JAPAN – Studio Ghibli fans were delighted when the official opening of the Ghibli Theme Park in Japan, was made on the studio’s official twitter account, saying it will start welcoming guests this year on November 1.
The 17.5 acre park is built on and within the grounds of the Aichi Earth Expo Memorial Park in Nagakute, Aichi Prefecture, and was carefully planned so as not to have any tree cut down during its construction, in accordance to Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki’s wish to not take away any life from the environment while breathing life to the fantasy world of Ghibli.
The world’s first Ghibli Theme Park, rightfully located in its country of origin, will have five areas – three of which have been included during the first phase of construction.
Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse, an indoor facility, will store all of the studio’s secrets, from large to small artifacts and exhibits from past Studio Ghibli movies (from fantasy-filled exhibitions such as Robot Soldier, Cat Bus, and kid-sized film studio exhibitions, to materials and resources that reveal the secrets of Studio Ghibli films).
Hill of Youth will showcase the World Emporium, the antique shop from “Whisper of the Heart”, and will also feature an observation tower that lets visitors have an overview of the entire park.
Dondoko Forest will have a life-size model of the house of the main characters in “My Neighbor Totoro”, and will serve as a cafe area.
The other two areas, Mononoke Village and the Valley of Witches, are expected to be available for public viewing by April 2023.
Tickets for the theme park entrance employed a lottery system. The second phase of purchasing tickets will begin on September 10, and will be on a first-come first-served basis. However, separate tickets are needed for each area/attraction you would like to visit.
Below are the ticket prices for each area as reported by The Philippine Star:
Ghibli’s Great Warehouse
- ¥2,000 (~P830) for adults on weekdays
- ¥1,000 (~P420) for kids on weekdays
- ¥2,500 (~P1,000) for adults on weekends and holidays
- ¥1,250 (~P520) for kids on weekends and holidays
Youth Hill
- ¥1,000 (~P420) for adults
- ¥500 (~P210) for kids
Dondoko Forest
- ¥1,000 (~P420) for adults
- ¥500 (~P210) for kids
The park’s official website describes the fantasyland as a park that “represents the world of Studio Ghibli” and tourists, albeit the absence of “big attractions or rides” will have a magical time as they “Take a stroll, feel the wind, and discover the wonders.”
– with reports from Japan Times and The Philippine Star Life