Hello everyone, I'm Evelyn. In this video, I'll take you to the Ghibli Park in Aichi Prefecture. The video will introduce the four areas currently open in Ghibli Park: Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse, Mononoke Village, Hill of Youth, and the Dondoko Forest. At the end of the video, the latest ticket information will be explained, along with ticket purchase methods, transportation, and park tips. Make sure to watch until the end. Let's head to Ghibli Park! First, we arrive at the Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse. We specifically chose the 9:00 AM opening time. You can see the long queue even before the park opens. Upon entry, you receive a movie ticket to watch animated shorts at the Grand Warehouse theater. The information center provides Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse maps in Traditional Chinese. One map per person. Now, here's a little tip: Grab a map quickly and head to the adjacent line for the most popular Ghibli scene exhibition. “Becoming Characters in Memorable Ghibli Scenes” The exhibition showcases many famous movie scenes where you can take photos. The most popular scene is the カオナシ on the train. You'll have to wait in a long line for a photo. Porco Rosso From "Porco Rosso" “Pom Poko” “Castle in the Sky” “Only Yesterday” “Whisper of the Heart” “The Ocean Waves” “Ponyo on the Cliff” Especially adorable The first time my family took me to the movies, this was the film we watched. “Princess Mononoke” “Tales from Earthsea” My favorite Ghibli movie when I was in elementary school Thought it was obscure Turns out it's quite popular “The Wind Rises” “Memories of Marnie” At the exit of the exhibition, there are images of the works' origins You can refer to the poses in the pictures when taking photos. After viewing “Becoming Characters in Memorable Ghibli Scenes” we came to the Central Stairs. The architectural style of the Central Stairs reminds one of Spain's Park Güell At the same time, it resembles Howl's Moving Castle with scenes from the royal capital inside. Many tropical plants are planted inside and there is a transparent ceiling. There are even airships in the sky. It's very much like the palace where Howl's mentor, Madame Suliman, resides. Under the sunlight, the colorful tiles reflect the shimmering water. Many small details are worth observing closely. The Kodama from "Princess Mononoke," I used to find it scary when it turned its head, but Ghibli Park decorates it so cutely. The Philosophical Society from "From Up on Poppy Hill." Next, we arrived at the Cinema Orion to watch animated shorts. There are three screenings per hour. We watched the short film "Mice Sumo." There are a total of 10. The animated shorts rotate regularly, and the dates are announced on the official website. If you want to watch all the shorts, you'll have to come multiple times. Next, we visited the Planning Exhibition Room. Here, the main exhibitions are “Delicious! Animating Memorable Meals Expanded Edition” and “Everything Ghibli!” Although photos are not allowed in the food depiction exhibition, it's really fascinating. I believe many people have strong impressions of the food in Ghibli movies. Although these foods are ordinary, they look incredibly delicious in the animations. This exhibition transforms many classic foods into physical models and showcases a large number of eating storyboards. It breaks down the characters' chewing movements and expressions, the changes in food and backgrounds, telling you the process behind these appetizing Ghibli meals. The storyboards are really detailed, and I was deeply moved by them. If you're interested in animation production, don't miss it. Then we headed to the “Everything Ghibli!” exhibition. Here, Ghibli Studio's work posters are displayed, along with the timeline of their works. Next up is the super cute Totoro Cafe. On the walls, there are plenty of photos from Ghibli Studio over the years. It feels really moving. It's thanks to the efforts of the animators that these great works were born. On the walls, there are animations from Ghibli Studio, and illustrations of the grand opening by industry leaders. They're really amazing. There are even original drawings by Mr. Hayao Miyazaki and Mr. Toshio Suzuki. Being able to see the original drawings is really fantastic. But there should have been three paintings hanging here, thinking of Mr. Isao Takahata, it's really sad. How about a freshly ground Totoro hand drip coffee? What's on display here are posters, packaging, and books from Ghibli Studio works from around the world. At the end of the Planning Exhibition Room is a Cat Bus. There are so many kids having a blast here. Then we headed to the right side of the Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse, where the Children's Town is for kids under 12 to play. No photography allowed. There's a Cat Bus with patchwork design and fluffy Totoros, a place where kids can have a blast. On the far right side of the Ghibli Warehouse is Minami Machi. It's a commercial street filled with a retro nostalgic atmosphere. Full of intricate details, it's worth observing closely. It reminds people of the world Chihiro stumbled into in "Spirited Away." There's also a commercial area like this. Minami Street features the Neppu Bookstore, Open Sky Models , and Penny Candy Shop Cat Princess. Initially, I thought these items were just decorations, but they are actually available for purchase. Next to Minami Machi is a mechanical soldier from Laputa. Next up is the Counterfeit Superintendent's Room. Yubaba works in this glamorous office, where contracts dance in mid-air. Could it be... the names of the staff here? If you go around to the back of the Counterfeit Superintendent's Room, you can see Zeniba's paper dolls. This room, is a real radio recording studio that can be used. There's even a signature from Mr. Goro Miyazaki on the desk. The shop next to it is Milk Stand Siberian, selling Tokoname milk and Siberian honey cakes from "The Wind Rises." Downstairs is Borrower Arrietty's scene. Let's go downstairs. Here is the home under the floor and the Borrower's Garden. Walking among the huge bushes and leaves, I feel like I've become one of the Borrowers. Giant dewdrops and traces of leaves being nibbled by insects are incredibly authentic. Arrietty's family's house has also been faithfully recreated inside. It's really beautiful and delicate. The lighting creates a dreamy atmosphere. So many small details are really wonderful. There's a place where you need to bend down to enter. It turns out, inside is the path Arrietty and her father took to borrow items. The route they walked. The note left by the male protagonist for Arrietty. And the sugar cube left from her first failed borrowing attempt. It's just heartwarming. Outside the Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse, connects to the Transcontinental Flight Café. The café can't be accessed from elsewhere. You absolutely need to purchase Ghibli Warehouse tickets to dine here. The menu mainly consists of submarine sandwiches, pizza, and drinks. But there are just too many people lining up. So, we had to give up. In the Open Warehouse, props previously exhibited at the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka or at exhibitions abroad are displayed. Ghibli Warehouse Visiting here concludes Next, we rush to the next area. The next area we're heading to is the Mononoke Village. On the way, we'll pass by the playground equipment inspired by the The Cat Returns Castle. The equipment is super cute. Unfortunately, it's limited to children. Mononoke Village is a newly opened area as of November 2023, themed after the movie "Princess Mononoke." The main decorations include Lord Okkoto and Demon Spirit. Demon Spirit is decorated with mosaic tiles. Beside Lord Okkoto is a slide. It's made up of mosaic tiles and cobblestones. The entrance to the slide is actually from underneath the belly. It's really only accessible for very small children who can crawl in and slide out from the bottom. Tatara-ba in Mononoke Village Inside the building is an experience of Charcoal Grilled Gohei-mochi . The experience fee is 1,200 yen. The walls also recreate scenes from Princess Mononoke. There's a souvenir shop here selling Princess Mononoke merchandise. The most special item is San's headgear. But the prices are quite high. Just as I was silently thinking about it, a Japanese father next to me asked the clerk about the price, and directly commented, "Expensive!" It seems my sense of value isn't off. If you don't experience baking gohei-mochi and children don't play on the slide, you can actually finish exploring in about 15 minutes. As Mononoke Village ends so abruptly, we visited a similar farm nearby to experience its facilities and architecture. Inside, you can cook, rest, and organize activities, and it's super clean. Even if you don't come to the Ghibli Park, this park is still a great leisure destination. Next, let's head to the third stop, the Hill of Youth . There are many Studio Ghibli elements in the park that you can collect. Like the money bag from "Porco Rosso" and the sword from "Tales from Earthsea." The Hill of Youth area is themed after “Whisper of the Heart” and "The Cat Returns." Main commemorations include the Antique Shop "World Emporium" from Whisper of the Heart. and the Cat Bureau from "The Cat Returns." The Cat Bureau can be observed through windows on all sides. Baron and Muta are having tea inside. There's chiffon cake on the table. There are slates on the bookshelf. There's a portrait of Lady Cat on the wall. There's a photo on the mantelpiece. So many details! The interior decoration of the bureau is so delicate and elegant. Truly worthy of the Cat Baron. When everyone comes, remember to check the Cat Bureau's mailbox and help collect the mail. It turns out to be Cat Daily News. Oh, it's so adorable! Everything is related to "The Cat Returns." On the second floor of World Emporium is the protagonist's grandfather's antique shop. The first floor is the violin workshop of the protagonist Seiji Amasawa. Photography is prohibited inside. The antique shop is really authentic, with all sorts of exquisite antique bouquets and statues of the Cat Baron and the Sheep Clock. Especially the Sheep Clock, it really rotates just like in the movie. It's really amazing! The first floor is the protagonist Seiji Amasawa's violin workshop. There are even wood shavings left on the table, showing signs of life. After leaving the violin workshop, you step onto the terrace from the movie. At the entrance, Seiji's bicycle and coat are placed, so authentic and thoughtful. There's also a bus stop in the park that leads to the Cat Kingdom. You can purchase stamps inside World Emporium and send postcards in this mailbox. Telephone booth. Looks like it's making a call to the Cat Kingdom. Great, let's listen again. Even in the Whisper of the Heart, the neighboring Suzuki House has been recreated. But it's not accessible. The dream space of the female protagonist, Shizuku Tsukishima, By the way, when everyone comes to Ghibli Park, you can observe many acorns falling on the ground, super cute. It feels like being in the world of Totoro. The elevator tower is themed after Laputa: Castle in the Sky and Howl's Moving Castle. It follows the late 19th-century imaginative science design. It feels somewhat like steampunk style. Even the lampposts are exquisite. Now the elevator tower is a connecting passage. No need for tickets. We have some time before entering the last zone. Let's grab some food at the Lawson near the park entrance. Besides the convenience store, there's a Rotunda Kazegaoka at the entrance selling rice balls, desserts, and Ghibli merchandise. After a simple meal, we'll continue to the last zone. Here's another small strategy: Make good use of the free shuttle buses within the Ghibli Park. The park is very spacious, and the Dondoko Forest is located about a 20-minute walk from the entrance. After visiting three zones already, our feet are really feeling it. So, it's wise to take advantage of the free transportation available. You'll still need to walk a bit after getting off, and there's a Totoro souvenir shop along the way. Keep moving forward towards the final destination, Dondoko Forest. Here's another tip for everyone: When you get off, don't follow the crowd to the ticket gate immediately. Take the slope on the side instead, because there's a mini cable car here to take you up the hill. That way, you won't have to climb stairs laboriously. The cable car's design is so retro and cute. As soon as you get up the hill, you'll see this Totoro statue. Kids can climb up and play on it from below. It looks cute from every angle. There's a small souvenir shop here selling Ghibli-themed amulets. Next, take the stairs downhill to visit Satsuki and Mei's home. There are 8 acorns at the Eighth Station, 5 acorns at the Fifth Station, and one acorn at the trailhead. Satsuki and Mei's home, is incredibly authentic. It's just like stepping into the movie. Dad's study, where Mei picks flowers for him. The structure of the house is exactly like in the animation. Mei looking for Totoro's hiding spot. Tins, soda bottles, everything is faithfully reproduced. With so many acorns around, it's definitely Totoro's realm. Dad's bicycle, the well for drawing water, the broken water bucket, Take a stroll around the outside before going inside for a visit. Remember to take off your shoes indoors. The toilet, the bathroom, Dad's letters, All the drawers and cabinets indoors can be opened and explored, even touched. It's really amazing. Perhaps only Japan can achieve this level of detail. Everything feels so vintage and nostalgic. It's full of life. Because they're genuine old items, there's a strong sense of nostalgia. It feels very immersive. It's like traveling back in time. The kitchen, Mei's desk, There are Mei's textbooks and stationery on the desk, and little toys in the drawer. Every detail, creates the sense of the Kusakabe family living here. It feels like they're currently living here. Because it's so real, it feels like I'm peeking into someone else's home. I found Mei's straw hat. Mom's clothes, Mom is also an elegant person. Dad's study, Truly befitting of a professor, filled with books, documents, and references. Even the almost broken pillar is faithfully recreated. The Kusakabe house is full of intricate details, especially great for photo opportunities. It can easily take up quite some time. And it's about time. Finally, within a day, we've conquered all four zones of Ghibli Park. We take the free shuttle back to the park entrance. Along the way, we pass by March 2024, the upcoming fifth zone set to open soon: Valley of Witches. We can see a mini version of Howl's Moving Castle from afar. Next, I'll explain about Ghibli Park tickets, transportation, and other related matters. First, ticket purchasing. I previously covered a guide on buying Ghibli Park tickets, teaching how to purchase tickets at Lawson machines. However, since the opening of the Valley of Witches in mid-March 2024, ticket schemes and purchase times have changed significantly. Previously, tickets were purchased separately for each zone, and entry times were designated. Starting March this year, it's become a bundled ticket system. The first option is the Ghibli Park O-Sanpo Day Pass, starting from 3,500 yen, allowing access to all five zones. Only the Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse requires a designated entry time, but aside from the Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse and the Mononoke Village, visitors cannot enter the buildings in the Hill of Youth,Dondoko Forest, and the Valley of Witches. That includes Mei and Satsuki's home in the Dondoko Forest, the World Emporium in the Hill of Youth, and the new area, Howl's Castle, The Okino Residence, The House of Witches are off-limits in the Valley of the Witches. To be honest, I feel it's a bit of a shame not to explore the inside of the buildings. So, the Ghibli Park O-Sanpo Day Pass is suitable for those who just want to wander around casually. The second option is the Ghibli Park O-Sanpo Day Pass Premium, starting from 7,000 yen, also granting access to all five zones. Only the Grand Warehouse requires a designated time slot. The difference with the Premium is the ability to explore inside the buildings. For those who want the full experience, opting for the Ghibli Park O-Sanpo Day Pass is the way to go. Both the Ghibli Park O-Sanpo Day Pass and the Ghibli Park O-Sanpo Day Pass Premium go on sale two months in advance, on the 10th at 14:00 Japan time, 13:00 Taiwan time. Meaning tickets for April go on sale at 14:00 Japan time on February 10th, and tickets for May go on sale at 14:00 Japan time on March 10th. Next, the third option is ジブリパークさんぽ券, starting from 1,500 yen, allowing access to the Hill of Youth, the Dondoko Forest, Mononoke Village, and the Valley of Witches. The ジブリパークさんぽ券 requires a designated entry time for the Valley of Witches, but still does not allow entry to the buildings I mentioned earlier. For visits inside the buildings mentioned earlier, the ジブリパークさんぽ券 goes on sale seven days before the entry date at 17:00 Japan time. Keep in mind, this pass does not include access to the most exciting Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse. Apart from changes in ticket types and timing, you can still purchase tickets online or at Lawson machines. If you prefer using Lawson machines, you can refer to this tutorial video for the machine operation steps. Honestly, the ticket rules for Ghibli Park are quite complex and subject to frequent changes. Even I had to study them extensively when planning. I recommend everyone to check the Ghibli Park official website for the latest information and rules before purchasing tickets. Next, let's review the three tips mentioned in the video. The first one is to prioritize visiting the Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse in the earliest time slot, typically 9:00 or 10:00, depending on the park's opening time. In any case, aim to arrive early. Once you descend after entering the park, head straight to queue for the Becoming Characters in Memorable Ghibli Scenes as it's incredibly popular. The park is least crowded right after opening, so you won't have trouble finding where to queue up. Right after descending upon entering the park, it's in the red and yellow building in front of the information desk. The second point is that the park is vast, and if you want to explore all the areas in a day, you must make good use of the free shuttle bus to save energy and time. However, the frequency of the bus is not very high, so you must plan your time in advance. You can find the latest schedule link in the information section. The third point is that since the Totoro statue in the Dondoko Forest requires climbing stairs to see, it can be tiring for those with limited mobility. You can take the nearby road and ride the cable car uphill then walk down the stairs to visit the Kusakabe family's house. If you depart from Nagoya Station, first take the Higashiyama Subway Line to Fujigaoka Station, then transfer to the Linimo Line to the Aichi Earth Expo Memorial Park Station. The travel time is approximately one hour. If you have to visit specific entry time zones, you need to allocate some more time, as it takes 10 minutes just to walk from the station to the Ghibli Great Warehouse. Above are the four zones of Ghibli Park and related information. The video is quite long. Thank you for watching up to this point. Hope the video was helpful. Goodbye!
