Today, Studio Ghibli tweeted the official opening day for their highly anticipated theme park. Ghibli Park will open its doors in Japan on November 1st, 2022. Ghibli Park was first made public knowledge during a press conference in 2017. Back then, Studio Ghibli announced that construction would take place in Aichi Expo Memorial Park, located in Nagakute, Japan. At 460 acres, Aichi Expo Memorial Park is Aichi’s largest park providing ample space for Studio Ghibli’s immersive universe. Initially, Ghibli Park was inspired by the classic 1988 anime film My Neighbor Totoro but has since been updated to include more of Studio Ghibli’s catalog, including Howl’s Moving Castle.
The opening day of the Ghibli Park was announced today. pic.twitter.com/01vhPGuJgq
— スタジオジブリ STUDIO GHIBLI (@JP_GHIBLI) January 27, 2022
What You Can Expect When You Visit Studio Ghibli’s Theme Park
Aichi Expo Memorial Park will be converted to Ghibli Park on November 1st; they currently have free transportation that takes visitors around the expansive 460-acre lot. Aichi Expo Memorial Park was proud to announce that no trees were cut down while creating Ghibli Park, a decision they hope will inspire other developing theme parks in the future. This stand for nature preservation seems on par with Studio Ghibli, known for its peaceful nature-rich aesthetics. According to centrip-japan, Ghibli Park will be divided into five sections, Youth Hill, Ghibli Large Warehouse, Dondoko Forrest, Witch Valley, and Mononoke’s Village. At Ghibli Park’s opening, only three areas will be open to the public. Witch Valley and Mononoke’s Village will be under development until 2023.
Youth Hill
This section will host The Elevator Building, which will act as the park’s main gate. Visitors will be treated to the steampunk elements that are common throughout Studio Ghibli films like Howl’s Moving Castle. Be on the lookout for references to Whispers of the Heart, too!
Ghibli Large Warehouse
The Ghibli Large Warehouse area will feature many Studio Ghibli exhibits, including an exhibition room, a video exhibition room, and a playground for kids.
Dondoko Forrest
Inspired by My Neighbor Totoro, this section features a replica of the Kusakabe family house from the film, an active exhibit since 2005, and the most popular attraction in Aichi Expo Memorial Park. The plan is to expand the exhibition further and include the forest behind it.
Mononoke’s Village
Mononoke’s Village will be inspired by the award-winning anime film Princess Mononoke. Visitors can expect to see nods to Princess Mononoke’s Tatari-gami and the boar god Okkoto.
Witch Valley
Witch Valley will also have references to Howl’s Moving Castle and Kiki’s Delivery Service. Here, visitors will find the castle from Howl’s Moving Castle, Kiki’s house from Kiki’s Delivery Service, and a play area for kids.
