If you are a big Ghibli fan, Ghibli Park Japan (ジブリパーク) is probably at the top of your bucket list. The theme park is where you can meet characters from classic Ghibli films, such as Totoro from My Neighbor Totoro and Yubaba from Spirited Away! But the problem is you can’t just turn up on the day. Like the Ghibli Museum in Tokyo, Ghibli Park tickets must be purchased in advance, and they sell fast! So read on for all the methods to obtain a Ghibli Park ticket!
How to Buy Ghibli Park Tickets
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.
Ghibli Park Ticket Types and Price, and When Do Ghibli Park Tickets Go on Sale
At the moment, Ghibli Park has 2 types of admission tickets available for international tourists. You can only enter the park during the designated time slot on your ticket. The tickets go on sale two months in advance, on the 10th at 2 pm.
For example, on the 10th of August, you can purchase tickets up until the end of October.
| Ticket Type | Ghibli Park O-Sanpo Day Pass Premium (ジブリパーク 大さんぽ券プレミアム) | Ghibli Park O-Sanpo Day Pass Standard (ジブリパーク 大さんぽ券スタンダード) |
| Weekday | 7,300 yen (3,650 yen for children from 4 years old to elementary school students) | 3,300 yen (1,650 yen for children from 4 years old to elementary school students) |
| Weekend and Public Holiday | 7,800 yen (3,900 yen for children from 4 years old to elementary school students) | 3,800 yen (1,900 yen for children from 4 years old to elementary school students) |
| Specified Admission Time for Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse | 9:00／10:00／11:00／12:00／13:00／14:00／15:00 | 9:00／10:00／11:00／12:00／13:00／14:00／15:00 |
| Note | The pass allows you to enter all areas and the attractions in the five areas freely except for Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse. | The pass allows you to enter Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse, Mononoke Village, and Valley of Witches only. Same-day tickets are required to enter Okino Residence (400 yen), Howl’s Castle (1,000 yen), and The House of Witches (400 yen). |
Important: Hill of Youth (青春の丘) and Dondoko Forest (どんどこ森) are the two most crowded areas in the late afternoon. Consider prioritizing these two areas on the day.
If you live in Japan, you have a couple more choices to choose from when purchasing Ghibli Park’s admission ticket.
| Ticket Type | Ghibli Park Mononoke Village & Valley of Witches (ジブリパーク 魔女の谷・もののけの里) | Ghibli Park Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse (ジブリパーク ジブリの大倉庫) | Hill of Youth (ジブリパーク 青春の丘) | Dondoko Forest (ジブリパーク どんどこ森) |
| Weekday | 2,000 yen (1,000 yen for children from 4 years old to elementary school students) | 2,000 yen (1,000 yen for children from 4 years old to elementary school students) | 1,000 yen (500 yen for children from 4 years old to elementary school students) | 1,000 yen (500 yen for children from 4 years old to elementary school students) |
| Note | The pass allows you to enter Ghibli’s Mononoke Village and Valley of Witches only. Same-day tickets are required to enter Okino Residence (400 yen), Howl’s Castle (1,000 yen) and The House of Witches (400 yen). | The pass allows you to enter Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse. You can choose from the morning session (park open~1pm) of the afternoon session (1pm~4:30pm). | The pass allows you to enter Hill of Youth and the attractions in the area. You can choose from the morning session (park open~1pm) of the afternoon session (1pm~4:30pm). | The pass allows you to enter Dondoko Forest area and the attractions in the area. You can choose from the morning session (park open~1pm) of the afternoon session (1pm~4:30pm). |
Ghibli Park Same-Day Tickets Availability for Ghibli Park Admission and Attractions
There is no same-day admission ticket available for Ghibli Park. Advanced online reservations are required for entry, and tickets sell out very quickly after they become available two months in advance.
For attractions that require a same-day ticket or a premium pass to enter, the numbers are limited. It is best to arrive at least an hour before the area’s open time if you want to purchase the same-day tickets for attractions, such as Howl’s Castle.
How to Purchase Ghibli Park Tickets
As mentioned, there are 4 ways to purchase the Ghibli Park ticket, including 2 methods specially designed for foreign visitors.
- Where to Buy Ghibli Park tickets for those who live in Japan:
- Where to Buy Ghibli Park tickets for foreigners:
By Using Boo-Woo Ticket (Boo-Wooチケット)
Boo-Woo Ticket is Japan’s Chūbu region’s art and cultural event ticket-selling website. As the website is in Japanese only and a Japanese phone number is required to register as a member, it is mainly for those who reside in Japan.
- If you have a LAWSON WEB account, Boo-Woo Ticket can capture your LAWSON WEB account details, so you don’t need to fill them in again.
- You can choose between a paper-based ticket or a QR CODE.
By Using LAWSON’s Loppi Ticket Machine
LAWSON is a Japanese convenience store chain. Each LAWSON store has a ticket machine called Loppi. Since you need to be in Japan to use Loppi, unless you regularly travel there, this isn’t a practical method for overseas tourists.
- The advantage of Loppi is that you don’t need to register as a member, nor do you need a Japanese phone number to purchase a Ghibli Park ticket.
Purchasing Through Klook
Klook is the most convenient way to purchase the admission ticket for the Ghibli Park. It accepts most credit cards, and you can buy the Ghibli Park ticket anywhere in the world as long as you have an internet connection.
Purchasing Through LAWSON Ticket
The Ghibli Park Official Overseas Ticketing System allows overseas visitors who don’t have a Japanese phone number or can’t read Japanese to purchase Ghibli Park tickets. However, only a few time slots per day are bookable under this method.
- Refer to the official website HERE to make a booking.
- The link to the LAWSON Ticket is at the end of the webpage after you select the month(s) for which you want to book your tickets.
How to Get to Ghibli Park
To get to Ghibli Park, get to JR Nagoya Station first.
How to Get to Ghibli Park From Nagoya Station and Chubu International Airport
- 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).
- This option takes approximately 60 minutes.
- 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.
- This option takes approximately 40 minutes.
- 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.
How to Get to Ghibli Park From Tokyo
It takes around 100 minutes to Nagoya Station by bullet train from Tokyo Station. Then choose one of the two options we introduced above to get to Ghibli Park.
You can also take a domestic flight to Nagoya from Tokyo if Ghibli Park is the first or last attraction you want to visit in Japan.
How to Get from Osaka/Kyoto to Ghibli Park
It takes around 50 minutes by bullet train from Shin-Osaka Station. From Kyoto Station, it takes around 30 minutes by bullet train to Nagoya 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.
You can also take a domestic flight to Nagoya from Osaka if Ghibli Park is the first or last attraction you want to visit in Japan.
The Best Way to Explore the Ghibli Park
Now you know how to get the ticket to the Ghibli Park, let’s plan your visit. The park is very spacious and is a popular attraction. So, it is best to do some homework to understand what you want to do in the park and when to visit certain areas of the park.
For more information, refer to our article on How to Explore the Ghibli Park: Insider Tips & the Must Sees!
