"Ghibli Museum, Mitaka" (三鷹の森ジブリ美術館 / Mitaka no Mori Ghibli Bijutsukan) is located in Inokashira Park in Mitaka City, Tokyo. Only about 15 minutes on foot from JR Mitaka Station and Kichijoji Station, the Ghibli Museum, Mitaka is a colorful and one-of-a-kind nestled deep in the greenery with two floors above ground and one floor below ground.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020, overseas ticket sales have been suspended. Only people living in Japan were able to purchase tickets, but sales has finally resumed in January 2023! This time, we brought along a Hong Kong editor who loves Japanese anime and entertainment to cover the story, and help you make the most of the Ghibli Museum, Mitaka.
Excitement starts from the entrance! The playful Totoro reception and entrance that excite even FUN! JAPAN staff!
The Ghibli Museum, Mitaka, with the concept of "Let's get lost together", is a place where you can find characters and things that interest you while walking around the grounds. And such gimmick already starts from the very entrance of the museum.
Totoro reception
Once you enter the museum grounds, a large Totoro welcomes you at the reception - or so you thought, it actually is a photo spot pretending to be a reception where visitors can take selfies! If you look carefully, just right next to the large Totoro is a signboard that politely says "real reception →", and Makkuro Kurosuke is looking at visitors from a small window under the reception - so full of playfulness!
As you walk down the path from the Totoro reception, you will see the exterior of the building with pop colors of orange and yellow and the entrance to the museum. Beyond that is the "real reception". The path is full of greenery and the wind is pleasant, just like walking through the natural scenery depicted in the Studio Ghibli anime! Now, let's enter the museum!
Stained glass stairs leading down from the entrance to the basement
When you enter from the reception of the museum, you will find an entrance with beautiful stained glass and fresco painting on the ceiling. From there, take the stairs to the lower floor.
Not only this staircase, but many of the windows and lamps in the building are also made of stained glass. The light coming in from the outside shines in seven colors, which is really fantastic! In addition, famous scenes and characters from Ghibli works are scattered throughout the stained glass. Be sure to look for your favorite scenes and characters!
A permanent exhibition at the Ghibli Museum where you can learn about Hayao Miyazaki's dedication and how to make animated movies!
In the 1st floor permanent exhibition "Where a Film is Born", an exhibition room that looks like a reproduction of an animation studio, you can learn the production process from brainstorming ideas to crating storyboards, drawings, and filming, then completing a single animation.
One highlight is the "A Boy's Room" at the beginning of the exhibition! The walls are crammed with paintings, character designs, illustrations, and image boards, along with plenty of airplane models and antiques! In a room filled with teen boy's favorite things, it feels like a peek into a scene where an animation idea is born.
The handwritten explanations and slogans placed throughout the exhibition room are also excellent. For example, around the desk of the director who cuts the storyboards, explanations and stories about the storyboards are stuck all over the wall. Near the ceiling, there is also a commentary on a creature called "Kaijin Ghiblibli" that appears when work is not progressing in Ghibli!
In addition, in the room that explains "coloring", there are exhibits that both adults and children can enjoy, such as a cel picture pasted, a photo stand where you can learn how to shoot while moving the background picture and cel picture. There is even an editing machine!
Go up to the 2nd floor and meet the Robot Soldier! You can actually reproduce that scene from "Castle in the Sky"!?
After looking around the 1st floor, let's pass in front of the Cat Bus Room (*for children under the 6th grade of elementary school) on the 2nd floor and climb the spiral staircase outside to reach the rooftop garden.
The first thing you see on the rooftop is the familiar Robot Soldier from the movie "Castle in the Sky"!
The size of the robot soldiers and the joy of finally being able to reach the top of the museum made our editorial staff excited! Furthermore, if you go around behind the robot soldier and proceed along the path, there is the stone slab of Laputa Castle! Since we made it this far, we tried to shoot as if we were reading ancient characters, just like in the movie. It's undoubtedly an irresistible moment for Ghibli fans!
Recommended souvenirs at Ghibli Museum, Mitaka
Since you've come all the way to the Ghibli Museum, Mitaka, you might want to buy souvenirs that can only be found here.
At the shop called "MAMMA AIUTO!", which is named after the name of the sky pirates that appear in "Porco Rosso", Ghibli goods and original products unique to the museum are sold. From here, we will introduce two of our recommended products!
Original stained glass postcard
The first is a postcard with the motif of the stained glass used in the windows and doors of this very museum. It faithfully reproduces the transparency and vivid colors of the stained glass using hand-blown glass. You can open the small window on the back side and decorate the room - when light shines through, colors are reflected, and Totoro and his friends stand out!
It depicts Totoro playing the ocarina on a moonlit night from the movie "My Neighbor Totoro". The design is also stylish that makes it an item you'll want to display in your room.
Museum-original Kurosuke
A museum-limited stuffed toy of Makkuro Kurosuke, a popular character with cute fluffy fur and round eyes. It's cute by itself, but it's also recommended to buy several to recreate Totoro's famous scenes by yourself!
*Prices are subject to change without notice.
How to reserve tickets for Ghibli Museum, Mitaka
On the 10th of each month, tickets for the following month will be on sale from 10:00 AM (Japan time).
When reserving/purchasing overseas tickets, you can either purchase through the local JTB group or through the Lawson Ticket English site. Check these pages to learn more about how to handle and purchase tickets!
Japanese URL: https://www.ghibli-museum.jp/ticket/
English URL: https://www.ghibli-museum.jp/en/tickets/
How to get to Ghibli Museum, Mitaka
Get from JR Shinjuku Station to Mitaka Station by using train, then walk along the Tamagawa Aqueduct from the south exit of JR Mitaka Station for about 15 minutes. Alternatively, you may also take a community bus from the south exit of Mitaka Station for about 5 minutes.
Mitaka Station is 20 minutes from Shinjuku Station on the JR Chuo Line rapid service.
- Ghibli Museum, Mitaka (三鷹の森ジブリ美術館 / Mitaka no Mori Ghibli Bijutsukan)
- Address: 1-1-83 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka City, Tokyo
- Business hours:
Weekdays: 10:00-17:00 (Last entry: 15:00),
Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays: 10:00-19:00 (Last entry: 17:00)
Summer special period: 10:00-18:00 (Last entry: 16:00) - Admission fee:
Adults/University students 1,000 yen,
High school/Junior high school students 700 yen,
Elementary school students 400 yen,
Infants (4 years old and over) 100 yen
*Children under 4 years old can enter for free
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