The world created by Studio Ghibli captivates many people. If you've seen any of the works that Studio Ghibli has released to the world, you'll understand how impressive their beautiful world-building is.
In this article, we will introduce a carefully selected list of spots in Japan that Studio Ghibli officially claims to have used as references to create their world view. Why not use this article as a reference and embark on a pilgrimage to the sacred places of Ghibli?
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Where are the settings of Studio Ghibli's works in Japan?
There are many sacred places of Studio Ghibli movies. These range from places that Studio Ghibli officially announces as references, to places speculated by many people to be the settings of Ghibli works.
Anyone who has seen the works will understand that the world of the work is spread out in front of you, and you can encounter a sight that strikes your heart.
This time, among the many sacred places of Studio Ghibli, we will focus on the places in Japan that Ghibli has officially announced as references. Please refer to this article and why not embark on a nationwide pilgrimage to the sacred places of Ghibli.
【Aomori】Shirakami Mountains｜Princess Mononoke
The first place we introduce is the vast mountainous area of about 130,000 hectares that spans the northwestern part of Akita Prefecture and the southwestern part of Aomori Prefecture, the Shirakami Mountains.
This is the place that was referred to when creating the worldview of "Princess Mononoke", and it is said to have been the model for the village "Emishi Village" where Ashitaka, who appears at the beginning of the story, lives. The Shirakami Mountains, like Yakushima, which was also referred to as the stage of "Princess Mononoke", were registered as a World Heritage Site in 1993, and it is a precious forest where the primeval beech forest remains. At the foot of it is a beautiful blue pond called "Aoiike", which is similar to the pond in the forest of the Shishigami in the work and is mysterious.
Synopsis: Ashitaka, a young man living in the mountains, is cursed by a boar god who has turned into a curse god due to anger and hatred. Ashitaka, who sets out on a journey to break the curse, eventually arrives at the Tatara village. There, Ashitaka learns of the existence of San, known as the Princess Mononoke, who challenges the Tataras to a fight.
【Saitama】Tokorozawa｜My Neighbor Totoro
"My Neighbor Totoro" is a film loved worldwide for its fantastic storyline and adorable Totoro character, making it one of the representative works of Studio Ghibli.
Although the film depicts the scenery of rural Japan, it is explicitly stated that the setting is Tokorozawa City in Saitama Prefecture, just an hour away from the city center. In the 1960s, director Hayao Miyazaki, who created My Neighbor Totoro, moved to Tokorozawa City and is said to have used the scenery at that time as a reference. Modern buildings now spread across Tokorozawa City, but in front of Tokorozawa Station, there is a monument of the "Cat Bus" that appears in the film.
Also, within Tokorozawa City is "Tokorozawa Sakura Town", and the popular "Kadokawa Musashino Museum (KCM)" on social media, so let's stop by together.
Japan Saitama | Kadokawa Culture Museum
Synopsis: The story is set in the rural areas of Japan in the 1950s and 60s. Sisters Satsuki and Mei move to a village near their mother's hospital. Upon arriving at their new home, Mei has several mysterious experiences. As it turns out, there are even more mysterious creatures living near this house.
【Hiroshima】Tomo-no-Ura｜Ponyo on the Cliff
Next, we introduce Tomonoura in Hiroshima Prefecture, where the nostalgic scenery of old Japanese towns and port towns spreads out. This is the place that was used as a reference for the setting of "Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea".
Tomonoura is also a place associated with Sakamoto Ryoma, a great man of the end of the Edo period. The houses from the Edo period still remain and are designated as important cultural properties. The nostalgic townscape, as if you've time-slipped, captivated director Hayao Miyazaki with the beauty of Tomonoura.
Recommended leisure activities and sightseeing information in Hiroshima
Synopsis: In a small seaside town, a boy named Sosuke who lives in a house on a cliff, one day, rescues a fish girl named Ponyo who was in trouble on the beach. Ponyo had run away from home on a jellyfish. Since then, a bond has sprouted between Sosuke and Ponyo, but there was a big gap between the worlds they each lived in.
【Tokyo】Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum｜Spirited Away
The 75th Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film was won by "Spirited Away". Although various locations are speculated as the setting of this work, the officially announced one is the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum.
The Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum, located in Koganei City, Tokyo, is a vast open-air museum that preserves historically important buildings. Once you step in, you will find yourself in a nostalgic world, as if you have time-traveled back to the Showa era. I would like to highlight some of the famous sacred spots in the park.
The "Kagiya" on the premises was originally a pub that had been in business since the end of the Edo period on Ikenohata Street in Taito Ward. The building relocated to the "Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum" is in the state of around 1970. It was used as a reference for the restaurant scene at the beginning of "Spirited Away", where the parents eat a large plate of food and turn into pigs.
In the early part of the film, Chihiro ends up working at Yubaba's "Aburaya". One of the models for this is said to be "Kotakara-yu". It is also mentioned on the official Studio Ghibli website as having "greatly inspired" the film.
In addition, there is a hot spring inn in Fukui that is modeled after Spirited Away, and there are buildings all over Japan that were built to match the image of the work afterwards.
Recommended leisure activities, experiences, games, and sightseeing information in Tokyo
Synopsis: A young girl, Chihiro, is on her way to her new home with her parents. The car they are in somehow wanders into a mysterious town. Drawn by the novelty and freshness of the strange town, her parents venture further in. However, they break the rules of the mysterious town and are turned into pigs.
【Tokyo】Around Seiseki-Sakuragaoka Station on the Keio Line｜Whisper of the Heart
The bittersweet story of youth, "Whisper of the Heart," is set in the area around Seiseki Sakuragaoka Station in Tama City, Tokyo. This area is so packed with locations that appear in the film that there are even walking maps available at Seiseki Sakuragaoka Station. It's an area you'll want to visit at least once, as it makes you feel as if you've stepped into the story itself.
The platform where Shizuku Tsukishima, a junior high school third-year student who loves reading, gets on the train to deliver a lunch box to her father, is the platform of Seiseki Sakuragaoka Station. In the film, it's called Keio Line's Suginomori Station, but the train Shizuku gets on is also ridden by a cat named Moon. The place where Shizuku and Moon get off is also in front of Seiseki Sakuragaoka Station.
Shizuku is confessed to by her classmate Sugimura from the baseball club, and the place where this confession takes place is Konpira Shrine. This is also in this area, and it's quite moving to visit after seeing it in the film.
Recommended leisure activities and sightseeing information in Tokyo
Synopsis: It's the summer before exams. A middle school girl who loves reading becomes curious about a name she always sees on her school library card. Amidst this, she meets a boy. He had a dream of becoming a violin craftsman. Inspired by the boy, the girl starts writing a novel.
【Hokkaido】Kushiro Marsh｜When Marnie Was There
The setting of "When Marnie Was There", a work remade from a British literary work, is the Kushiro Marsh in Hokkaido.
The scene where Anna and Marnie cross the big river in a canoe with the beautiful sunset in the background is memorable for many. This spot is also famous for being one of the three best places in the world to see the sunset, and it is popular as a tourist spot where you can fully enjoy nature.
Synopsis: A 12-year-old girl with emotional wounds stays in a seaside village for the summer for asthma treatment. In the inlet of the village, there is a Western-style mansion that has been uninhabited for a long time, known as the Wetland Mansion, where she meets a blonde girl, Marnie.
【Aomori】Seibi-en Garden｜The Secret World of Arrietty
Seibi-en, a nationally designated scenic spot in Aomori Prefecture, served as the setting for "The Secret World of Arrietty". The building that appears in the film was inspired by Seibi-kan, a Western-style building with a blend of Japanese and Western elements, built to overlook the garden of Seibi-en.
The underfloor where Arrietty made her home base was also inspired by Seibi-kan. Take a leisurely stroll through the 1.2ha Japanese garden and feel the traces of Arrietty. The nearest station to Seibi-en is JR Tsugaru-Onoe Station. It's about 20 minutes one way from Hirosaki Station, so it's recommended to visit along with sightseeing at Hirosaki Castle.
Recommended leisure activities, experiences, games, and sightseeing information in Aomori
Synopsis: Arrietty, a little borrower who lives under the floor with her parents. They live by "borrowing" the things they need for life without being noticed by the humans living above the floor. There was a rule that they must not be seen by humans, and if they were seen, they had to move from there.
【Kanagawa】Yokohama Motomachi｜The Cat Returns
Finally, we have Yokohama Motomachi, which is considered the setting for "The Cat Returns". You can spot buildings influenced by Western culture here and there in the shopping district, a testament to its long history. The scene where the high school girl Haru meets Muta while looking for the cat's office in the cross-street shopping district is inspired by the Motomachi Shopping Street. The nostalgic townscape still spreads out today, and just strolling around should make you feel happy.
Yokohama, which has flourished as a port town since ancient times, still allows you to experience a tasteful townscape, especially in the Minato Mirai area. Let's take a panoramic view of the beautiful city from Yokohama Air Cabin and the large Ferris wheel.
Yokohama Air Cabin One-Way Ticket | Japan
Cosmo Clock 21 Ferris Wheel Ticket | Yokohama
Synopsis: The story begins when a high school girl, Haru, saves a cat from being hit by a car. The cat turns out to be the prince of the "Cat Kingdom", and Haru is invited to the kingdom as a thank you. There, Haru is welcomed by the cats and begins to wish to live happily as a cat rather than face her harsh reality.
Visit the setting of your favorite Studio Ghibli film!
We have introduced 8 places that are the settings of Studio Ghibli's works so far. Why not take a trip in search of extraordinary scenes that you can't usually experience, using this article as a reference?
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