Sunday, December 10, 2023

Nagoya, Japan: Ghibli Park

 


Wanted to visit this place, because it's new.  Initially inspired by the Studio Ghibli's Spirited Away, it is followed by characters Totoro and Kiki's cat Jiji that I continue to watch Miyazaki's films. 

Advance booking reservations are required and buying a ticket was still challenging in November 2023.  They will make the tickets available a month before your prefered date.  It was very limited and only the Warehouse is available to foreign nationals. (By late-November 2023, tickets to other areas like Hill of Youth and Dondoko Forest are now available to foreigners).





Mononoke Village
We were able to visit Mononoke Village, which is still in soft-opening.  

You can take photo-opportunity nearby watch tower and with Okkoto the old boar.


The Tatara-ba offers an experience to cook your own rice cakes (Gohei-mochi).



Rotary in Hill of Youth



Grand Warehouse

This is has a limited entry per hour and follows a crowd control measure.  For any visitor, you need to print your code. And bring your passport or ID on who bought the tickets.



Open Warehouse

Passing by the actual warehouse is a bit dull, with dim lights.  As seen in other reviews online, there are things that can be improved on.  They can play on the background the Ghibli soundtrack.


  Totoro and Catbus from My Neighborhood Totoro. 


Later on, maybe they can have live-characters meet and greet as well.



The Secret World of Arrietty (2010)

You can peep to the world of Arrietty like her room and the working room of her family. 


Go to the second floor and take a photo of the flowers and garden at the ground floor. 


There scene where Sho left the sugar cube and a letter written "You forgot something".



Becoming Characters in Memorable Ghibli Scenes

Even if they have limited the entrance per hour, the photo-opportunity with No Face will still take like 30-45 mins on queue.


You can freely move around to other scenes once inside the area.


You need to be a Ghibli fan of course to appreciate the scenes and characters.




An airplane scene from The Wind Rises



I do not recommend this for solo travelers.  Better to visit this place if you are with family or a friend to enjoy your photo opportunity. Please take note that guides and ushers are not allowed to help you on taking your photos.



Milk Stand Siberian

If they are making the sandwich and milk a popular  thing when visiting, they could have made more sandwiches. It's not good to visit the counter and have the items out of stock still in the middle of the day.


We decided to skip the Gift Shop as the room is too crowded.

Just like other theme parks, it takes months to years to have a new attraction and it will make the visitors to keep coming back.  We already saw an upcoming attraction Valley of Witches from a far, and it was huge building.

This park gears towards experience and photo-studio which I prefer. So, if you are into thrilling-rides you may want to skip this place.



How to get there
From Meitetsu Nagoya bus station, go to Platform 24 to queue in for the bus heading to Ghibli Park.

Ghibli Park  ジブリパーク
Japan, Aichi, Nagakute, Ibaragabasama, 1533-1 Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park (Moricoro Park)



If you are interested in working in Ghibli, I happen to came across this recent post from spot.ph.


Want to know more about this trip? 

Read on Japan: Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka - 9 days Itinerary and Expenses

Day

Places to See

Food and Restaurants

Accommodation

Others

1

Nagoya Noritake Garden
Aeon Mall
Tsutaya Bookstore
Illuminations near Nagoya Station
Nana Chan mannequin doll

Ichiran Nagoya Station store
Starbucks Coffee - 13F JR Central Towers

Sotetsu Fresa Inn  Sakuradoriguchi

 

2

Ghibli Park
Mononoke Village
Ghibli Grand Warehouse

Excelsior Caffe
Mo's Burger
Milk Stand Siberian, Ghibli
Yomenya Goemon

same

Hill of Youth
Dondoko Forest

3

ShinPuhKan
Gion and Yasaka Shrine

Yoshinoya
Stumptown Coffee
Café Bibliotic Hello

Hotel M's Est Shijo Karasuma

Jingo-ji
Starbucks - Sanjo-ohashi Bridge
Potoncho

4

Kurama-dera and Kibune
Kyoto Station roof deck

Doutor Coffee Shop
Sagenta
Nishiki Market

same

 

5

Arashiyama
Nison-in Temple
Gioji Temple
Eikan-dō Night Illumination

% Arabica
exCafe
Sen-Oh
Sukiya

same

Jōjakkōji Temple

6

Byodo-in Temple
Uji River
Catholic Uji Church

Starbucks Coffee Uji
Ramen Tanakakyu Shoten
Tsuen Main Branch

same

Nakamura Tokichi Byodo-in

7

Osaka Castle
Catholic Tamatsukuri Church
teamLab Botanical Garden
Glico Man, Dotonbori
Mido-suji Festival of Lights

Dean and Deluca
Blue Bottle Coffee - Kyoto Rokkaku Café

coffeeshop WARARA
OSA Coffee
Curry House Coco Ichibanya

Hotel New Hankyu Osaka Annex

 

8

Katsuo-ji / Daruma dolls
Hirakata T-SITE
Don Quijote Umeda

Senri Chuo station area
Kitchen&bar AURA
Hankyu Basement Food Hall

same

 

9

Nakanoshima Park and Rose Garden
Toyo Tires event in Nakanoshima-dori

North Shore Kitahama

n/a

Takamura Wine & Coffee Roasters


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