There’s a Studio Ghibli Theme Park Coming! Here Are the Facts.
Diehard Studio Ghibli fans will know that there’s a Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Tokyo. Diehard fans who have spent any time in Tokyo will almost certainly have been there, as well! The museum is a must-see for those who grew up watching Totoro, those who fell in love with the beautiful animation of Spirited Away later in life, and Japanese animation fans at large. And with the museum offering a fun behind-the-scenes look at how the studio does its work, along with amazing ambiance and great limited-time videos and exhibitions, it’s tons of fun to visit.
But… don’t we all wish there were a little more? That we could really explore the worlds created by Studio Ghibli ourselves, and wander around the huge, lush, animated spaces?
Well, it’s a dream come true! The new theme park is tentatively named “Ghibli Park”, and it’s slated to open in 2022! That’s just a few short years away, so let’s take a look at some of the park information that’s been coming out in Japanese recently.
According to reports from The Asahi Shinbun, Studio Ghibli and Aichi Prefecture signed a contract on May 31 to establish the theme park in the Aichi Earth Expo Memorial Park, in Nagakute City, Aichi. A partial opening is expected in 2022, with things heading into full swing some time in 2023. At this major press conference, Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki revealed the park’s logo as well, a design jointly created by himself and beloved Ghibli director/producer Hayao Miyazaki. He announced that they were “working hard to create something that will make people from in and outside of Japan happy.”
Five Areas with Different Fantastic Themes
According to the current plan, Ghibli Park will be divided into five major areas, with each one themed after different Studio Ghibli works. Those areas are the “Youth Hill Area”, “Ghibli Grand Warehouse Area”, “Dondoko Forest Area”, “Mononoke’s Village Area”, and the “Witch Valley Area.” The first three areas are due to open in the fall of 2022, while the other two will open later, in 2023.
