Anime fans will find it hard to miss the wonderful Studio Ghibli Museum in Tokyo. Plunge into the world of Mononoke and Totoro, admire the cute characters and kawaii faces with big eyes! Find out how to get to the museum and how much tickets cost.
In 1985, Japanese director and screenwriter Hayao Miyazaki founded a new animation studio. Europeans call it “Ghibli”, but the Japanese themselves pronounce this word differently - “Jiburi”. It was here that full-length films and anime series were shot, which became popular all over the world.
In 2001, an unusual park museum was created at Studio Ghibli in Japan. It is interesting for children and adults who are not indifferent to animation.
What to see at the Ghibli Museum
First of all, on the characters of animated films that became hits in anime - “Princess Mononoke”, “Spirited Away” and “My Neighbor Totoro”. The exhibition hall on the lower floor is dedicated to the history of hand-drawn animation, and on the first floor a full-size model of the animation studio is made.
The Ghibli Museum houses sketches for the animated film “Hedgehog in the Fog” by Yuri Norshtein. The Japanese simply adore this domestic cartoon!
Tourists are shown the original office of Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki. The museum has a real cinema where you can see the latest films from Studio Ghibli, there is a bookstore, a souvenir shop and a cafe. On the roof of the building there is a garden with a statue of the anime hero “Laputa Castle in the Sky”.
Tours are conducted in Japanese only. Photography inside the Ghibli Museum is strictly prohibited. Don't be upset! You won't be left without photos. Professional photographs are sold to tourists at very reasonable prices.
Studio Museum (Photo: henrymatt / flickr.com)
Ghibli Museum, Mitaka, Tokyo (Japan)
Fans of Japanese animation will be interested in the Ghibli Museum from the famous animation studio Ghibli Studio Ghibli . The museum is dedicated to Japanese anime produced by this studio. It is located in the city of Mitaka , in the southwestern part of Inokashira Park, in the western part of Tokyo Prefecture, Japan.
The creator of this wonderful museum is the well-known Japanese animator and director Hayao Miyazaki , who is the author of many Japanese works such as Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Howl's Moving Castle and other animated films that have become iconic and shaped the Japanese animation that exists today.
Ghibli Museum himself, drawing sketches, just as he did similar ones for his films. The design of the museum was also influenced by European architecture, such as that in Calcata, Italy. The museum building itself is also part of the exhibition. Construction of the museum began in March 2000 and its official opening took place on October 1, 2001.
Getting to the museum of the Ghibli anime studio “Ghibli Museum” in Mitaka is not so easy; the museum’s area in Inokashira Park is small and it is very difficult to accommodate all visitors, so tickets should be booked in advance. This can be done in Tokyo using special machines that can be found in Lawson stores, but it should be said that the machine communicates using hieroglyphs. Or find international representatives of Studio Ghibli and purchase tickets from them, but this is not always so easy. You can get to the museum from Tokyo Station, the trip will take about half an hour. You can also take a bus from the station in Mitaka to the museum. This bus is different from the others; it has various cartoon animals painted on it. You can also walk from Mitaka through Inokashira Park, which will take about 15-20 minutes.
The entrance to the museum is the Totoro Gate, which bears the coat of arms of the Ghibli Museum. In the window at the entrance you can see Totoro himself, who sells tickets. But this is not a real ticket kiosk and tickets must be purchased in advance. The actual entrance is quite crowded, especially with a lot of Japanese children who came with their parents. It should also be noted that, unfortunately, photography is prohibited on the territory of the museum, so the vivid impressions will be left only in your memory. The tickets themselves are made quite nicely, they contain part of the film with footage from the films of Studio Ghibli.
The museum building is small, entering here you feel as if you are in a labyrinth, passing through which you meet numerous characters from your favorite animated films. Here you can see how anime is born, watch exclusive cartoons that were created especially for the museum and you won’t see them anywhere else. The building consists of three floors. On the ground floor of the Ghibli Museum you can see how cartoon characters come to life: mechanical devices set figures of well-known characters in motion. On the second floor there is a model of an animation studio; the walls are hung with various sketches and drawings, and you can follow the entire process of creating an animated film. You can notice that the drawings of cartoon characters here are not only from the Ghibli studio but also from others, for example from the Soviet cartoon “Hedgehog in the Fog.” Also, sometimes you can find a real artist drawing sketches at one of the tables; curious visitors constantly crowd around him. Children will be interested in the room in which there is a huge plush bus - nekobas, inside of which there are makurokurosukes lying around. There are always a lot of children here and children are allowed into the room in small groups.
To climb to the roof of the building you need to walk along a narrow spiral staircase, which at first glance is designed for children. There is a green garden on the building, walking along the street in this garden you can come to the most interesting and photographed exhibit - a robot from the anime “Laputa Castle in the Sky”, as in the film he is just as sad, neighing, and because of the casing that has fallen off in places, wires are visible, mechanisms, hoses. Also nearby is the black box from the same animated film.
The Ghibli Museum also has a cafe that sells ice cream, juices, and hot dogs to snack on during the tour. There is also a bookstore and souvenir shops where you can buy exclusive souvenirs for yourself, your children and friends that can only be bought here, for example: figurines of your favorite characters, movie CDs, T-shirts, mugs, plush toys, notebooks, pens.
Opening hours and ticket prices
The museum is open from 10:00 to 18:00. Find information about the exhibitions and history of the studio on the official website of the Ghibli Museum.
A Ghibli Museum ticket costs 1,000 yen for adults, 700 yen for children 13 to 18 years old, 400 yen for children 7 to 12 years old, and 100 yen for children 4 to 6 years old.
Buying tickets is not so easy! 2-3 days before your visit, come to any Lawson store and make a purchase from the Loppi machine. Take someone with you who understands Japanese characters. During school holidays, we advise you to take care of your tickets 2-3 weeks in advance!
Film film "Arrietty from the Land of Lilliput"
Ghibli Museum
- Address:
1 Chome-1-83 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-0013, Japan - Telephone:
+81 570-055-777 - Official website:
ghibli-museum.jp/en - Opening hours:
daily 10:00-18:00, closed Tuesday - Opening:
October 1, 2001 - Architect:
Hayao Miyazaki
One of the main symbols of Japan is the anime culture. It, in turn, is difficult to imagine without the cartoons of the legendary director Hayao Miyazaki. It was he who gave viewers many exciting animated films, to which the Studio Ghibli Anime Museum in Tokyo is dedicated.
History of the Ghibli Museum
Initially, in 1985, the world-famous Japanese director Hayao Miyajaki founded the animation studio Ghibli, where he later filmed his famous works. In 1998, the director decided to create a museum of the same name based on the anime Studio Ghibli in Tokyo, photos of which are presented below. Construction began in 2000, and on October 1, 2001, its official opening took place.
Architectural style of the Ghibli Museum
Despite the fact that this institution is called an art museum, it itself differs in many ways from usual museums. Hayao Miyazaki worked on its creation, trying to reproduce the setting and atmosphere of his cartoons. At the same time, he was inspired by European architecture, especially the buildings of the Italian commune of Calcata. Therefore, even the building of the Studio Ghibli anime museum in Tokyo is part of the exhibition.
There are not many exhibits here, but there are many details that immerse you even more in the animated world. These are various stairs, labyrinths, corridors, animal tracks on the paths and their small figures.
Displays and exhibitions of the Ghibli Museum
When creating this art gallery, Hayao Miyazaki focused primarily on children. This does not mean that the Ghibli Museum will not be of interest to adult visitors, especially fans of Japanese anime and manga. It is designed in the form of a labyrinth, in each section of which characters from the following cartoons by the great director await guests:
- “My neighbor is Totoro”;
- "Spirited Away";
- "Laputa Castle in the Sky"
- "Howl's Moving Castle" and many others.
Moreover, the features of these animated films can be read literally from the gates of the Ghibli Museum, which bear the name of the furry creature Totoro. The museum building itself is small in size and looks like a 19th century French house.
The ground floor of the Studio Ghibli anime museum in Tokyo is dedicated to an exhibition hall that clearly demonstrates the history of animation. Well-known characters are also presented here. Thanks to mechanical devices, they literally come to life in front of the audience.
On the ground floor of the museum there is a room called the mini-Louvre. It is a mock-up of a real animation studio, decorated with Hayao Miyazaki's sketches and reference materials. There is even a master’s office here, in which creative chaos reigns. Thanks to this hall, visitors have the opportunity to see with their own eyes how animation masterpieces are created.
The most popular places among guests of the Ghibli Museum are the plush bus and the huge robot, which can be seen in the cartoon “Laputa Castle in the Sky.” It should be remembered that photography is prohibited on the territory of the center.
In addition to permanent exhibitions, the Ghibli Museum in Japan hosts exhibitions highlighting the work of other animation studios. So, from 2001 to 2011, exhibitions on the following cartoons were held here:
- "Welcome to the Saturn Theater";
- "Louvre";
- "Goldilocks and the Three Bears";
- “Ponyo the fish on the cliff” and others.
At various times, here you could see materials related to the creation of films by Pixar, Aardman Animations, and Russian animator Yuri Norshtein.
Infrastructure of the Ghibli Museum
This gallery is aimed at visitors of different ages, for whose comfort they work here:
- souvenir shops;
- book Shop;
- cafe;
- game room;
- a cinema that shows short films specially created by Hayao Miyajako himself.
This Japanese museum is very popular among foreign guests and local residents, so getting tickets here is quite problematic. Tourists who do not know what time to start booking tickets to the Ghibli Museum should take care of this before departure. In this case, it is better to contact Studio Ghibli representatives directly. Otherwise, you will have to do this through a special machine, which is understandable only to those who are fluent in Japanese.
How to get to the Ghibli Museum?
In order to visit this interesting place, you need to travel 10 km west of ]Tokyo[/anchor]. Nearby there is a large tennis court, a hospital and a primary school. From the center of Japan's capital, you can take the metro to the Ghibli Museum. Just 1.5 km away are Inokashirakoen and Mitaka stations, which are connected to most of the main metro lines. Directly at Mitaka Station you can change to a yellow shuttle bus that will take you to your destination.
If you drive along Capital Highway No. 4 Shinjuku Line and Ino-dori Avenue/Tokyo Route No. 7, then the entire journey to the Ghibli Museum will take 36 minutes.
Exhibitions
Permanent exhibitions include those on the ground floor: stories about the history of animation, sketches and reference materials. Also, visitors will be shown the entire process of creating anime.
But in addition to exhibitions related to Studio Ghibli, there are exhibitions from other animation studios. The museum also has a Saturn cinema, where guests can watch short animated cartoons. In addition to the gift shop, there is a bookstore and a cafe.
Buying a ticket
The Studio Ghibli Museum is located in Tokyo and can be visited by both adults and children. But due to its small size, it cannot accommodate a large number of people, so you need to take care of purchasing a ticket in advance. Don’t think that you will be able to buy it right on the day of your visit at the ticket office at the entrance to the museum.
You may be interested in: Novgorod Regional Library: history, address, opening hours
You can purchase a ticket from international Ghibli representatives, who are not so easy to find, or in Tokyo from special machines located in Lawson stores. It's best if you take someone who speaks Japanese with you, otherwise you won't understand the characters. There you will be offered to buy a ticket for a specific date, and you will be able to discover the magical and wonderful world of the Studio Ghibli Anime Museum.
Reviews
Everyone who visited the museum in Tokyo is completely delighted. It’s as if they find themselves in a fantasy world and become the heroes of their favorite anime. Visitors note that it is quite difficult to get a ticket due to the language barrier. Many people are also upset that they can’t take photographs of the exhibits. But all this does not make visiting this beautiful place any less exciting.
Guests also note that the language barrier does not interfere with their visit, because at the entrance everyone is given brochures in English. Also, everything in the museum is thought out for a comfortable visit - there is even a playroom for children under 12 years old. Visitors of all ages enjoy immersing themselves in the world of animation.
The Ghibli Museum in Tokyo is the dream of all fans of this studio and anime culture. No more than 2,400 people can visit it per day, and the park itself is designed for 600 visitors. All this is done for a comfortable pastime. Photography is not allowed inside, and this is done so that museum guests can fully immerse themselves in the magical atmosphere and enjoy it, and not view all the exhibitions through a phone screen.
The museum is designed not only for children, but also for adults. It is like a maze where visitors will meet their most favorite characters. The minor difficulties in purchasing a ticket are worth it to visit this magical place.
Source
History[edit]
Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Japan
Planning for the museum began in 1998. Construction began in March 2000. Once completed, the museum opened on October 1, 2001. [1]
Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki designed the museum himself, using storyboards similar to those he creates for his films. The design was influenced by European architecture such as the hilltop village of Calcata in Italy. The museum has internal and external spiral staircases built of iron, internal bridges and balconies stretching the entire height of the building. These stairs lead to exhibits, dead ends, and across bridges. [2] These characteristics are intended to reflect Miyazaki's building designs as depicted in his films. [3] Miyazaki's goal was for the building itself to be part of the exhibition, [4] and for the museum to be an uplifting and relaxing experience "that makes you feel richer when you leave than when you enter."
Photography and videography are prohibited inside the museum because the museum is described as a "portal to the world of storybooks." [3] Hayao Miyazaki's goal was also for people to experience the museum with their own eyes and ears.
“Let's get lost together” is the museum's slogan, based on Hayao Miyazaki's vision for visitors to be immersed in his imagination and film work. [3] [5]
In February 2021, the museum is closed for an indefinite period due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [6] [7] Despite attempts to reopen the Gilbey Museum on March 10, 2021, its closure was extended until April 28. [6]
Short description
The Ghibli Museum is an amazing labyrinth where pleasant surprises await visitors at every corner. To enter the territory, you need to go through the gate in the form of the most famous character Totoro. Walking inside the Ghibli Museum feels like stepping into a French castle. Some visitors note that it looks like Howl's Moving Castle.
On the ground floor you will see all the famous Studio Ghibli characters, which are powered mechanically. Another room on the ground floor is like the Louvre in miniature. Going up to the second floor, you will find yourself in the workshop of Hayao Miyazaki. Of course, this is not his real workplace. But the creators of the museum recreated with amazing accuracy the atmosphere in which the famous animator works.
Sketches of the cartoon “Hedgehog in the Fog” are hung on the walls. Hayao Miyazaki is a big fan of Soviet animation, and considers this cartoon to be the best. A real artist sometimes works in the same workshop, and guests can watch the anime creation process.
There is a plush bus in a large, bright room. After climbing the narrow stairs, you will find yourself on the roof. The most popular object there is the robot from the anime “Castle in the Sky.” Of course, the Ghibli Museum has a souvenir shop. There you can buy figurines of your favorite characters, T-shirts, mugs and many other interesting things.
