator Tower influenced by the late 19th century science fiction architecture seen in “Castle in the Sky” and “Howl’s Moving Castle.” Both the World Emporium and Satsuki and Mei’s House need the O-Sanpo Day Pass Premium.
All five areas of the park are now open. Mononoke Village opened on 1 November 2023, with the Tatara-ba workshop where you can grill your own gohei-mochi rice cake over charcoal, a Lord Okkoto slide and a Demon Spirit structure. The Valley of Witches followed on 16 March 2024, with Kiki’s family home, Guchokipanya Bakery, the House of Witches from “Earwig and the Witch” and a Howl’s Castle around 20 metres tall. More reasons to revisit this whimsical park in the future.
We hope you enjoyed this list as much as we enjoyed making it.
Image Credit: Kyu3 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
FAQs on the Ghibli Theme Park
1: Can international visitors easily access the Ghibli Theme Park in Japan?
A: Yes. The park is in Nagakute, Aichi Prefecture, inside Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park. Take the Linimo line to Ai-Chikyuhaku Kinen Koen Station and the park is just outside Exit 2. Meitetsu Bus also runs services from Nagoya Station, and there is no car park set aside for Ghibli Park. Overseas visitors book online through Lawson Ticket or Klook, both linked from the official Ghibli Park website.
2: What should first-time visitors not miss at the Ghibli Theme Park?
A: First-timers should make a beeline for Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse, where iconic scenes from the films are brought to life. Don’t miss the chance to ride the train with No Face or hunt for Soot Sprites in Satsuki and Mei’s House, which needs the O-Sanpo Day Pass Premium.
3: How does the Ghibli Theme Park embody the spirit of Studio Ghibli’s films?
A: The park captures the essence of Studio Ghibli’s storytelling, with a focus on harmony with nature and intricate attention to detail. It’s a living tribute to the studio’s legacy, offering a tangible connection to the themes and artistry of its films.
4: What dining experiences are available at the Ghibli Theme Park?
A: The Transcontinental Flight Café in the Grand Warehouse serves sandwiches and square pizzas, the Flying OVEN in the Valley of Witches serves European pies, roasts and a weekend breakfast, and the Hot Tin Roof stand sells hot dogs in a cat shaped bun. Inside the Ghibli Park areas you may only eat food bought in the park.
5: Is the Ghibli Theme Park suitable for visitors of all ages?
A: Yes, the park welcomes Ghibli enthusiasts of all ages. With its gentle attractions and serene landscapes, it’s a family-friendly destination that transcends generations. Children aged 3 and under go free.
6: How much are Ghibli Park tickets?
A: Overseas buyers can choose between two day passes. The O-Sanpo Day Pass Premium covers all five areas and the buildings inside them, including Satsuki and Mei’s House and Howl’s Castle. It costs 7,300 yen for adults on weekdays and 7,800 yen at weekends and on holidays, or 3,650 yen and 3,900 yen for children aged 4 to 12. The O-Sanpo Day Pass Standard covers Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse, Mononoke Village and the Valley of Witches for 3,300 yen on weekdays and 3,800 yen at weekends and on holidays, or 1,650 yen and 1,900 yen for children. A service charge is added when tickets are issued, and both passes give you a set entry time for the Grand Warehouse only.
7: When is Ghibli Park open?
A: The park opens from 10am to 5pm on weekdays and from 9am to 5pm at weekends and on holidays, with last entry to most areas at 4:30pm. It is usually closed on Tuesdays, over New Year and for maintenance in early December, so check the official park calendar before you book.
