Ghibli Park unveils new attractions
In November 2022, Studio Ghibli fans received a pleasant surprise – the inauguration of a theme park dedicated to the animated movies from the beloved studio. Situated near Nagoya, Japan, the park immerses visitors in the fantastical worlds depicted in the films. Unlike traditional amusement parks with rides, this one focuses on allowing guests to truly immerse themselves in the atmospheric charm of Ghibli’s creations.
After successfully completing its first phase and unveiling three areas, the park has now announced the opening of Ghibli Park Phase 2. The expansion welcomes visitors to explore the newly unveiled attractions – the Mononoke Village and the Valley of Witches.
the Mononoke Village | all images courtesy of Ghibli Park
introducing the Mononoke Village and the Valley of Witches
The Mononoke Village at Ghibli Park (find more here) brings to life the Japanese-style Satoyama landscape straight out of the enchanting 1997 film, Princess Mononoke. This section of the theme park showcases the iconic Irontown (Tataraba), transformed into a hands-on center where visitors can immerse themselves in the local cuisine and learn how to make Gohei-mochi. The Mononoke Village also boasts impressive sculptures of the Okkoto-Nushi and the Tatari-Gami demon characters. Despite their initially intimidating appearances, the works double as playful slides, extending a warm welcome to young visitors.
The inspiration for the Valley of Witches comes from the picturesque settings featured in Howl’s Moving Castle (2004) and Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989). Within this area, visitors can look forward to exploring reproductions of iconic locations like Kiki’s house, the bakery, and the hat shop from Howl’s Moving Castle. To ensure an authentic ambiance, the buildings are constructed using traditional European architectural styles. To achieve this, the park’s designers have sought out wood materials and construction techniques specific to the regions where the movies are set. However, due to the scarcity of certain European tree varieties like oak and chestnut in the Japanese market, the park had to source the required trees from forests across Japan.
the Witch Valley
Satsuki and Mei’s house from My Neighbor Totoro
the Earth Shop
the Dondokodo playground
