Ghibli Park Guide: Tickets, Access and What To Expect in 2026
2026/06/21
Ghibli Park sits inside the Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park in Nagakute, Aichi Prefecture, about 40 minutes east of central Nagoya. Five themed areas spread across 7.1 hectares of forest and green space, each one recreating scenes from Studio Ghibli films at full scale. You can walk through Howl's Moving Castle and step into the house from My Neighbor Totoro. Cinema Orion screens exclusive short films that exist nowhere else in the world.
The catch: every visitor needs an advance ticket, the booking window is narrow, and popular dates sell out within hours. Getting to the park from Tokyo, Osaka, or Kyoto requires a Shinkansen ride plus local transit, and planning the day inside takes some thought because dining options are limited and buildings have separate entry rules.
Ghibli Park opened on November 1, 2022, in Nagakute, Aichi Prefecture. It is not a theme park in the Disneyland sense. There are no roller coasters and no thrill rides. Instead, Studio Ghibli designed it as a walk-through experience where buildings, landscapes, and interiors from their films have been rebuilt at life size and placed inside a forested public park.
Five areas make up the park: Ghibli's Grand Warehouse, Hill of Youth, Dondoko Forest, Mononoke Village, and Valley of Witches. The first three opened with the park in November 2022, Mononoke Village followed in November 2023, and Valley of Witches completed the set on March 16, 2024.
The park caps daily visitors at approximately 5,000 people, according to Pixidia's 2026 park guide. That limit keeps the experience quiet and unhurried, but it also means tickets are competitive.
The surrounding Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park (locally called Moricoro Park) is free to enter. You can walk the grounds, use the playgrounds, and see the exterior of some Ghibli structures without a ticket. However, you cannot enter any Ghibli buildings or ticketed zones without a valid reservation.
The connection between this site and Studio Ghibli goes back to 2005. When Japan hosted the World Expo in Aichi Prefecture that year, one of the exhibits was a full-size replica of Satsuki and Mei's House from My Neighbor Totoro. The house became so popular that it remained on-site as a permanent attraction after the Expo closed.
Years later, Studio Ghibli chose the same park as the location for a much larger project. Rather than building a conventional amusement park, Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki and the design team created spaces that blend with the existing forest. The result opened in phases: Grand Warehouse, Hill of Youth, and Dondoko Forest in November 2022, Mononoke Village in November 2023, and Valley of Witches (the fifth and final area) on March 16, 2024.
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Every visit to Ghibli Park requires an advance online reservation. There are no walk-up ticket windows and no day-of sales at the gate. Tickets go on sale on the 10th of each month at 2:00 p.m. Japan time (JST), covering visits two months ahead. So if you want to visit in September, you need to be online at 2:00 p.m. JST on July 10.
The booking system uses a random-assignment queue rather than first-come, first-served. Once you enter the queue at 2:00 p.m., the system assigns you a random position. This means speed alone does not guarantee a ticket, but being in the queue right at opening is still essential because popular dates sell out within hours.
Your passport number is required at booking, and the group leader must bring their passport to the park on the day of the visit. Names on tickets must match the ID presented at entry.
Important Note: Ghibli Park tickets are non-transferable. The name on the ticket must match the ID of the person entering. Avoid third-party resellers charging above face value, as resold tickets will be rejected at the gate.
Two main passes are available for international visitors, along with building add-ons and ride tickets.
O-Sanpo Day Pass Premium (all five areas, all buildings included)
Adults: 7,300 yen (weekday) / 7,800 yen (weekend and holiday)
Children (ages 4–12): 3,650 yen (weekday) / 3,900 yen (weekend and holiday)
Under 3: Free
The Premium pass covers entry to every area and every building, including all three structures inside Valley of Witches (Howl's Castle, Okino Residence, House of Witches). For first-time visitors, this is the pass travel planners consistently recommend because it removes the risk of missing out on building entries that sell out separately.
O-Sanpo Day Pass Standard (Grand Warehouse, Mononoke Village, Valley of Witches outdoor areas)
Adults: 3,300 yen (weekday) / 3,800 yen (weekend and holiday)
Children (ages 4–12): 1,650 yen (weekday) / 1,900 yen (weekend and holiday)
Under 3: Free
The Standard pass gives you access to Grand Warehouse, Mononoke Village, and the outdoor areas of Valley of Witches. To enter buildings inside Valley of Witches, you need to purchase same-day add-on tickets (subject to availability).
Valley of Witches Building Add-Ons (Standard pass holders only)
Okino Residence: 400 yen adult / 200 yen child
House of Witches: 400 yen adult / 200 yen child
Howl's Castle: 1,000 yen adult / 500 yen child
Ride Tickets (available to all pass holders)
Carousel: 1,000 yen adult / 500 yen child (ages 3–12), under 2 free
Cat Bus shuttle: 1,000 yen per ride, one way (runs between Mononoke Village and Dondoko Forest)
Satoyama Pass (launching July 2026)
Adults: 1,000–1,500 yen
Children: 500–750 yen
Covers: Dondoko Forest, Mononoke Village, and Valley of Witches (outdoor areas only, skips Grand Warehouse)
The Satoyama Pass is a new budget-friendly option for visitors who want to focus on the outdoor, nature-oriented areas. Exact pricing tiers had not been finalized at the time of writing. Check the official Ghibli Park site for confirmed prices closer to the July 2026 launch.
Important Note: A service charge applies at the time of booking. All prices listed above are face-value ticket prices as published on ghibli-park.jp.
The booking process for international visitors follows four steps:
Step 1: Check the official Ghibli Park ticket page and park calendar to see which dates have availability.
Step 2: Set a reminder for the 10th of the month, two months before your planned visit month, at 2:00 p.m. JST. Tickets for September visits go on sale July 10, October visits go on sale August 10, and so on.
Step 3: Purchase through the overseas Boo-Woo Ticket portal (linked from the official Ghibli Park website). You will need your passport number, your Japan hotel address, and a credit card. Having multiple devices ready when the queue opens improves your chances, since the system assigns queue positions randomly.
Step 4: On the day of your visit, bring the passport that matches the booking. The group leader's name must match the ID. Entry will be refused if the names do not match.
Japanese residents use a separate domestic Boo-Woo Ticket portal and are not eligible to purchase through the international channel.
Sold-out dates are not always final. Here are four strategies that experienced visitors recommend:
Check the calendar daily for cancellation releases. Tickets occasionally reappear one to three days before the visit date as other travelers cancel or change plans. This is not guaranteed, but it happens frequently enough that daily checks are worth the effort.
Shift to weekday dates or off-peak months. Weekend and holiday tickets sell out fastest. January, February, and June are the least competitive months for ticket availability.
Work with a travel planning service. Authorized tour operators sometimes hold ticket allocations. At Trip To Japan, our team can build your itinerary dates around Ghibli Park ticket availability, so the rest of your trip aligns with the dates you can secure.
Important Note: Individual area tickets (Grand Warehouse only, Hill of Youth only, etc.) are no longer available for international visitors as of 2026. Overseas visitors must purchase either the O-Sanpo Day Pass Standard or Premium. Always verify the latest ticket options on the official Ghibli Park website before booking.
Ghibli Park is in Nagakute, Aichi Prefecture, not in Nagoya itself. Nagoya is the gateway city. Whatever direction you are coming from, the final leg of the journey is the same: take the Linimo monorail to Aichi-kyuhaku-kinen-koen Station (Expo Memorial Park Station). The Linimo ride from Fujigaoka Station takes about 15 minutes and costs 370 yen.
There is no direct car access to the park entrance. If you drive, you will park at the Expo Park lots (1,000 yen per day for the North and West lots) and walk to the gate.
Route: Tokyo Station → Nagoya Station via Nozomi Shinkansen (1 hour 40 minutes, approximately 11,300 yen one way). Then Nagoya subway Higashiyama Line to Fujigaoka Station (30 minutes, 310 yen). Then Linimo to Expo Memorial Park Station (15 minutes, 370 yen).
Total travel time: About 2 hours 30 minutes, door to door.
Day trip feasible? Yes, if you have a morning entry slot. Leave Tokyo by 7:00 a.m. to arrive for a 10:00 a.m. entry. The last Nozomi Shinkansen back to Tokyo departs Nagoya around 9:00 p.m., giving you a comfortable buffer after the park closes at 5:00 p.m.
Budget tip: If you hold a Japan Rail Pass, the Shinkansen leg is covered (though the Nozomi requires the newer JR Pass pricing or a Hikari train, which adds about 10 minutes). A regional Tokaido Sanyo Shinkansen pass also works for this route.
From Osaka (Shin-Osaka Station): Nozomi Shinkansen to Nagoya, about 50 minutes, approximately 6,680 yen one way. Then the same Higashiyama Line + Linimo route to the park.
From Kyoto Station: Nozomi Shinkansen to Nagoya, about 35 minutes, approximately 5,910 yen one way. Then Higashiyama Line + Linimo.
Total travel time from either city: About 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours, door to door.
Day trips from both Osaka and Kyoto are very comfortable. Kyoto is the closer of the two, with a Shinkansen ride roughly the length of a commuter train journey. Either city gives you a full day at the park with time to spare.
Once you reach Nagoya Station, the route to Ghibli Park follows two transit lines:
Nagoya subway Higashiyama Line from Nagoya Station to Fujigaoka Station (30 minutes, 310 yen). This is a standard subway ride with no transfers needed.
Linimo monorail from Fujigaoka Station to Aichi-kyuhaku-kinen-koen Station (15 minutes, 370 yen). The Linimo is an elevated magnetic-levitation train, and the ride through the hills leading to the park is scenic in its own right.
Linimo day pass: If you plan to make other stops along the Linimo line, a day pass saves money over individual tickets.
Inside the park: Walking between areas takes 10–20 minutes depending on the route. The Cat Bus (electric six-passenger vehicles inspired by My Neighbor Totoro) runs between Mononoke Village and Dondoko Forest for 1,000 yen one way. The shuttle is helpful for visitors with mobility concerns or anyone who wants to save time on the longest walking stretch.
The five areas are spread across the Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park and connected by walking paths and the Cat Bus shuttle. Each area draws from different Studio Ghibli films. Plan for 6–8 hours if you want to visit all five at a comfortable pace.
Grand Warehouse is the largest area, fully indoors, and the only one with an assigned entry time on your ticket. Most visitors start here.
The warehouse contains life-size sets from Spirited Away, Arrietty, and other films, all designed as photo opportunities where you can walk through the scenes. Cinema Orion screens short Ghibli films that are exclusive to the park (these rotate periodically, and a new short film, "A Night in the Valley of Witches," begins screening from July 8, 2026). A children's play area includes a Cat Bus room for ages 12 and under. The main gift shops and the park's primary cafe are also here.
Rotating exhibitions change throughout the year. The "Everything Ghibli!" exhibition is closing temporarily from June 24 through July 7, 2026, before reopening with new content.
Time needed: 3–4 hours. Photography restrictions apply in some exhibit areas (particularly the food-themed exhibits), so check the signs at each entrance.
Tip: If you have a Premium pass, pick up your wristband at Grand Warehouse before 12:00 p.m. The wristband controls entry sequencing for other areas.
Hill of Youth draws from Whisper of the Heart and The Cat Returns. The area centers on a replica antique shop and the Cat Bureau, set on a hilltop with views over the surrounding park.
This is the smallest area, and many visitors treat it as a quick stop on the way to or from other zones. The elevator tower at the entrance is a recognizable photo spot.
Time needed: 15–30 minutes. Hill of Youth often has ticket availability when other areas sell out, so keep it in mind if you are booking late.
Dondoko Forest is the Totoro zone. The centerpiece is the life-size Satsuki and Mei's House from My Neighbor Totoro, the same structure that was originally built for the 2005 World Expo and has remained on-site ever since. You can go inside, walk through the rooms, and see the details up close.
A forested walking trail leads through the surrounding woods, with Totoro-themed sculptures placed along the path. The area is at its most atmospheric in spring (cherry blossoms) and autumn (fall color), when the forest canopy matches the film's natural setting.
Time needed: 30–60 minutes.
Tip: You must remove your shoes to enter Satsuki and Mei's House. Slip-on shoes save time and hassle. Several visitors have noted this catches people off guard.
Mononoke Village is inspired by Princess Mononoke and sits in a forested section of the park. Irontown (Tatara-ba) structures and a Kodama forest path make up the main attractions. The area is more atmospheric than interactive, with the design focused on evoking the film's setting through architecture and natural surroundings.
Mononoke Village suits adults and older kids who appreciate the mood and craftsmanship. Younger children may find it less engaging than Grand Warehouse or Dondoko Forest, since there are no play areas here.
Time needed: 15–30 minutes. The Cat Bus shuttle to Dondoko Forest departs from this area (1,000 yen one way).
Valley of Witches opened on March 16, 2024, making it the newest and final area of Ghibli Park. It draws from three films: Howl's Moving Castle, Kiki's Delivery Service, and Earwig and the Witch.
The centerpiece is a life-size Howl's Moving Castle standing 20 meters tall, the largest structure in the park. Sections of the castle move, and the chimney emits smoke, recreating the feeling of the film's walking fortress. Inside, multiple floors of rooms reproduce scenes from the movie in painstaking detail.
Nearby, the Okino Residence from Kiki's Delivery Service and the House of Witches from Earwig and the Witch are open for walk-throughs. The Guchokipanya Bakery (also from Kiki's Delivery Service) sells real artisan bread, and it is one of the most talked-about food experiences in the park.
The area also has the park's only amusement-style rides: a merry-go-round and an aerial carousel. The merry-go-round plays "Merry-Go-Round of Life" from the Howl's Moving Castle soundtrack, according to japantravel.com.
Building entry with a Standard pass requires add-on tickets:
Okino Residence: 400 yen adult / 200 yen child
House of Witches: 400 yen adult / 200 yen child
Howl's Castle: 1,000 yen adult / 500 yen child
Premium pass holders enter all buildings at no extra cost.
Time needed: 1.5–2.5 hours if you enter all buildings and ride the carousel. Valley of Witches is the only area in the park that allows re-entry, so you can leave for lunch and come back.
The park has limited dining options compared to a full-scale theme park, so planning your meals in advance matters. Here is what is available:
Flying Oven (Grand Warehouse): The main restaurant inside the park. It is located on the upper level of Grand Warehouse and offers breakfast items, lunch sets, and stall-style dishes. Menus rotate, and some items are Ghibli-themed. Expect a wait during peak lunch hours (11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.).
Guchokipanya Bakery (Valley of Witches): The bakery from Kiki's Delivery Service, selling real artisan bread. This is a highlight for many visitors. Starting July 2025, the bakery switched to selling bread in sets during summer to manage demand, per a notice on the official Ghibli Park Valley of Witches page.
The Milk Stand and smaller vendors: Scattered across the park, offering drinks, ice cream, and light snacks. Useful for filling gaps between meals, but not a substitute for a proper lunch.
Expo Park restaurants (outside ticketed zones): The wider Expo Park has additional food options, including a Mos Burger truck at the Mikazuki Rest Area. However, once you leave a ticketed area (except Valley of Witches), you cannot re-enter, so plan accordingly.
Convenience stores at Fujigaoka Station: Multiple visitors recommend stocking up on onigiri, sandwiches, and drinks at the Lawson near Exit 2 of Expo Memorial Park Station before entering the park. This is the closest convenience store to the park entrance.
Important Note: Outside food is not allowed inside paid buildings. You can eat in the outdoor areas and rest zones within the park grounds. If you are visiting for a full day, carrying snacks for the outdoor areas is a practical move.
Ghibli Park can be a memorable experience for families, but the right experience depends heavily on your children's ages. Here is a breakdown:
Under 3: Free entry on all pass types. Strollers must be left outside every ticketed building (stroller parking areas are provided), so bring a baby carrier or sling if your child cannot walk long distances. Nursing rooms and baby-changing facilities are available in Grand Warehouse and Valley of Witches. Hot water for formula is also available.
Ages 3–6: Grand Warehouse is the most child-friendly area. The Cat Bus room (ages 12 and under) and interactive play areas keep younger children engaged. Outdoor areas involve walking on uneven paths, which can be tiring for little legs. Consider the Cat Bus shuttle (1,000 yen) to skip the longest walking stretches.
Ages 7–12: This is the sweet spot for Ghibli Park. Children this age are old enough to recognize characters and scenes from the films, and young enough to enjoy the play areas and rides. Howl's Castle and the carousel in Valley of Witches tend to be highlights for this group.
Teens: Best if they are genuine Ghibli fans. The park is contemplative and craft-focused, not thrill-based. Teens expecting roller coasters or fast-paced attractions may be underwhelmed. Teens who love the films will appreciate the detail and the photo opportunities.
Stroller policy: Strollers are not permitted inside any paid buildings. Stroller parking areas are located outside each facility. Plan to leave the stroller and carry younger children through indoor sections.
Accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible boardwalks connect all areas, though some routes have steep inclines. Park wheelchairs are available at the North Gate and West Gate Information Centers. The Cat Bus shuttle also helps visitors with mobility challenges cover the longer distances between zones.
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Visitors frequently confuse Ghibli Park and Ghibli Museum, or wonder whether they need to visit both. They are separate facilities in different cities, and each offers a distinct experience.
Location: Ghibli Museum in Mitaka is in western Tokyo. Ghibli Park is in Nagakute, near Nagoya, approximately 350 kilometers apart. You cannot visit both in one day.
Scale: The Museum is a single building designed by Hayao Miyazaki. A visit takes 2–3 hours. The Park spans five areas across a large outdoor site and requires a full day (6–8 hours) for a thorough visit.
Experience: The Museum focuses on the animation process, with original artwork, storyboards, and a rooftop garden featuring the robot soldier from Laputa: Castle in the Sky. The Park focuses on immersive, life-size recreations of film worlds. Both screen exclusive short films that are not available anywhere else.
Tickets: Both require advance reservations. Ghibli Museum ticket page details the monthly lottery, and Museum tickets and are notoriously difficult to get, especially for international visitors. Park tickets go on sale on a fixed monthly schedule (10th of each month) and follow a random-queue system.
Which should you choose? If your itinerary keeps you in the Tokyo area, visit the Museum. If you are traveling through the Nagoya or Chubu region (or passing through on the Shinkansen between Tokyo and Osaka), visit the Park. Dedicated Ghibli fans should plan for both, scheduling them on separate days in separate cities.
Important Note: The Museum and the Park are roughly 350 km apart. Each requires a half day to a full day. Do not try to visit both in a single day.
Ghibli Park works well as either a day trip from a major city or a planned stop on a multi-city route. Here is how to think about the logistics:
Day trip from Tokyo: Leave Tokyo Station by 7:00 a.m. on the Nozomi Shinkansen, arrive at Ghibli Park by 9:30 a.m., spend the full day, and take an evening Shinkansen back to Tokyo (last departure around 9:00 p.m.). This is the most common approach for visitors based in Tokyo.
Day trip from Osaka or Kyoto: Even easier, with the Shinkansen ride to Nagoya taking 50 minutes from Osaka or 35 minutes from Kyoto. You can comfortably visit the park and return the same evening.
Stop on a multi-city itinerary: Ghibli Park fits naturally into a Tokyo → Nagoya → Kyoto → Osaka route. Instead of taking the Shinkansen straight through from Tokyo to Kyoto (which many travelers do), add a one or two night stop in Nagoya. Day one: Nagoya sightseeing (things to do in Nagoya include Nagoya Castle and Osu Shopping District). Day two: Ghibli Park. Day three: continue to Kyoto.
Sample one-day Ghibli Park schedule:
9:00–9:30 a.m.: Arrive at the park, pick up tickets
9:30–10:00 a.m.: Hill of Youth (quick stop, photos)
10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.: Grand Warehouse (exhibits, Cinema Orion, shopping)
1:00–1:45 p.m.: Lunch at Flying Oven
2:00–4:00 p.m.: Valley of Witches (Howl's Castle, bakery, carousel)
4:00–4:30 p.m.: Cat Bus to Dondoko Forest
4:30–5:00 p.m.: Dondoko Forest (Satsuki and Mei's House)
5:00 p.m.: Park closes, head to Linimo station
This schedule skips Mononoke Village (15–30 minutes) if time is tight. With a Premium pass and early arrival, you can fit all five areas into one day, though it will be a full and active day.
Here is a transparent cost estimate for a day trip from Tokyo for two adults, broken down by category:
Transport (round trip for two adults)
Shinkansen Tokyo–Nagoya: approximately 21,000 yen (10,500 yen each way per person, Nozomi)
Nagoya subway + Linimo: approximately 1,360 yen (680 yen round trip per person)
Tickets (two adults, weekday)
Premium Pass: 14,600 yen (7,300 yen per person)
Food
Lunch at Flying Oven: approximately 2,000–3,000 yen for two
Snacks and drinks: approximately 500–1,000 yen
Souvenirs
Budget estimate: 2,000–5,000 yen (gift shops in Grand Warehouse and Valley of Witches carry a wide range of price points)
Total estimate for two adults: approximately 41,000–46,000 yen (roughly $270–$305 USD at current exchange rates)
Ways to reduce the cost:
JR Pass holders save the Shinkansen fare entirely. With a JR Pass, the total drops to approximately 18,000–24,000 yen for two adults.
Standard Pass instead of Premium saves 8,000 yen for two adults, though you will pay extra for Valley of Witches building entries.
Satoyama Pass (from July 2026) is the most budget-friendly option for visitors focused on the outdoor areas. Two adults would pay approximately 2,000–3,000 yen instead of the Premium fare.
Weekday visits save 1,000 yen on Premium tickets compared to weekend and holiday pricing.
Important Note: Credit cards are accepted at most park shops and restaurants. However, carry some cash for vending machines, small vendors, and coin lockers. ATMs are not available inside the park.
