Have you seen Spirited Away? Remember No-Face and all the funny characters in the bathhouse? Have you seen Totoro, the cute character that looks sort of like a mix of a cat, owl and/or a racoon? If you are a fan of Ghibli, then you will love the Mitaka Forest Ghibli Museum, the Ghibli Museum. Find out how to get tickets for Ghibli Museum and everything you need to know while visiting Studio Ghibli Museum
Not just Studio Ghibli Musem but there are many amazing restaurants and bars to visit in the area, make sure to check those out!
Mitaka Forest Ghibli Museum
The Mitaka Forest Ghibli Museum is a special exhibit that celebrates the animation and art of Miyazaki Hayao’s Studio Ghibli, one of Japan’s most famous animation studios. They have produced many films with worldwide distribution such as My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, and Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea.
The Ghibli Museum is located in Mitaka City. When visiting Studio Ghibli Museum, you will enter through the beautiful Inokashira Park. The museum was created by Hayao Miyazaki, who was deeply involved in Studio Ghibli and the museum was opened in 2001. As the name suggests, the Ghibli Museum houses a large number of exhibits related to films and projects created by the Ghibli studio.
Even if you are unfamiliar with the Ghibli studio, you should give it a go! The museum is gorgeous and the exhibits might even light a spark of your curiosity for art and animation, showcasing the beauty and history of Japanese animation, manga and art.
Visiting Mitaka Forest Ghibli Museum
Since photography and videography is forbidden inside the museum, you won’t be able to find many photos of the exhibits, which adds a bit of mystery to the place. The only photos you might be able to find are of the exterior of the museum and the famous robot from Laputa, on the rooftop of the building. It is refreshing to go into a museum and not know exactly what to expect.
The Ghibli Museum offers two floors plus a rooftop garden, cafe, and children’s play area. There is something for everyone at this museum.
The first floor explains the history behind animation and the techniques used to create the films so many people know and love. What you can find here that you can’t find anywhere else is the collection of short films that were created, produced and only shown here in the museum.
The second floor is designated to special exhibits that are constantly changing. Some of the exhibits displayed here, for example, could be a look into the sketchbooks of the writers and illustrators. You are able to gain a unique insider’s perspective on the process of how these shows and movies are planned and thought out from the early stages.
How to get tickets in Ghibli Museum
Snagging a ticket is not easy. Tickets go on sale on the 10th of every month and often sell out very quickly. You can purchase the tickets online or at a Lawson Store, but most of the information is only offered in Japanese. If going to Ghibli Museum is high on your to-do list, I suggest booking your tickets on the dot on the 10th, or getting an agency such as ourselves to help you in advance to secure your spot.
Even though the tickets seem exclusive, they are definitely on the affordable side. For people over the age of 19 tickets get in for 1,000 JPY. Ages 13 to 18 cost 700 JPY. Ages 7 to 12 cost 400 JPY. 4 to 6 cost 100 JPY, and 3 and under is free.
Quick Tips
As mentioned earlier, since the tickets sell out very quickly, make sure to grab them as soon as they come on sale. Getting them online is probably the easiest option, although it could get quite confusing. Make sure to be prepared at your computer if you’re planning to get your ticket online, or at Lawson before 10am, to make sure not to miss out.
There are multiple beautiful spiral staircases inside the museum. Try to wear shoes that are comfortable and without heels to make sure you can move around easily. Dress or skirt might not be the best idea as well, so try to avoid wearing that.
There is one cafe inside the ghibli museum, serving a selection of meals inspired by some of the most famous films created by the Ghibli studios. There are also unique drinks as well as desserts for you to try. There is usually a line at this cafe so if you are interested in coming here, try to get the first time slot of the day (10:00am) and come straight here after entering the museum. Otherwise, from around noon until the museum closes, you will probably have to wait in line to be seated here.
There is always a line to take a photo with the robot from Laputa, at the rooftop of the building, so if you want to grab a nice photo with no one in the background, this is another spot that you should visit right after arriving.
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Although the Ghibli museum isn’t huge and you can finish wandering around in 1-2 hours, it is a magical place, where you can feel the spirit of Ghibli studios and the incredible talent and long-hours that have gone into creating every single film and artwork.
Visiting studio ghibli museum, or the Mitaka Forest Ghibli Museum, is a super fun activitiy.
Want to find out more about Japan? check out 8 Top Museums to visit in Tokyo based on your interest!
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