Studio Ghibli is set to open Ghibli Park in Japan’s Aichi Prefecture in 2022. It has shared concept art and more information about the My Neighbour Totoro-themed playground at Ghibli’s Giant Warehouse.
Ghibli Park comprises five themed lands, which include Ghibli’s Giant Warehouse, Princess Mononoke Village and Witch Valley, based on Kiki’s Delivery Service and Howl’s Moving Castle.
Additional lands include the My Neighbour Totoro-themed Dondoko Forest and Springtime of Life Hill, which features attractions from Howl’s Moving Castle and Castle in the Sky.Â
Studio Ghibli has started construction on the Totoro-themed playground, which includes a replica of Satsuki and Mei’s house, as well as a giant camphor tree and life-size Catbus (via SoraNews24).
Giant camphor tree and life-size Catbus
Ghibli Park will also feature a life-size version of Howl’s Moving Castle at the Witch Valley zone, as well as Kiki’s childhood home from Kiki’s Delivery Service.
Princess Mononoke Village will include an Irontown attraction, while the Air Destroyer Goliath from Castle in the Sky will feature at Ghibli’s Giant Warehouse. Springtime of Life Hill will boast elements from Whisper of the Heart and The Cat Returns.
Ghibli’s Giant Warehouse, Dondoko Forest and Springtime of Life Hill are scheduled to open in late 2022, while Princess Mononoke Village and Witch Valley debut in March 2024.
The Studio Ghibli theme park is situated on 7.1 hectares within Aichi Earth Expo Memorial Park, the former site of the 2005 World Expo. It is a joint project between the Aichi Prefectural Government and Studio Ghibli.
Ghibli Park opens in Japan in 2022
Ghibli Park’s construction is costing ¥34 billion ($323 million). The theme park is predicted to attract approximately 1.8 million guests annually, with yearly economic benefits of ¥48 billion ($455 million).
Studio Ghibli chairman Kiyofumi Nakajima said at the groundbreaking: “The 2005 Expo’s theme of ‘love’ has also been portrayed in Studio Ghibli’s films consistently, so we can inherit that philosophy.
“We aim to make the facility a world-class park and hope many people will visit here.”
Images: Studio Ghibli
