Ghibli's Grand Warehouse
The main area of the Ghibli Park, the Grand Warehouse features a wide array of Ghibli-related attractions, including a screening room showing exclusive short movies, various exhibition areas and a children's play area.
Ghibli Park (ƒWƒuƒŠƒp[ƒN) is a theme park about the popular animated movies by Studio Ghibli. It opened in November 2022 just outside Nagoya, and unlike other theme parks does not feature any rides - apart from a few small ones for kids - but rather lets visitors delve into the atmospheric fantasy worlds presented in the various popular Ghibli movies.
The theme park consists of five areas, which are not joined together but found spread across the Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park, the former site of the 2005 World Expo.
Park tickets must be purchased in advance, and the daily visitor limits are purposely set low to provide visitors with a pleasant atmosphere, free of overcrowding. As a result, it can be expected that getting tickets will remain a challenge for a time to come.
Take the Higashiyama Subway Line from central Nagoya to its terminal station, Fujigaoka (30 minutes, 290 yen, frequent departures). From Fujigaoka take the Linimo elevated train and get off at Aichikyuhaku Kinenkoen Station just in front of the north entrance gate of the Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park (15 minutes, 340 yen, frequent departures).
Alternatively, there are direct buses between the Meitetsu Bus Center next to Nagoya Station and the Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park. The ride takes 40 minutes and costs 1200 yen one way. Buses operate roughly hourly.
Ghibli Park's areas are spread across the Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park. From the station, it is about a 5-10 minute walk to the Hill of Youth and Ghibli's Grand Warehouse areas, from where the other areas can be reached in 5-15 minute walks. There is also a free bus, which operates every 20-30 minutes within the park.
Tickets are not sold at the park, but must be purchased in advance.
Ghibli Park separates ticket purchases into two channels: international purchases from outside of Japan and domestic purchases. International visitors should make their reservations via Lawson Ticket, while inside Japan tickets can be purchased via Boo-Woo Ticket and the Loppi machines at Lawson and Ministop convenience stores.
Tickets go on sale two months in advance on the 10th of each month at 2pm, e.g. tickets for April go on sale on February 10. Tickets are sold on a first-come first-serve basis for specific dates. There are regular and premium passes, which both provide entry to all the park areas, with the premium pass additionally covering selected attractions inside the areas:
The passes cost an additional 500 yen on weekends and national holidays. Children aged 4 to 12 years cost half. The passes come with a specific entry time for the Ghibli's Grand Warehouse, while the other areas can be entered at any time.
Furthermore, a third, "light" pass type covers just the four outdoor areas, but not the Ghibli's Grand Warehouse. It costs 1500-2000 yen and does not go on sale until seven days before the visiting date at 5pm (and only within Japan). The ticket comes with a specific entry time for the Valley of Witches, while the other areas can be entered at any time.
An easier - and more expensive - way of visiting the park than buying actual tickets can be joining a tour package that includes admission to the park. Klook, for example, offers a 1-day tour package, which includes transportation from Nagoya Station, a day pass to the Ghibli Park and a visit to a nearby aviation museum related to the Ghibli movie "The Wind Rises".
The park is open from 10:00 to 17:00 (from 9:00 on weekends, national holidays and during school holidays). It is closed on Tuesdays (or the following day if Tuesday is a national holiday) except during school holidays. The park is also closed for several days over New Year and irregularly for maintenance.
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