Japan’s Ghibli Park has opened to visitors, with tickets to the new Studio Ghibli attraction already sold out for the rest of this year.
Ghibli Park is based on anime films such as My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Spirited Away, Castle in the Sky, and Princess Mononoke.
Located in the Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park, the attraction is estimated to have an annual economic impact of $324 million.
Aichi governor Hideaki Omura and Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki‘s son Goro Miyazaki welcomed the theme park’s first visitors this morning (1 November).
“Don’t forget your umbrella and raincoat”
With rain forecast in the area, Ghibli Park wrote on Twitter: “Don’t forget your umbrella and raincoat.”
Ghibli Park is separated into five themed areas, three of which are now open. These are Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse, Hill of Youth, and Dondoko Forest.
The two remaining sections, Mononoke Village and Valley of Witches, will launch in fall 2023 and March 2024, respectively.
The park is expected to welcome around 1 million visitors annually with the opening of the first three sections, and approximately 1.8 million when all five areas are open.
Unlike theme parks such as Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo DisneySea and Universal Studios Japan, Ghibli Park has no rides or coasters.
“There are no big attractions or rides in Ghibli Park,” the website says. “Take a stroll, feel the wind, and discover the wonders.”
Ghibli Park recently unveiled some of the exhibits and experiences available in Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse, an indoor area described as “a large warehouse full of Ghibli secrets”. The park has also announced new plans for allocating tickets.
Speaking at a press event on 12 October, Omura said Ghibli Park has taken “five years and five months” to complete (via Lifestyle Asia). “We didn’t want people to forget Ghibli’s works,” added Goro.
Images: Studio Ghibli
