Ghibli Park

Coordinates: 35°10′21″N 137°05′23″E / 35.172459234020515°N 137.08979308311632°E / 35.172459234020515; 137.08979308311632
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Ghibli Park
LocationExpo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan
Coordinates35°10′21″N 137°05′23″E / 35.172459234020515°N 137.08979308311632°E / 35.172459234020515; 137.08979308311632
StatusOperating
Opened1 November 2022
OwnerStudio Ghibli
ThemeStudio Ghibli
Area7.1 hectares (18 acres)
WebsiteOfficial website

Ghibli Park (ジブリパーク, Jiburipāku) is a theme park in Nagakute, Aichi, Japan. It opened on 1 November 2022 and features attractions based on several of the movies produced by Studio Ghibli.[1] First announced in 2017, with construction starting in 2020, the park is located within the grounds of the Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park.[2] It is mainly accessible by the Aichikyūhaku-kinen-kōen Station, which is a railway station at the park entrance.[3] This is the primary place of access as there is no private parking lot for the park.[4] The park will cover 7.1 hectares (18 acres) when it is fully complete.[5]

History

The replica house from My Neighbor Totoro

Plans for the theme park were first announced in 2017 by Toshio Suzuki, the producer of several of Studio Ghibli's movies, saying the attraction was planned to open in 2020. According to the original announcement, the park would focus entirely on the world of My Neighbor Totoro.[6] The location chosen was the Aichi's Expo Park, which hosted the World Expo 2005, and already contains a replica of the house of the main characters of My Neighbor Totoro.[7] The area, also known as Moricoro Park, was previously chosen to host two exhibitions of the studio, the first in 2008 and the second in 2015.[8]

In 2019 further information about the state of the theme park was announced, including Studio Ghibli's partnership with the Aichi Prefecture and the Chunichi Shimbun newspaper. The new plans included the addition of four other areas to the park based on the other movies by the studio, and a new opening date of late 2022 was given. Hayao Miyazaki, co-founder of Studio Ghibli, was said to be taking part in the planning of the park.[9]

In February 2022, it was announced the park would open on 1 November 2022. At the time of its opening, three locations would be available: the "Ghibli's Grand Warehouse", "Hill of Youth", and "Dondoko Forest".[10] The second phase of constructions, planned to be concluded late 2023, will add the "Valley of Witches" and "Mononoke Village".[11] In June 2022, it was announced that the opening of the Valley of Witches area would be delayed to March 2024. It was also announced that there would be a free area next to Mononoke Village, which would house a playground based on The Cat Returns for anyone to play in without charge.[12]

Themed areas

The park is based around five main themed areas, which are based around different Ghibli movies and are located within the grounds and buildings of Expo 2005. Those five areas are: Ghibli's Grand Warehouse, The Hill of Youth, Dondoko Forest, Mononoke Village and Valley of Witches.

Ghibli's Grand Warehouse

The heated pool from Expo 2005 (the site of Ghibli's Grand Warehouse) seen in 2015

Ghibli's Grand Warehouse (ジブリの大倉庫) replaced the heated swimming pool, which closed in 2018.[13] The Air Destroyer Goliath, which is 6 meters long, and the ruined gardens from Castle in the Sky appear at the Grand Warehouse.[14] You will also find Ghibli character exhibitions such as Robot Soldier and Cat Bus.[15]

Inside is the Cinema Orion, which shows short films which you can only watch there and in the Ghibli Museum, which is located in Tokyo.[1]

Hill of Youth

Hill of Youth (青春の丘) is mainly based around the film Howl's Moving Castle, with an observation tower styled to the time period the film is set in.[14][16] This area also features “World Emporium”, which is the antique shop from Whisper of the Heart, as well as “Cat Bureau” from The Cat Returns, which will be recreated as a cat-sized building.[13][17]

Dondoko Forest

The Kusakabe's house in 2005
The Kusakabe's house in 2005

Dondoko Forest (どんどこ森) will be the location of Satsuki and Mei's house (the Kusakabe's house) from My Neighbor Totoro, which was already built from Expo 2005.[18] The house closed in November 2021 for renovation works, and will reopen with the rest of the park.[3] The name of this area comes from the “Dondoko Odori” dance performed by Satsuki, Mei, and Totoro during a scene from the film. There will also be a wooden playground on the hill behind the house,[13] which is mentioned on the park's website as “‘Dondoko-do’ awaits you at the top of the forest hill that sits behind Satsuki and Mei's House”.[15]

Mononoke Village

Mononoke Village will represent, as its name suggests, Princess Mononoke.[19] It is based on the film's settings such as Irontown and Emishi Village. It will showcase models of the many mystical creatures featured in the film.[14] It is also going to house a village settlement, a traditional charcoal burner's hut, and an area where visitors can work iron forge bellows.[3]

Valley of Witches

Valley of Witches takes inspiration from the film Kiki's Delivery Service and the wastelands in Howl's Moving Castle. This area will include restaurants and small amusement facilities, keeping to the theme of the park having no big rides or attractions. The area will also have a replica of Kiki and her parents’ home, as well as Gütiokipänjä, the bakery is which Kiki works at in the film.[14][3] Furthermore, there will be a life-size Howl's Moving Castle, set to be four or five storeys high, also having the hat shop from the film.[20] The valley is going to be the biggest area of the park, and is set to open in March 2024.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Wong, Maggie Hiufu (1 November 2022). "Japan's long-awaited Ghibli Park is now open". CNN. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  2. ^ Greuner, Tabea (27 January 2022). "The world's first Ghibli Park has announced an official opening date". Time Out Tokyo. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d McGee, Oona (4 May 2022). "A visit to the Studio Ghibli theme park for a secret look at the new areas". SoraNews24. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  4. ^ "ジブリパークとは｜ジブリパーク (What is Ghibli Park)". Ghibli Park (in Japanese). Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  5. ^ Mitchell, Bea (6 June 2022). "Studio Ghibli theme park: everything you need to know". Blooloop. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  6. ^ Alexander, Julia (1 June 2017). "Studio Ghibli is opening a theme park". Polygon. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  7. ^ Pineda, Rafale Antonio (31 May 2017). "Studio Ghibli to Open 'Ghibli Park' in Aichi in Early 2020". Anime News Network. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  8. ^ "Studio Ghibli Reveals First Look at Anime Theme Park". CBR. 27 January 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  9. ^ Schilling, Mark (31 May 2019). "Hayao Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli to Build Japan Theme Park". Variety. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  10. ^ Matthews, Lyndsey (12 April 2021). "An Early Look at Japan's Upcoming Studio Ghibli Theme Park". AFAR. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  11. ^ Bell, Crystal (1 February 2022). "Studio Ghibli theme park is all vibes, no rides. Just as Hayao Miyazaki intended". Mashable. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  12. ^ a b Baseel, Casey (1 June 2022). "Opening delay for Ghibli theme park has very Ghibli reason, but free no-ticket area is good news". SoraNews24 -Japan News-. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  13. ^ a b c Wentz, Joseph (19 September 2020). "Ghibli Theme Park in Japan: What We Know So Far". VOYAPON. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  14. ^ a b c d "Studio Ghibli theme park: everything you need to know". Blooloop. 8 February 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  15. ^ a b "What is Ghibli Park?｜GHIBLI PARK". ghibli-park.jp. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  16. ^ Greuner, Tabea. "Ghibli Park announces opening date and releases never-before-seen pictures". Time Out Tokyo. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  17. ^ Ha, Thu-Huong (1 November 2022). "Review: Is the new Ghibli Park worth all the hype?". The Japan Times. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  18. ^ "Satsuki and Mei's House : EXPO 2005 AICHI, JAPAN". www.expo2005.or.jp. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  19. ^ "No fun rides but plenty of spirit: Studio Ghibli offers anime fans a new walk in the park". the Guardian. 3 November 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  20. ^ "Studio Ghibli Is Building A Real-Life Howl's Moving Castle". Kotaku. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
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