If you are a Ghibli fan, the Ghibli Park (ジブリパーク) in Aichi Prefecture is a must-visit for you. Although its location isn’t as convenient as the Ghibli Museum in Tokyo near Kichijōji, many scenes in various Ghibli movies have been reproduced in the theme park. It is the spot in the world where you can get the closest to the Ghibli characters! However, as Ghibli Park is very popular and has a vast ground, we highly recommend planning your visit so you can get the most out of what the park offers.
Table of Contents
- A Brief Introduction to Ghibli Park
- How to Purchase Ghibli Park Ticket
- How to Get to Ghibli Park
- Our Recommended Way to Explore the Ghibli Park
- The Highlights in Each Area in Ghibli Park
- A Summary of How Much Time to Allocate in Each Area
- Is One Day Enough to Explore Ghibli Park?
- Can I Use Strollers in Ghibli Park?
- Visiting Ghibli Park With Babies and Toddlers
- The Recommended Hotels Near Ghibli Park
Tips:
☛ There is a Lawson beyond the entrance of Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park. You can purchase snacks or even rice balls before entering the park, as the cafes and restaurants in Ghibli Park are limited and packed during lunch hours.
☛ Each shop in the park sells completely different things! If you want something, buy it at that shop!
☛ Bring a bottle of water if you plan to visit Ghibli Park during the warmer months. There aren’t many vending machines in Ghibli Park.
☛ If it rains on the day of your visit, it is best to use a foldable umbrella so you don’t waste time checking it in before entering certain attractions.
A Brief Introduction to Ghibli Park
Ghibli Park is inside the Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park (愛・地球博記念公園). The theme park is divided into 5 areas.
- Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse (ジブリの大倉庫) is probably the most popular section of Ghibli Park, with previous original Ghibli paintings on display and many animation scenes reproduced.
- Dondoko Forest (どんどこ森) is where you will find Totoro, Satsuki and Mei’s home.
- Visit Hill of Youth (青春の丘) for Howl’s Castle and the World Emporium from Whisper of the Heart.
- Mononoke Village (もののけの里) is inspired by the countryside landscape in Princess Mononoke.
- In Valley of Witches (魔女の谷), there are attractions related to Howl’s Moving Castle, Kiki’s Delivery Service, and Earwig and the Witch.
- The area’s ground is approximately 2.9 hectares, making it the largest of the five areas.
If you refer to the Ghibli Park Map, you will realize that Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse, the Valley of Witches, and the Hill of Youth are close to each other. It only takes a 5 to 10-minute walk to travel from one area to another. The Mononoke Village on the park’s northeast side isn’t far away from the three areas mentioned, either.
As the Dondoko Forest is around a 20-minute walk from Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse, taking the free shuttle bus might be a better idea, especially on a hot summer day. In fact, how about taking the Cat Bus to visit Totoro?
Tips:
☛ Utilize the Waiting Times Update on Ghibli Park’s Website on the day to adjust your itinerary accordingly.
☛ The free shuttle bus operates at 15 to 20-minute intervals.
How to Purchase Ghibli Park Ticket
Like the Ghibli Museum in Tokyo, Ghibli Park tickets must be purchased in advance, and they sell fast! Moreover, there are a few options to choose from, which can be confusing.
Thus, refer to our article on How to Purchase Ghibli Park Ticket for more information, including a summary of what each type of ticket allows you to do on the day!
How to Get to Ghibli Park
To get to Ghibli Park, get to JR Nagoya Station first. It takes around 100 minutes by bullet train from Tokyo Station and 50 minutes by bullet train from Shin-Osaka Station. Once you get off the train at Nagoya Station, you can either take a bus or the Nagoya Municipal Subway and then Linimo’s tram service to Ghibli Park.
- From JR Nagoya Station (名古屋駅), take the Higashiyama Subway Line to Fujigaoka Station (藤が丘駅). From there, take Linimo to Ai-Chikyuhaku Kinen Koen Station (愛・地球博記念公園駅).
- It takes around 60 minutes for this option.
- Refer to HERE for more information about Linimo, including the tram’s timetable.
- If you prefer to be taken directly to Ghibli Park, Meitetsu Bus has services bound for Ghibli Park departing from Nagoya Bus Terminal bus stop 24 on the 4th floor.
- Refer to HERE for the bus timetable.
- It takes around 40 minutes for this option.
- Shuttle buses bound for Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park from Chubu International Airport are also available.
- Refer to HERE and scroll down for the bus timetable.
Our Recommended Way to Explore the Ghibli Park
There are two things to keep in mind when planning your visit to the Ghibli Park.
- Dondoko Forest and Hill of Youth tend to be the most packed after 4 pm.
- Unless you purchase the Ghibli Park O-Sanpo Day Pass Premium, the only area you can enter multiple times is the Valley of Witches.
Thus, based on the above factors, the below is our recommended schedule for the day.
Dondoko Forest ⇒ Valley of Witches ⇒ Hill of Youth ⇒ Mononoke Village
Note Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse isn’t on the list because you can only enter the area during the time specified on your ticket.
Important: Change the above sequence of visits and head to Valley of Witches straight away if you want to purchase the limited edition items sold at Witches Coven 13 (13人の魔女団) and/or be the first one to enter Guchokipanya Bakery.
Tip: We recommend selecting the time slots allowing you to enter Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse before 1 pm so you have enough time to explore it.
After entering the Ghibli Park, purchase the ticket for the APM Cat Bus (APMネコバス) from the vending machine. Then, head to the west end of Mononoke Village to board the bus bound for Dondoko Forest.
Refer to the APM Cat Bus Official Website for more information, including the timetable and cost.
Important: The tickets for APM Cat Bus are limited for each time slot.
The Highlights in Each Area in Ghibli Park
Valley of Witches and Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse are the two areas we love the most. Below are the top four attractions for us.
- Howl’s Room in Valley of Witches
- Open Warehouse in Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse
- World Emporium in Hill of Youth
- Satsuki and Mei’s House in Dondoko Forest
Valley of Witches
Valley of Witches is our favorite area. It is where Howl’s Moving Castle is located! The highlight in the area has to be Howl’s room. You will be amazed by the colorful decoration. In addition, Valley of Witches also features the movie scenes of Kiki’s Delivery Service, and Earwig and the Witch.
Because limited edition items (such as Heen’s stuffed toy in the IG post) are sold at Witches Coven 13 (13人の魔女団), Valley of Witches is the area where a long queue is expected every day before the area is opened. Thus, if you don’t care much about merchandises, don’t waste your time lining up in the morning. The crowd often disappears once the limited edition items are sold out, which won’t take long.
As you can enter the Valley of Witches multiple times, you can always come back if there is a queue for the attraction you want to explore. For example, Guchokipanya Bakery, where Kiki and her black cat Jiji live, is usually packed as the park limits the number of people allowed in the store at one time. You can come back towards the end of the day for photos. Just note most bread might have been sold out already.
Allow at least 30 minutes for Howl’s Moving Castle.
Tips:
☛ Parts of the Howl’s Moving Castle move and spew smoke. Don’t miss it!
☛ On your way out, the staff will put a fluorescent stamp on your hand so you can re-enter the area. You can request one stamp on both hands to avoid the stamp being washed off when you wash your hands.
☛ A long queue is expected from 11 am at the area’s restaurant, Flying OVEN. Thus, arrive early to ensure you have a seat. People would start queueing 30 minutes before it opens.
Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse
Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse is our next favorite area. It is included in both tickets available for overseas tourists and is a must-visit. It is the spot to learn about Studio Ghibli and Its productions. A couple of dishes that appear in Ghibli films can also be tasted here!
The warehouse is like a refined version of the Ghibli Museum. 14 scenes from 13 films are reproduced here. You can take photos with No-Face inside the train heading to Zeniba, see Nausicaä falling from the sky, and more! Moreover, Yubaba’s office is also in Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse.
Important: Please note the queue to take a photo with No-Face can be as long as 60 minutes.
Furthermore, a life-size cat bus is inside the Exhibition room where adults can board!
Because one of the ten original Studio Ghibli animated shorts aired at Ghibli Museum is screened at Screening Room Cinema Orion, Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse is an ideal spot in Ghibli Park for a break. Tickets to the cinema will be given to you at the entrance. Don’t lose yours. Each session takes around 15 minutes.
Transcontinental Flight Café is where light meals and desserts! The sandwiches come with a flag with a hand-drawn image by Miyazaki Hayao. A total of 12 different flags can be collected!
Tips:
☛ We recommend arrive a bit later than the starting time of your session to avoid queueing for entry. But please ensure you enter the area by the end of your designated time slot.
☛ Popular items sold at Shop “Adventurous Flying Squadron” can be gone by midday. Also, the shop is more crowded in the afternoon.
☛ A long queue is expected from 11 am at Transcontinental Flight Café. Thus, arrive early to ensure you have a seat. People would start queueing 30 minutes before it opens.
☛ It is best to decide your poses before taking photos in different reproduced Ghibli movie scenes.
Dondoko Forest
For us, the best attraction in Dondoko Forest is Satsuki and Mei’s House. The Westernized Japanese-style house is just like the one in the movie, except it is much cleaner (´▽｀*). You can check out every part of the house except the study. You can even open the drawers and wardrobe! Drawing water from the well in the garden is also possible!
At the top of the hill, the 5-meter-tall Totoro is a play equipment that children can enjoy. Sadly, adults can only take photos with the cute character.
On the way down, we suggest taking the Dondoko-go (どんどこ号).
Tip: The bus stop, Inari-mae (稲荷前), appeared in My Neighbor Totoro is near the Dondoko-go station. Remember to take a photo with it!
Allow at least 60 minutes for Dondoko Forest.
Important: There is no toilet near the 5-meter-tall Totoro.
Hill of Youth and Mononoke Village
The Hill of Youth and Mononoke Village areas are rather small. So, unless you are a big fan of Princess Mononoke and Whisper of the Heart, these two areas would have less priority.
The attraction we like the most in the Hill of Youth is the World Emporium (地球屋). It is a replica of the antique repair and resale shop that Shizuku stumbles upon in Whisper of the Heart. On the second floor, you can overlook the Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park.
Another must-go attraction in the Hill of Youth is The Elevator Tower (エレベーター塔). The building, influenced by late 19th-century sci-fi architecture, appeared in Castle in the Sky and Howl’s Moving Castle. The observation space at the top of the building offers a spectacular view of the entire Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park. So, expect a queue, especially on weekends and public holidays.
Tips:
☛ The clock inside World Emporium goes off every 30 minutes. If you want to see the performance, ensure you enter the building at least 5 minutes beforehand.
☛ There is a public phone at Rotary. You can hear cat chattering from this public phone. Who’s talking? The black cat appeared in Kiki’s Delivery Service.
Allow around 40 minutes for Hill of Youth.
For those who want to do some cultural activities, you can make Charcoal Grilled Gohei-mochi at Momonoke Village. Staff will be there to teach you how to make it and give you tips, so rest assured that your rice cake skewer will be delicious. While the cost of 1,200 yen isn’t cheap to participate, it is somewhat interesting. But note you need to be at least 10 years old.
Note the queue to make Charcoal Grilled Gohei-mochi can range from 10 minutes to 90 minutes.
Tip: If you want to make Charcoal Grilled Gohei-mochi, the queue is shorter in the morning.
A Summary of How Much Time to Allocate in Each Area
| Area | Approx. Time Required | Tips |
| Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse | 3 to 5 hours | There are many things to see, so leave plenty of time for Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse. |
| Hill of Youth | 45 minutes to an hour | The Elevator Tower is usually packed on weekends and public holidays. |
| Dondoko Forest | 45 minutes to an hour | Allocate more time to Dondoko Forest if you visit it with children. |
| Mononoke Village | 15 to 30 minutes | Allocate an addition 25 minutes to Mononoke Village if you want to make Charcoal Grilled Gohei-mochi. |
| Valley of Witches | 2 to 3 hours | The shops and restaurants are often packed in this area. |
Is One Day Enough to Explore Ghibli Park?
Yes, it is enough if you don’t spend too much time on shopping, queueing, and eating. However, if you want to explore each area in details, it is best to allocate two days to Ghibli Park.
Can I Use Strollers in Ghibli Park?
Yes, you can. However, strollers aren’t allowed inside certain buildings, such as Howl’s Moving Castle.
While you can board the park’s shuttle bus and the slope car Dondoko-go (どんどこ号) with prams and strollers, you can’t utilize the Cat Bus unless the pram/stroller is foldable. That said, please confirm with the staff on the day if you want to take the Cat Bus with a stroller/pram.
Visiting Ghibli Park With Babies and Toddlers
- If you plan to visit Ghibli Park with babies and toddlers, don’t forget to bring a baby carrier or back carrier.
- Prams and strollers need to be left in designated parking areas outside the facilities where prams and strollers are banned.
- Each area has space for changing diapers.
- Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse and Valley of Witches have a nursing room and baby room equipped with hot water for formula.
- Stroller-rental service is available at the North Exit Information Desk, West Exit Information Desk, and Lounge.
- The bread used to make sandwiches at Transcontinental Flight Café in Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse is hard. Pizza would be a better option for young children.
The Recommended Hotels Near Ghibli Park
- Hotel Route Inn Grand Nagoya Fujigaoka Ekimae (ホテルルートインGrand名古屋藤が丘駅前)
- You can get to Ghibli Park by taking Linimo (リニモ) from the hotel. No transfer is required.
- There are convenience stores, chemists, and restaurants near Fujigaoka Station and the surrounding area.
- The hotel is a 4-minute walk from Fujigaoka Station exit 1.
- Natural hot springs can be enjoyed at the hotel’s public bath.
- Super Hotel Premier Nagoya (スーパーホテルPremier名古屋天然温泉桜通口)
- The hotel is an 8-minute walk from the Sakuradori exit of JR Nagoya Station (名古屋駅).
- It is also equipped with natural hot springs, making it a spot perfect for relaxing.
- It takes around an hour to get to Ghibli Park by taking the Higashiyama Subway Line to Fujigaoka Station and then Linimo to Ghibli Park.
- Nagoya Tokyu Hotel (名古屋東急ホテル)
- The hotel is located in the center of Nagoya, an 8-minute walk from exit 12 of Sakae Station (栄駅) on the Higashiyama Subway Line.
- There are convenience stores and restaurants on the road between the hotel and the station, which is very convenient.
- Check-out is at 12:00, so you can relax and get ready.
- Vessel Hotel Campana Nagoya (ベッセルホテルカンパーナ名古屋)
- The hotel is located in a quiet residential area, a 9-minute walk from the Sakuradori Exit of Nagoya Station (名古屋駅).
- It offers a wide range of services for babies and children, including children’s pajamas.
- Baby cots are also available upon reservation.
- Children under 18 can sleep in the same room for free, making it a great choice for families.
- Compared to other hotels in Japan, Vessel Hotel Campana Nagoya has an earlier check-in time at 2 pm and a later check-out time at 11 am.
- Bicycles can be rented for free for up to two hours.
