Totoro, Chihiro, Sheeta: you can now dive into the world of your favorite characters – well, you have to travel to Japan, but still. Something to delight fans, who have been waiting for this studio Ghibli theme park for years. Don’t expect a Disneyland wannabe. The Ghibli studio prefers to focus on the sets, to transport visitors to the world of Miyazaki’s most legendary films. Lisa Tsutsumu, representative of the place, had already clarified: “In Ghibli Park, there are no big attractions or vehicles, it is a place where you discover secrets by walking in the forest and the alleys, according to the wind.“Also see on KonbiniWait before booking your trip, however. Currently, Park Ghibli ticket sales are not available to tourists. Only Japanese residents can enjoy it. Also, to avoid the crowds, a lottery system has been put in place, so you have to register several months in advance. Don’t worry, it might be better to be patient. Because for now, only three of the five areas that divide the park are available. And the themes of the missing two are not the least interesting. The “Mononoké Village” inspired by the film Princess Mononoké is planned for autumn 2023. The last zone, which will ratify the opening of the park, is planned for March 2024, it will be the “Valley of the Witches”, dedicated to the Kiki’s Delivery Service films. and Howl’s Moving Castle. As for the areas already present, we can find the “Great Ghibli Warehouse” which includes a cinema, souvenir shops and restaurants. This piece of the park also has an indoor part where you can find different activities and exhibits. One of them will allow you to board the Spirited Away train. The second area, the “Hill of Youth”, has a view overlooking the park. A little further on, the third and last accessible area, for the moment, is called the “Dondoko Forest”, dedicated to the famous film My Neighbor Totoro. You can find a five-meter-high statue of the mythical character there. Ghibli Park is located in Aichi Prefecture, three hours from Tokyo by train, on the former site of the World Expo in 2005, subsequently transformed into a green space. While waiting for its full opening, it is still possible to visit the Ghibli museum, near Tokyo. On this subject, Goro Miyazaki had declared: “Here [le parc Ghibli, ndlr]we are expanding in a way what was initially exhibited in the museum.“
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