Make Your Dreams Come True at Studio Ghibli Park

If you’re a fan of the Ghibli films, this park is an absolute cannot miss! There is so much to see, and you really should make an entire day out of it. This guide covers the whole park, so it’s a bit long, but I hope it helps you understand what to prioritize on your visit and how truly magical this place is. Don’t feel weird for going alone or as an adult, because there were far more adults than children!

Ghibli Park is a theme park in Aichi, Japan, about one hour outside of Nagoya, representing the world of Studio Ghibli. You might recognize some of their more famous films, such as Kiki’s Delivery Service, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Spirited Away. There are five areas spread out across the Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park that you can visit.

The best place to stay is Nagoya. It’s easily accessible by the Shinkansen and is a nice city to visit on its own! I’d recommend spending some time in Nagoya, as it’s absolutely lovely and feels far less touristy than the other hotspots like Kyoto or Osaka.

From Nagoya station, it’s only about an hour via the subway. You’ll want to take the Higashiyama Line toward Fujigaoka and exit at the last stop. Switch to the Linimo Line. You will need to exit the station, but it’s extremely close. Just follow the signs! Take that towards Yakusa and get off at Ai-Chikuhaku Kinen Koen. There’s also a ton of signage at Fujigaoka about which stop to get off for the park.

There’s also the Meitetsu Bus to Ai-Chikuhaku Kinen Koen, which takes only 40 minutes, but costs more than the train.

Follow the signs in the station to the park!

I won’t lie, this is the painful part. You’ll want to buy directly from the Ghibli Park website. The official website sells its tickets through Lawson Ticket (yes, like the convenience store) and Klook. I personally purchased mine through Lawson.

Something interesting Japan does with many of its attractions is release tickets on a rolling basis. Essentially, you need to check when they go on sale (check early!!), similar to a concert. Then, when they release, make sure you’re online and join the virtual queue to purchase.

For full transparency, I purchased my ticket on March 10th for my visit on May 5th. I was on the website right before the tickets went on sale and was in the queue for 2 hours before I got a chance to buy. My original plan was to go on May 4th, but premium tickets for that day sold out in the early-morning slots. Thankfully, 9 am premium tickets for the 5th were still available, so I just moved around my itinerary to make it work.

Prepare for a battle and the possibility of not getting the day you originally wanted, but it’s absolutely worth it. You want an early ticket as there’s a lot to see and the park closes at 5 pm!

With the standard pass, you can enter Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse, Mononoke Village, and Valley of Witches. Separate tickets are required to enter Okino Residence, Howl’s Castle, and The House of Witches in the Valley of Witches.

With the premium pass, you can enter all five areas and all buildings in Ghibli Park. This also allows you to re-enter all areas EXCEPT the Grand Warehouse.

You are allowed to take pictures and videos anywhere outside. Inside the facilities, there are more rules about what’s allowed. Look out for signage indicating where pictures cannot be taken. Staff will also let you know before entering areas. There is absolutely no photography in any of the stores, specialty buildings, or in the cinema.

Tripods are not allowed. I learned the hard way when I got mine out for a picture and was told I couldn’t use it. Sadly, this makes the park less solo-travel-friendly. Thankfully, other guests were very kind to take my photos for me.

Also, just be careful and respectful when filming, as Japan is sensitive to people being on camera without their permission, even in public spaces.

As you approach the park, the first thing you’ll most likely see will be the Elevator Tower. It has a very steampunk, classic Ghibli look that really gets you in the mood for the rest of the park. In the morning, the wait might be a bit crowded. There is a ramp and stairs available as well.

Make sure you have either your QR code printed or access to it on your phone. You should have received an email with the day-of-arrival instructions for accessing the QR code. You can choose to start in either the Grand Warehouse or the Villages. Personally, I started with the Warehouse, so I can walk you through that process.

Employees will have organized lines where they’ll be directing people. The staff will be coming through the lines with a scanner to check QR codes, so make sure you have it accessible! If you purchased a premium ticket, you’ll receive a wristband. Do not lose this because they cannot replace it! Having this is your key to accessing the extra buildings and re-entering certain areas.

Your QR code will be scanned again when you enter the building, where you’ll be given a ticket for Cinema Orion, the park’s rules, and a reminder that once you leave the Grand Warehouse, you cannot re-enter.

From there, you’re sent on your merry way!

The park is fully walkable. However, a free bus service runs in both directions and can take you to different sections of the park. If you don’t have any disabilities, the only section you might want to take the bus to is Dondoko Forest, as it’s quite far from everything else. The remainder of the sections are within easy walking distance of the Grand Warehouse.

There are some additional paid options, such as a Bus Cat coach or the Valley of the Witches Scenic Lookout. These can be purchased at a ticket booth.

The first and second floors are connected by a mosaic staircase. There are a bunch of hidden character designs you should look out for! Above is a Giant Flying Ship.

This house’s production artifacts and sculptures from former exhibitions in Japan and overseas. Unfortunately, I completely missed this despite spending nearly four hours in the warehouse.

This is the interactive exhibit where you can step into 14 film scenes! The line for this can be pretty long, but they do a good job of staggering the groups so you have space to walk around and don’t have to wait too long for each display. The very first one is getting to be Chirhiro, sitting next to No Face on the train! Personally, this one was my favorite. There is a second floor, so don’t miss it.

This is an upgraded version of the popular exhibit previously on display at the Ghibli Museum in Tokyo (that I sadly couldn’t get tickets to). It features recreations of meals from Spirited Away, From Up on Poppy Hill, and Earwig and the Witch, set in a reproduction of the From Up on Poppy Hill kitchen. The exhibit is super cute, but you do need to take off your shoes to walk inside. It’s small enough that you can just look in if you’d rather keep them on. This exhibit is set to end June 8, 2026.

A collection of Ghibli posters, films, and music packages from all over the world! You can see how designs varied in other countries.

You’ll want to arrive about 10 minutes before the film starts. Your ticket, which you received when entering the warehouse, will be stamped. Once they open the doors, seating is a free-for-all, so good luck. Some general reminders (in Japanese) are provided about no filming or photography, the locations of the exits, etc.

The cinema offers a rotating list of short films. During my visit, they were showing “Koro’s Big Day Out”. There are showings with Japanese subtitles, but the audio is entirely in Japanese. Sorry, no English subtitles! As someone who’s not fluent, I was able to follow the story from context and still enjoy it.

This is a scene of Yubaba, from Spirited Away, working in her office. You can’t go into the room, but you can walk around the outside and peer through the window to see different elements.

A children’s play area set in the world of My Neighbor Totoro.

Children’s play area recreation of the Higashi-Koganei Station area in Tokyo, where Studio Ghibli is located.

Set in the ruins of the garden at Castle in the Sky, a robot soldier becomes one with nature, awaiting his master’s return. There is a little line for a picture with this, but it moves quickly!

If you’ve ever wanted to imagine what it’s like to be tiny, you can do so here in the world of Arrietty! Go inside the walls of a house and stand next to giant flowers. It’s a really interesting way to feel the scale.

A very cute row of nostalgic shops selling books, scale model kits, and treats!

This is the second-largest part of the park, where you should spend at least 2 hours.

Right by the entrance is this gate inspired by Bella Yaga from Earwig and the Witch. You can walk through and see the tile clock artwork.

This is a two-story house where Kiki from Kiki’s Delivery Service lived before she left to train. You get to see all the plants Kiki’s mom grows on the ground floor to make medicine. Upstairs, you can see Kiki’s room and her father’s study. This was super cute to see, as this film is one of my favorites! I loved getting to poke around Kiki’s room!

Right in front of this is a display of three witches’ brooms that you can use to try out your flying skills!

The bakery where Kiki and her cat, Jiji, live while Kiki is training as a witch. Inside, you can purchase bread just like in the movie! If you go up the back staircase, you can see the attic, which Kiki calls her new home.

Personally, I think this is the show-stopper of the park! This castle is 20 meters tall and, a few times an hour, comes to life with moving parts and smoke, really adding to the excitement! You walk into the living room, a complete mess, obviously. There’s also Calcifer’s furnace, dishes piled in the sink, Sophie’s room and corner, and more hiding away. When the front door is closed, and you turn the knob, the window screen changes, just like in the movie!

Upstairs, you’ll find Howl’s room, which is honestly phenomenal, his bathroom, which is all green from his potion’s mess, and Markl’s room. There are also access areas to the second-floor decks and a telescope you can look through.

In front of his castle is a photo op with Turnip Head! I’m so glad they didn’t forget about him!

This is the house where Earwig from Earwig and the Witch was brought to live. You can see Bella Yaga’s workshop, Earwig’s bedroom, and there’s even a door that leads to a backyard where they hang their washing.

A ride for children with characters from many of the Ghibli films. It plays a rendition of “Merry-Go-Round of Life” from Howl’s Moving Castle.

A ride for children inspired by Castle in the Sky! This ride requires an extra fee.

Inspired by Castle in the Sky and Kiki’s Delivery Service, this is a play area for kids. You must be 15 or younger to go to the second floor.

This appears to be tied to Howl’s Moving Castle, as it sits on a wasteland and blends into Turnip Head and the Castle. Inside, you’ll find remains from an apparent ancient village, and climb the tower where you can get a view of Howl’s Castle.

Just a nice, flat fountain!

An elevator that takes you to Kiki’s attic room and the Witches’ Book Stacks.

Unfortunately, I barely made it to Mononoke village and really just had time to walk around the grounds as things were closing.

Designed to look like a building from the film, this hands-on learning center offers seasonal interactive workshops. These experiences require additional fees.

A slide, based on the character from the film.

A statue based on the demon spirit from the film. This one you cannot climb on.

This is the Japanese-Western style house that Satsuki and Mei moved into in My Neighbor Totoro. There are a bunch of different rooms to see, drawers to open, and you can even look out at the pond. You must remove your shoes to enter this house.

Up the stairs (or the elevator), you’ll find Dondoko-do, a 5-meter-tall structure for children to play under.

A slope car connecting the ground level to the top of Dondoko Forest. They give priority to strollers, wheelchairs, and those with disabilities. It is not a park ride and was designed like the tram that used to run in Nagoya city.

Heartbroken, I missed basically all of this due to a lack of time.

You meet this as you enter the park! You can take it down, which is a cool experience, as it emulates late-19th-century sci-fi architecture seen in films such as Howl’s Moving Castle and Castle in the Sky.

In the morning, it was a bit held up by the crowds, but I rode it up on my way out.

This is the antique repair shop that Shizuku Tsukishima finds her way into in Whisper of the Heart.

From The Cat Returns, it’s a cat-sized single-story building.

This is the largest gift shop in the park, offering a variety of movie-themed items, as well as general Studio Ghibli and park-specific merchandise. Once you leave the warehouse, you won’t be able to come back here, so if you’ve got your eye on something, get it!

This shop is filled with unique items from the Valley of the Witches! You’ll find tons of things inspired by the films, buildings, and exhibits. I picked up an umbrella, which is perfect because I needed a new one anyway!

This is the hat shop that Sophie from Howl’s Moving Castle manages. The first floor sells candies and hats, and through the courtyard, you can peer into where Sophie makes them. On the second floor, from the courtyard, is a book shop called Witches’ Book Stacks. There are various books related to witches and magic, all appeared to be in Japanese.

Originally built for Expo 2005 Aichi, this building was relocated to Mononoke Village, and its roof was redone to blend into its new environment. The shop sells items connected to the film, as well as refreshments. It’s a very small shop.

Right near the Dondoko-do is this small shop selling souvenirs related to the Dondoko Forest.

Designed as a rest stop, this shop also sells drinks, souvenirs, and seasonal items. There are toilets if needed.

Designed like the roundabout from the town square in Whisper of the Heart, this shop sells postcards and stamps you can mail on-site!

Offers a selection of sandwiches and pizza with indoor and outdoor seating.

Sells local milk and sweets such as sweet bean cake from The Wind Rises. Once all items are sold for the day, they will close.

A full-service restaurant located towards the front of the Valley of the Witches. They serve a mix of European-style hearty meals and “mysterious dishes and desserts”. There’s also a rooftop garden accessible from the outdoor stairs, and a small food stall outside the restaurant.

Expect to wait for a table if you’re not early. This is where I wanted to eat, but the line was far too long.

If you’re looking for a quick meal that won’t slow you down, you can get a “Cat Paw Dog,” which has a cat-paw-shaped bun with a sausage. They didn’t appear to have condiments, but you can also get fries, beer, and soft drinks.

This is where I grabbed some quick food to sustain myself until dinner, so I could maximize my park time.

If you’re a fan of the Studio Ghibli films, this place is incredible! I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect when I bought my ticket, but going was non-negotiable. Think of it as getting to interact with and walk into the world of the films. It’s a THEME park, not an amusement park, even though they have two small rides. It’s super easy to get caught up in places for a long time, and because there is so much to see, I’d really recommend getting the earliest ticket possible. You’ll also want to watch your time a bit because you won’t want to miss sections as I did.

I’m not a huge Mononoke fan, but I wanted to at least see the area (also so I could get pictures for my review). Then I totally misunderstood what the Hill of Youth was, thinking it was just the children’s playground, but that wasn’t the case. As a big fan of The Cat Returns, I’m really sad I missed those few things on it. If you don’t care about a certain section, that will also make it easier to prioritize what you do want to see.

There are a good number of people in the park, but realistically, they control the crowds pretty well. The longest I waited for anything was about 30 minutes to get into the interactive movie exhibit. Everyone wants their picture with No Face. Can you blame them? After that, maybe 10-15 at most. It made the whole experience much more enjoyable because you can actually walk around.

I HIGHLY recommend Ghibli Park. It’s also surprisingly super affordable for an all-day activity. My premium ticket was only $50.11 (rate as of March 2026). I nearly teared up so many times because I couldn’t believe I was looking at things like Howl’s messy bedroom or riding on Kiki’s broomstick. True childhood dream complete.