Ghibli Park, the world’s first Studio Ghibli theme park, has teased its upcoming Princess Mononoke-themed area ahead of the opening on 1 November.
Mononoke Village, inspired by Princess Mononoke‘s Irontown (Tatara) setting, is one of two remaining lands to launch at Ghibli Park.
Guests will find themselves in the Muromachi period (1336 – 1573) where the film is set. On offer in the new land is a sculpture of a Tatarigami spirit monster, as well as a slide themed to the boar god Lord Okkoto.
Also, guests will get to make gohei-mochi rice cakes at the land’s Tatara-ba learning centre, Ghibli Park has revealed.
Via the Japan Times, visitors will have to purchase a combined ticket for access to the new area and Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse through an advance booking system. This will cost ¥2,500 ($17) per adult on weekdays and ¥3,000 ($20) on weekends.
Ghibli Park’s first three lands – Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse, Hill of Youth, and Dondoko Forest – opened in November last year.
The final area to come to the park early next year is Valley of Witches, based on Kiki’s Delivery Service and Howl’s Moving Castle.
Also debuting next year is a fleet of real-life My Neighbor Totoro-inspired ‘Catbus’ shuttles based on Toyota’s APM (Accessible People Mover).
New experiences at Ghibli Park
There will be five Catbuses travelling across the theme park. The electric vehicles can fit six people including the driver and will travel at top speeds of 19 km/h.
Located in Japan’s Aichi Expo Memorial Park, Ghibli Park will have an estimated annual economic impact of $324 million. It is expected to welcome around 1.8 million visitors every year when all five areas are open.
In more news, thousands of applicants registered for a Studio Ghibli-themed dating event that was held earlier this month.
