Magic Comes to Life at the Ghibli Museum

If you have some time in Tokyo and can manage a day trip, my recommendation would be to go to the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka. That is... if you want to experience youthful magic through the eyes of Hayao Miyazaki, the man behind such greats as Totoro, Castle in the Sky, and Spirited Away.

You'll need to buy tickets in advance and may need to enlist the help of some friendly workers at the local Lawson Store. Tickets are reserved through an ATM-looking machine that's in Japanese and purchased from the store. With vouchers in hand for a specific time, you're set!

(I think you can always purchase tickets ahead of time too. Check out the website below to look for more details through JTB.)



We settled for a late afternoon visit to the Ghibli Museum, and hopped on the JR train out of the city and into this suburb just outside of Tokyo. The walk from the Mitaka station was a nice scenic stroll, lined with trees and beautiful homes.

We even spied the cute Japanese signs above!

When we arrived along Kichijori Avenue, next to Inokashira Park, we were greeted by a very large Totoro and some soot-black dust bunnies too. Signs pointed to the main entrance, where a line had already started to form.

Unlucky for us, it started to drizzle.

Luckily, though, the museum had tents to shield us from the cold rain.

As we entered the bright and colorful entry, we were explicitly told not to take photographs inside the museum.

Here's a little sneak peak inside:

"Every window and lamp is lovingly hand-crafted with beautiful and colorful stained glass using Ghibli characters, pretty plants and flowers, and forest animals..."

There's magic on the Ground level, as you see characters brought to life through animation. A working studio with sketches, paintings, and lots of inspiration can be found on the first floor while a large cat bus waits on the second level for kids under 12 years old to jump in and enjoy. And a metal, spiral stairway up the roof leads you to a rooftop terrace and a five-meter tall Robot Soldier (from “Laputa Castle in the Sky”) - see the above picture!

In the Central Hall is "a towering open space extending up through the entire height of the Museum. In the glass dome at its center, a yellow whale swims in the ocean and the blades of a giant fan rotate overhead. Taking in the whole room from bottom to top, you will discover a maze of spiral stairways, bridged passages, and overhanging terraces. This marvelous space transports you into the world of Hayao Miyazaki and the strange buildings which often appear in his films."

For more information, check out the website below.

Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Japan
www.ghibli-museum.jp/en