Ghibli Park, the world’s first Studio Ghibli theme park, is gearing up for the launch of its new Valley of Witches area on 16 March.
Valley of Witches, the park’s fifth and final area, is based on anime films such as Kiki’s Delivery Service and Howl’s Moving Castle.
This week, Ghibli Park has been showing local media around its new site. It has also unveiled the life-size Howl’s Moving Castle in Valley of Witches.
The new attraction at Ghibli Park doesn’t actually move, and is slightly smaller than the version seen in the 2004 film.
Valley of Witches also includes the witch’s house from Earwig and the Witch, as well as Ghibli Park‘s first amusement park-style rides, like a merry-go-round and an aerial carousel-ride.
Additionally, the upcoming zone is home to the bakery residence of Kiki and her black cat Jiji from Kiki’s Delivery Service, the Soratobu Oven restaurant, a hot dog stand called the Hot Tin Roof, and a shop named 13 Witches.
New Catbus EVs coming to Ghibli Park
Valley of Witches is Ghibli Park’s last area to open to the public. It is joining Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse, Hill of Youth, Dondoko Forest, and Mononoke Village.
Ghibli Park has also unveiled its new eco-friendly Catbus electric vehicles, which go into service on the same date that Valley of Witches opens.
The real-life My Neighbor Totoro-inspired Catbus vehicles, officially called APM Catbus, are designed to look and feel like the Catbus from the film.
Images courtesy of Studio Ghibli
