A really cool, behind the scenes look of how a lot Ghibli films were made in the studio! Totally worth a visit if you manage to get a ticket from the online madness. It felt very whimsical. I think I spent about 2 hours here. Friendly staff all around.
The artwork and concept art are so beautiful to look at! It can get a bit crowded inside and stuffy so you can't admire them forever. You can't take pictures inside unfortunately :(
They show a cute short film that plays every 15-20 minutes I think.
The souvenir shop has so many cute items. It gets pretty crowded and chaotic in there.
The cafe outside has pretty good food for decent prices. I got a pork cutlet sandwich!
This place doesn’t need my review, but here are some things to know.
1. This is fun, but it’s kinda tough for little kids. Outside of the movie (a bit scary) and the cat bus room…this is a museum, not a super fun place for kids.
2. If you come with a stroller, you will need to place it in the storage area.
3. The cafe doesn’t not really have any vegetarian food, and the line is crazy.
4. I’m sure you know this already, but tickets opens 1 month ahead and you should be in virtual line for tickets about 45 minutes before they open. You cannot show up without tickets.
5. No photos inside. Bummer.
A must-visit spot for all Studio Ghibli fans! No words can describe how magical this museum is, from the Totoro welcoming visitors at the entrance to the colourful exterior of the building and the soldier from “Castle in the Sky” on the rooftop, not to mention all the Easter eggs around the museum and the fairytale like house.
Tickets get released a month in advance but still I only managed to get the last few at 4pm (museum closes daily at 6pm) and 2 hours is definitely not enough to see everything! Don’t miss the short film screening that rotate between several films on a regular basis and not shown elsewhere outside the museum, as well as the museum shop that sell merchandises.
The permanent exhibitions are another highlights which include hand drawn sketches and how the animations are made from scratch which is truly fascinating. Worth noting also that each visitor receive a ticket in the form of an actual 35mm film of a random scene from the animation movies which is really cute and a good memorial from the visit!
This museum is highly popular, with tickets needing to be purchased at least a month in advance. However, after visiting, I was rather disappointed. The building is relatively small, divided into several rooms, each with different exhibits. Because entry is timed, every room is crowded with visitors, making it difficult to fully appreciate the artwork and displays. You barely have time to stop and look as the people behind you keep moving, pushing you to continue.
The gift shop area was also overcrowded, making it hard to enjoy the experience there. The only pleasant surprise was the movie screening, which lasts about 25 minutes. It kept my kids entertained, but even then, the Totoro film they played is something we’ve seen many times before. At least there was seating available for a brief rest.
Overall, unless you're a major fan of Studio Ghibli, I don't think it's worth the effort or the wait to visit.
Remember that you have to buy tickets in advance to enter! Bring IDs with your name on it. The museum is located in a forest park, very much like what you’ll expect from Miyazaki. The design of the museum pays attention to details to the fullest, not unlike any of the Ghibli films. Though the museum is small and crowded, it never fails to deliver amazement and awe to the visitors. And of course, it helps if you understand a bit Japanese since most of the exhibitions, including the short film playing in the theater, are solely in Japanese. There were lines waiting to enter different rooms and the theater. A wonderful experience probably only hindered by the excessive crowd.
