Ghibli Museum or Ghibli Park, Which Is Better For Your Trip to Japan?
Visiting Japan’s Two Top Ghibli Spots
For fans of Studio Ghibli (of My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away fame) a trip to Japan can be a dream come true. The country offers countless ways to immerse yourself in Ghibli magic, from the real-world locations that inspired the studio’s animators to shops packed with adorable Ghibli merchandise. Until recently, the Ghibli Museum was the ultimate destination for fans, but a new contender emerged in 2022, with the opening of Ghibli Park. The Grand Warehouse, Ghibli Park’s major indoor area, has sparked an important question: if you can only pick one, which Ghibli destination should you choose? This guide for Ghibli fans in Japan has some of the most important factors, so you can choose the perfect way to add some Ghibli fun to your own trip!
Ghibli Museum vs Ghibli Park: Which Is the Better Location?
For many travelers, especially those on short trips to Japan, location might be the deciding factor. The Ghibli Museum is located in Mitaka, a suburban area of Tokyo, while Ghibli Park is situated just outside Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture, a few hours away by shinkansen. Starting from central Tokyo, reaching the Ghibli Museum takes about 45 minutes and costs roughly 600 yen one-way. By contrast, a trip to Ghibli Park requires a three-hour journey and over 10,000 yen one-way. If you’re mostly planning to explore Tokyo, the Ghibli Museum is definitely more convenient.
But for dedicated fans, the extra time and cost could be worth it. Geographically, Ghibli Park is actually located right between Tokyo and other major destinations like Kyoto or Osaka, so it’s not too out of the way for many travelers. If you have the time, we recommend staying a night or two in Nagoya when you visit Ghibli Park — this vibrant city is less famous among international tourists than Tokyo or Kyoto, but it has a beautiful castle, great shopping, and it serves as an excellent base for exploring central Japan.
Ghibli Museum vs Ghibli Park: Which Is Bigger?
In terms of proximity, the Ghibli Museum is much more convenient for many international travelers, but that convenient urban location impacts the size as well. Nestled in a city park, the museum looks like something from a Ghibli film, and with so many easter eggs packed in one small building, it feels like there might be some magic afoot. But in the end, it’s not actually very large, and most visitors can explore everything offered in about half a day.
Ghibli Park is much more expansive, spread across the Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park, with attractions enmeshed in the general park grounds. Some visitors complain that too much of Ghibli Park is literally just a grassy park, making it hard to squish every worthwhile destination into just a day’s visit. With the whole park built on a bigger scale, even just the Grand Warehouse alone can keep you busy from morning to evening. The size can make Ghibli Park seem like Ghibli heaven, but if you’re low on time, seeing everything you’ve been dreaming of can be hellish.
Ghibli Museum vs Ghibli Park: What Is There to See?
Both the Ghibli Museum and the indoor Grand Warehouse at Ghibli Park boast three primary exhibition spaces, but their focus differs. The Ghibli Museum’s exhibits emphasize the artistry and craft of animation, clearly aiming to delight and educate old fans of the studio and newcomers alike. One room explores historical animation techniques, such as zoetropes and hand-drawn cels, while another showcases the tools and workspaces of Ghibli animators. The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions that change periodically, keeping the experience fresh for repeat visitors.
In contrast, the Grand Warehouse at Ghibli Park invites guests to step directly into Ghibli’s animated worlds. The “Delicious! Animating Memorable Meals” exhibit builds on a theme first introduced at the museum in 2017, while the “Becoming Characters in Memorable Ghibli Scenes” exhibition features photo-friendly recreations of iconic settings from films like Ponyo and Princess Mononoke. These immersive displays allow visitors to walk through beloved scenes and take many, many, many pictures.
Ghibli Museum vs Ghibli Park: Which Is the Better Spot to Take Photos?
If taking great photos is your ultimate goal, options at the Ghibli Museum are fairly limited. While the outdoor areas like the rooftop garden (including its beautiful bronze Castle in the Sky robot soldier) or cafe terrace are fair game, photography is prohibited inside. This policy ensures visitors can focus on the exhibits without distractions, and it does make for a nicer museum experience, but in the end it means there are very few opportunities for good commemorative snapshots.
Ghibli Park’s Grand Warehouse, on the other hand, is all about taking pictures. Between the photo-centric exhibits, the Catbus room, and the “Totoro bar” where you can pose with everyone’s favorite forest spirit, you’ll find countless opportunities to snap memorable shots. Whether you’re climbing into a human-sized jar from The Secret World of Arrietty or taking a selfie with Yubaba in her office, at the Grand Warehouse you can really capture your own Ghibli adventure on film.
For solo travelers, the Ghibli Museum might be a more relaxed experience. It can be hard to enjoy all of the Grand Warehouse without a friend to help you take photos — with so many picturesque spots, relying on strangers is likely to become exhausting.
Which One Will You Choose… This Time?
Both the Ghibli Museum and the Grand Warehouse at Ghibli Park offer unique experiences for Studio Ghibli fans. The museum’s cozy setting in Tokyo’s Mitaka neighborhood is perfect for those seeking to learn about the animation process, while the sprawling Ghibli Park near Nagoya immerses visitors in the fantastical worlds of Ghibli films. Ultimately, your choice will depend on your travel plans and what you want from your Ghibli adventure. If you can’t decide, maybe it’s a sign you’ll need to plan a return trip to Japan, to experience both!
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