The first Ghibli Park in Japan – and the world for that matter – will open on November 1 2022 within the Aichi Expo Memorial Park in Nagakute city. The most popular feature in Aichi Expo Memorial Park, especially among children, is the Satsuki and Mei House from the Studio Ghibli animation My Neighbor Totoro. In addition to attracting Ghibli lovers from all over the country, from the fall of 2022, the Park will transition into a Studio Ghibli Park and will be divided into five areas.
Three areas will open prior to fall 2022, Youth Hill (青春の丘), Ghibli Large Warehouse Area (ジブリの大倉庫) and Dondoko Forest (どんどこ森), and two other areas that will appear in 2023 are Witch Valley (魔女の谷) and Mononoke’s Village (もののけの里).
Keeping in line with the ecological theme of Aichi Expo Memorial Park Studio Ghibli Park will not be cutting down any of the existing trees, and will instead build the park around them. They hope to set an example as an environmentally responsible theme park in harmony with nature.
Park Information
Style: Studio Ghibli Fairytale Style
Address: 1533-1 Ibaragabasama, Nagakute, Aichi 480-1342, Japan
Telephone: 0561-64-1130
Open Day: 1, November 2022
Youth Hill
The Elevator Building will act as a symbol of the main gate and incorporates the late 19-century Steampunk elements found in Ghibli films such as Howl’s Moving Castle (ハウルの動く城). The height differences of the slopes in the Elevator Building area will be used to produce the Chikyu-ya (地球屋) from the film Whisper of the Heart (耳をすませば).
Ghibli Large Warehouse Area
The Ghibli Large Warehouse Area has an exhibition room, a video exhibition room, a children’s playground, and a warehouse, and houses many Ghibli exhibits.
Dondoko Forest
To reproduce the scenes in My Neighbor Totoro (となりのトトロ), the area around the Satsuki and Mei’s House will be developed further, including the forest on the hill behind it.
Mononoke’s Village
Aichi Satolab’s fields are being redeveloped into Mononoke’s Village using the scenery from the movie Princess Mononoke (もののけ姫) as inspiration. In the area, an object inspired by the Demons (タタリ神 and Boar God (乙事主) from the movie is planned.
Witch Valley
The unused large grass field will be used for the Witch Valley. The Castle from Howl’s Moving Castle and Kiki’s family home from Kiki’s Delivery Service as well as children’s play facilities will be provided.
Satsuki and Mei’s House
Aichi Expo Memorial Park’s most popular spot is Satsuki and Mei’s House. The building is modeled after the Kusakabe family home (草壁家) in the Ghibli animated movie Tonari no Totoro and is typical of the style of homes from the 30th year of Showa. The home combines the beauty of both Japanese and Western architecture. The bungalow faithfully recreates the feel of the animation and makes you feel, just for a moment, that Satsuki and Mei will come walking out of the room.
Satsuki and Mei’s house opens from 10:00 to 16:30 (9:30 to 16:30 on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays), and the visiting time is 30 minutes, up to 50 people may enter at a time. Ticket needed to be purchase before visit. 15 minutes before the tour starts, participants gather in a white tent and listen to an explanation by staff.
The Aichi Expo Memorial Park
The Aichi Expo Memorial Park is an urban park in Nagakute, Aichi prefecture. The park was built on the site of the 2005 Ai-chikyuhaku (love earth fair) Expo. Itcovers an area of 1.85 square kilometers (460 acres) and is Aichi’s largest park. Inside the park there is a free bus service prodived around the park. The Park has many cultural, sport, and leisure facilities that the whole family can enjoy.
Social Media
Ghibli Park
Website: https://ghibli-park.jp/en/
Aichi Earth Expo Memorial Park
Website: https://www.aichi-koen.com/moricoro/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moricoropark/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/moricoro_park
