The Ultimate Guide to Ghibli Park | Yonder’s Guide

Everything you need to know about visiting Studio Ghibli’s theme park in Aichi Prefecture, Japan

(Note: this guide is for Ghibli Park in Aichi Prefecture, NOT the Ghibli Museum in Tokyo)

Ghibli Park Tickets

Getting tickets to Ghibli Park has become more accessible but still requires some work. Have your personal info ready, some dates/times in mind, and be ready to possibly queue for hours to snatch those tickets (it may put some concert ticket experiences to shame). In 2023, when the park was first opened to the international audience, it took me approximately 4 hours to get tickets to all the areas and attractions, but I believe the process is a lot shorter now. Unlike 2023 when you needed to purchase tickets for each area, international fans now have a ticketing option that grants access to the whole park.

When to Get Tickets

Tickets are not available for purchase at the park. All tickets must be reserved in advance!

Reservations open on the 10th day of the second month prior to your preferred month of visit (for example: you can reserve tickets for June 2024 on April 10th, 2024). Tickets go on sale at 2 PM Japan time on the 10th of each month.

Ticket Price and Options

I highly recommend selecting the Premium pass, as attractions like Dondoko Forest and Valley of Witches are among the park’s standout highlights. While you can easily get lost and spend an entire day at the Grand Warehouse, it resembles more of a Ghibli Museum. The other attractions are designed to recreate the Ghibli worlds. It provides a more immersive and unique experience to some of the most beloved Ghibli films. 

How to Buy

Ghibli Park is one of Japan’s most sought-after destinations, and securing tickets to the park can be quite competitive. Being fully prepared for the process will not only save you time but also increase your chances of securing your preferred date and time slot.

Here is what you need for the ticket purchasing process:

• Passport information of the group leader- who needs to be at the park for entry
• Credit card information
• Your phone number and email address
• An address in Japan (Airbnb/Hotel address of any of your stay- this won’t matter much)
• A day and time in mind – as well as back up dates. The tickets are released all at once, and you might not get your preferred time.

Here’s a snippet of the info needed to buy tickets.

Access the International Sales website at least 10 minutes before tickets go on sale. Depending on the day of the week and time of year you’ll be visiting, the tickets could be very competitive. Therefore, it’s highly recommended that you purchase the tickets as soon as they are released and have a couple dates in mind as a backup.

After clicking the link, go through the prompts and select the pass. You’ll then see a calendar view displaying the availability of dates and Grand Warehouse assigned Entry Time for the entire month.

After selecting the time, you’ll be prompted to provide your information: email and phone number, followed by the group leader’s info such as name, address, passport number, and payment information. So please have those ready!

Useful Tips

• When selecting the entry time for the Grand Warehouse, please keep in mind that you’ll need about 3 hours to fully enjoy the Warehouse. I highly recommend picking the earliest time slot if possible, considering availability and your ability to arrive at the park on time. Remember, you must enter the Warehouse within 1 hour of your assigned time.
• Weekdays are preferable to weekends as there’s likely to be fewer crowds.
• Be mindful of holidays or special events as they may complicate planning, such as commuting and lodging, and may result in larger crowds.
• If you’re traveling between cities, consider using the park as part of your connecting stop. Instead of making it a day trip from Tokyo or other areas, it may be more efficient to visit the park on your way to another city. For example, we visited Ghibli Park on the way from Kyoto to Hakone, since Nagoya station was en route.

Terms and Conditions

Make sure you read the terms and conditions properly before purchasing the tickets. Below are some important ones to note:

• The leader of the group (the person that the tickets were under) needs to be present. The name can’t be transferred after purchase
• All members of the group must enter together
• Re-entry to areas of the park is not permitted, except for Valley of Witches
• There will be a System fee of around ¥110 when purchasing tickets.
• Tickets can’t be canceled or changed after purchase (exceptions applied when Park announces change of time etc).
• The purchase of each ticket type is limited to once per month, but a maximum of six tickets may be purchased at one time. Children up to the age of three may enter for free and should not be counted as a member in the party.
• Discounted tickets are not available, including for groups or early booking
• Please note that park tickets cannot be purchased at any area of the Ghibli Park

Planning for the day at Ghibli Park

Ghibli Park is located in Aichi Prefecture, which is part of the greater Nagoya area. To reach the park, you’ll first need to travel to Nagoya city, and then take local transportation. Nagoya is approximately 2 hours from Tokyo by the Shinkansen (JR) and Ghibli Park is approximately 1 hour outside of Nagoya.

I highly recommend planning to spend the whole day at the park, from 9am-5pm. Therefore spending the night in Nagoya may be an option worth considering. Additionally, Nagoya offers other attractions and experiences that you may consider adding to your itinerary.

How to Get there

If you’re traveling from other cities, you’ll need to first travel to Nagoya. From Nagoya, you’ll have a couple options to get to the park

Subway

This is the most convenient and cost effective way to get to the park. 

• From Nagoya Station, look for the Higashiyama Line for Fujigaoka to Fujigaoka Station (last stop). 
• From Fujigaoka Station, you’ll take the Linimo line for Yakusa to Ai-Chikyuhaku-Kinen-Koen Station

This route takes approximately 50 minutes and gets you right to the entrance of the park.

Bus

Meisutsu bus offers direct transport from Nagoya Station to Ghibli Park. However, it runs only 4 times a day and it’s more expensive. Things to note:

• The bus stop is located in Nagoya station. Once you’re in the bus area, you should be able to spot a big poster of the cat bus on the door so it’s convenient to find.  
• There’s no advance reservation. Fares will be paid in cash (no change) or IC Card on the bus.
• Because there is no reservation, the seats are first come first serve. So, if the seats are full, you’ll need to wait for the next bus.
• The bus costs around ¥1,200 one way for adults.

Taxi

It’ll take you directly to the park but it’ll be very expensive. Traffic could also get bad so I don’t recommend taking this route, unless it’s your only option.

Packing Guide

To ensure entrance to the park and to make your day convenient and stress-free, here are some of the things you should pack for your day at Ghibli Park

• Passport – IDs are randomly checked to ensure that you’re the person on the ticket. Bring your passport to avoid entrance issues, as it is the most valid ID for international travelers.
• Bring an empty tote bag or backpack if  you’re planning to buy souvenirs. The paper shopping bags cost additional fees at the Park.
• Battery Pack or Power Bank- you won’t want your phone to die in the middle of the day with so many amazing things to document!
• Umbrella or Poncho if it’s going to rain as it requires a lot of walking between areas.
• Very comfortable shoes and breathable clothing! It’s a whole day event, make sure you’re comfortable! Also, please dress in layers as it could get cold indoors with AC blasting.

What NOT to bring:

• While pictures and videos are allowed, commercial usage isn’t! Therefore, things like camera stands, tripods or commercial grade cameras aren’t allowed to use.
• No Outside Food!
• No Pets!

Acceptable forms of payments at the park:

• Credit Card: VISA, Mastercard, Union Pay Ginren, JCB, AMERICAN EXPRESS, Diners
• e-Payment: iD, prepaid transportation cards, QUICPay, Rakuten Edy, WAON, nanaco
• e-Payment via QR Code: PayPay, Rakuten Pay, d BaraiTM, au Pay, Yucho Pay, Merpay, Alipay, WeChat Pay

Storage at the park: if you accidentally bring things that aren’t allowed at the park or you don’t want to carry things around, you can store your stuff at the lockers by both the North and West entrances. However, keep in mind that lockers are limited and can’t fit big bags or suitcases!

Our Personal Itinerary

**Please keep in mind that we did this trip in May 2023, so there are a lot more things added to the park now.

We did not have a lot of time in Japan, so we decided to squeeze in a day trip to Ghibli Park in between our trip from Kyoto to Hakone. In 2023, when only The Grand Warehouse, Hill of Youth and Dondoko Forest were open, I thought we had quite enough time to go around the park. However, I highly recommend spending the whole day from opening to closing (9am-5pm) in the park with Mononoke Forest and Valley of the Witches now opened up.

Because all areas of the park required timed entry reservation back then, it was also harder to plan around that considering getting a ticket wasn’t easy and a lot of our preferred times were sold out. We still had a phenomenal time, and we’ll do a brief on how our day looked so you can have some ideas when planning your itinerary (granted with a lot more flexibility).

We left Kyoto around 8am and hopped on the Shinkansen (reserved in advance to ensure seat availability). Once we arrived at Nagoya Station, we stored our suitcases and bags in the lockers (since the lockers at the park are limited to small items only). We arrived at the park at around 11:30 AM, perfectly on time for all our ticketed timed entries.

Our timed entries were:

• Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse at 12pm– because we had to travel from Kyoto (approx. 3 hours trip), I decided to go for the most attainable time option giving ourselves room for some errors. We spent about 2 hours in the Warehouse- I wish we had a little more time. Inside the Warehouse, the queue to the “Becoming Characters in Memorable Ghibli Scenes” was extremely long- at least an hour. I highly recommend going to the warehouse as soon as the park opens to beat the line as much as you can. We were lucky to be traveling with a group of three, so we took turns in line while others walked around the Warehouse. There are also queues to take pictures with different characters outside of the exhibitions, but I recommend skipping them if the line is long and you don’t have time. “Becoming Characters in Memorable Ghibli Scenes”, however, was a highlight of the Grand Warehouse and should not be skipped if time permits.
• Hill of Youth at 2:30pm– this did not require a lot of time. We went through the whole exhibition (including queueing) and the surrounding area in just 30 minutes.
• Dondoko Forest at 4pm – we wish we had more time here. With the park closing at 5pm, we didn’t have a lot of wiggle room. Satsuki and Mei’s House took about 30 minutes, but the whole Dondoko Forest was extremely gorgeous so I wish we had more time to just walk around and soak it in. We hiked up to the Dondoko-Do where there’s a giant statue of Totoro and took the tram back down. It also took about 15 minutes to walk to the Dondoko Forest area: there’s a shuttle but it did not run as often as we had hoped and we were on a tight timeline.

In between Hill of Youth and Dondoko Forest, we had some time to have a proper lunch. We decided to go to a cafe by the entrance called “Soyogo Coffee Shop”. There were a few different food stands by the entrance, but the price was too steep for a street food styled meal so we decided to go with Soyogo as they offered a bento style meal. It was surprisingly delicious, and after reading a lot of people’s experience with the food in the Grand Warehouse, we were glad we went to Soyogo. I still think about that meal from time to time- not sure if it was because we were super hungry but it felt like sitting by a campfire during the fall. 

Attractions at the Ghibli Park

Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse

The Grand Warehouse is a Ghibli wonderland! Whether you’re a die-hard Ghibli fan or just looking for a fun day out, the Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse has something for everyone to enjoy! From exhibitions to explore, Ghibli-themed cafes, and even an alley of cute adorable Ghibli themed stores to shop at! Below is a breakdown on the Warehouse:

• Central Stairs: Amazing mosaic tile staircase connecting the two floors of the warehouse with the Giant Flying Ship right under the skylight and hidden character shapes in the designs.
• Open Warehouse: production artifacts and sculptures from Ghibli’s past exhibits around the world.
• Special Exhibitions
  • Become a Character in Memorable Ghibli Scenes: An interactive exhibition where you find yourself in a world of famous Ghibli scenes. 14 scenes from 13 movies starting off with No Face on the train to a fierce fight with Porco Rosso.
  • Delicious! Animating Memorable Meals Expanded Edition: A revealed secret on how the food in Ghibli film made us drool! Including production material from Spirited Away, From Up on Poppy Hill, and Earwig and the Witch and a reproduction of the From Up on Poppy Hill kitchen.
  • Everything Ghibli: A treasure collection of Ghibli posters, books, music packages  and more from around the world.

• Screening Room Cinema Orion: A cozy cinema where they screen original Ghibli animated shorts.
• Children’s Town: Let the little ones roam free in the retro style mini-replica cityscape of the Higashi-Koganei Station area in Tokyo, where Studio Ghibli is located.
• Cat Bus Room: Step into a small world of My Neighbor Totoro! A purr-fectly unique Cat Bus waiting for you for adventure. When it’s time for a break, climb the towering tree that reaches for the sky. Who knows what you might find up there?

Shops and Eateries

• Minami-machi: An adorable, nostalgic shopping street which feels like walking down the street in a Ghibli film. It features shops like Neppu Bookstore and Penny Candy Shop Cat Princess.
• Adventurous Flying Squadron: the largest indoor facility in Ghibli Park, offering a vast array of merchandise.
• Transcontinental Flight Cafe – Offers sandwiches and pizza, ideal for on-the-go adventurers
• Milk Stand Siberi An – Offers local milk in unique glass bottles and sweet bean cakes reminiscent of snacks from “The Wind Rises.”

Hill of Youth

Step into Hill of Youth and experience the magic and nostalgia of “Whisper of the Heart.”  Here, you’ll find the World Emporium, a very detailed replica of the antique shop from the movie. Explore this quaint shop, reminiscent of a bygone era, and immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the film.

Unfortunately, no cameras are allowed inside the World Emporium, and you’ll also need a premium pass for access.

The rest of the area features the Cat Bureau from “The Cat Returns” and The Rotary, the roundabout in front of the antique shop.

Dondoko Forest

Step into the whimsical heart of My Neighbor Totoro at Dondoko Forest! You’ll be transported to the town where Mei and Satsuki were moving to. Explore the beautiful forest, and visit the exact replica of their cozy home, a perfect replica that brings the anime’s cozy charm to life.

The forest features:

• “Satsuki and Mei’s House” was our favorite spot in the Park. You’ll feel as if you’re in the movie. This is the Japanese-Western style house Satsuki and Mei moved to.The kitchen, bathroom, sitting room, bedroom, study room, the outdoor sink pump – every area in the movie was there. You could almost imagine living there with them chasing/hiding from the soot sprites echoing in the house. 

The premium pass is required to access this building.

• Dondoko-Do: Situated near Satsuki and Mei’s house, a beautiful hill trail leads you up to Dondoko-do – a 5-meter-tall wooden structure of Totoro that children can play in and adults can take pictures with.

• Dondoko-go: a small tram that connects the ground level to the hilltop where Dondoko-Do is. Dondoko-go is designed like the tram which used to run in Nagoya City.

**Be Aware that Dondoko Forest is quite a hike from the rest of the park so manage your time properly. I give the area at least 90 mins to fully absorb all the magic.

Shops and Eateries

• Dondoko Shop: a cute shop where they sell souvenirs like keychains, amulet pouches and original Dondoko Forest souvenirs, located near Dondoko-do.
• Dondoko-dokoro: A rest stop on the way to Satsuki and Mei’s house that sells drinks, souvenirs and where the public bathroom is located.

Mononoke Village

Immerse yourself in the spirit of Princess Mononoke at Mononoke Village. Below are some features of the area:

• Tatara-ba: representing Irontown in the film. Tatara-ba is a hands-on learning center. In the building, there’s a cooking experience where you can make Gohei-Mochi yourself on a charcoal grill. It costs about ¥1,200 per person for the food. 
• Lord Okkoto Slide: A slide for children based on the Lord Okkoto character, where his coat is beautifully made with colorful mosaic tiles and stones.
• Demon Spirit: This structure is based on the Demon Spirit that curses Prince Ashitaka. You can find the Watchtower from Emishi Village nearby.

Shops

• Mononoke Village Rest Stop: this shop provides a cozy place for visitors seeking refreshments and official merch items.

Valley of Witches

Unleash your inner witch at Valley of Witches! This European style town brings together the magic of 3 Ghibli beloved witch films- Kiki’s Delivery Service, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Earwig and the Witch. Valley of Witches will take you on hours of exciting exploration, lost in the magical area filled with iconic buildings recreated from the movie.

Here are the features of this area based on location from entrance to exit:

• The Mouth of Witch: A structure in front of the entrance, inspired by the witch Bella Yaga from Earwig. The Witch will greet you with her mouth wide open, where you’ll find clock artwork, a slide and towers made with tiles inside. 
• Flying OVEN: located after the entrance where you can find a full-service restaurant that offers hearty baked dishes and mysterious desserts.
• The House of Witches: where Earwig lives, featuring Bella Yaga’s workshop, Earwig’s bedroom, etc. The building holds mysterious and magical feelings to make you feel immersed! (Only Premium pass holders can enter)
• Howl’s Castle: A  20 meters tall tower with creature-like features from Howl’s Moving Castle. The castle is set on wasteland (like in the film), and it also has moving parts and smokes so it feels like it’s really moving. It features small details like in the film so you can pretend you’re riding the moving castle with Sophie and friends! (Only Premium pass holders can enter)
• The Okino Residence: two story house where Kiki lived before she left home to train. This is an amazing peek into the Okino’s daily life featuring a beautiful all season outdoor garden, the witch’s shop and Kiki’s room inside. (Only Premium pass holders can enter)
• Guchokipanya Bakery: this is where Kiki and her black cat Jiji live. The bakery also offers various bread options available for purchase and you can also look into the attic where Kiki and Jiji stay!
• Hatter’s Millinery: a replica of Sophie’s hat shop from the film. The shop sells original candies and hats, and you can also find a bookshop called “Witches’ Book Stacks” upstairs selling witches and magic books.  

Play Area/Rides

After The Houses of Witches, you can find an area of playgrounds and rides for children and adults with magical themes like:

• Tower of Aviators: a play area for kids who admire soaring through the sky like Pazu from Castle in the Sky, and Tombo from Kiki’s Delivery Service.
• Flying Machine: The ride is inspired by the world of Castle in the Sky, and Laputa and Tiger Moth are found in the center. The ride does cost an additional ¥600 per child. Tickets are sold at the Okino Residence, and tickets are required before queuing.
• Avenue of Ruins/Watch Tower: from this stonewall/tower, you can enjoy the view of Howl’s Castle. There’s also an ancient well, and the wasteland spreads nearby.
• Fountains area: relaxed seating areas to cool down.
• Carousel: decorated with vehicles, animals, characters and other images from Studio Ghibli’s films such as Kiki’s Delivery Service, Howl’s Moving Castle, Princess Mononoke and more. Open to both children and adults and costs ¥500 per child or ¥1000 per adult.

*Note that rides with additional costs require tickets before queueing. Tickets can be bought at the Ticket Hut on the way to the Okino Residence.

Shops and Eateries

•  Flying OVEN: Located right after the Entrance to the Valley. The place serves hearty baked dishes like Shepherd’s Pie and Ketchup Spaghetti Quiche, along with desserts typical of the Valley of Witches. Open from 11 am to 5 pm, with last order at 4 pm.
• Hot Dog Stand “Hot Tin Roof”‘: A yellow hot dog stand with a striking neon cat sign. It offers giant hot dogs in cat-shaped buns, French fries, Valley of Witches Beer, and other drinks.
• Witches Coven 13: this shop offers a variety of official merch items inspired by the valley’s mystical ambiance.
• Hatter’s Millinery: this shop sells unique candies and hats, adding to the whimsical atmosphere of the area.
• Witches’ Book Stacks: Located upstairs from Hatter’s Millinery’s courtyard, this bookshop houses a collection of witch-themed books for visitors to peruse.

Park Entrance Area

Shops and Eateries

Here’s a brief summary for each café and store by the Park Entrance:

• Rotunda Kazegaoka Cafeteria: Located at the Ghibli Park Main Entrance (North Entrance of Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park).
• Features a cafeteria offering rice balls, sweets, local Aichi products, and more.
• In the area, there are also coffee shops (with bento style food options) and a variety of food stands.
• Also houses a shop with a variety of products and Ghibli souvenirs.
• Convenience store available at the North Gate.

Conclusion

If you were considering a Ghibli Park trip, I hope this post has nudged you to grab that ticket! If you’ve already purchased your ticket, I hope you’re ready to be immersed in the whimsical, jaw-dropping world of Ghibli films. It was truly a dream come true for us, and I hope yours will be too. Leave us comments – questions, tips or just simply give us an update on your experience (esp to the two new areas)!