In Tokyo’s western suburbs you’ll find the
one-of-a-kind Ghibli
Museum — a fantastic and whimsical museum dedicated to the
legendary Studio Ghibli film studio (often called “Japan’s Disney”).
Co-founded
by director Hayao Miyazaki, Studio Ghibli is behind some of Japan’s—and the
world’s!—most beloved animated films, such as “My Neighbor Totoro,” “Princess
Mononoke,” “Spirited Away,” and “Ponyo.”
The
wonderful Ghibli Museum attracts a huge number of visitors, and tickets are
extremely limited. In this article we’ll go over ways you can get tickets, and
other tips on visiting the Ghibli Museum!
About
the Museum
The
name “Ghibli” is from the Italian word for a hot desert wind (ghibli), and
it was Hayao Miyazaki’s hope that Studio
Ghibli would “blow a new wind through the anime industry.”
Miyazaki
aimed to create worlds that were intricate and lush, and with so much attention
to movement and detail that viewers might feel that these worlds could be real,
no matter what sort of fantastical or amazing things happened in the course of
the story.
Opened
in 2001, the Ghibli Museum in Tokyo’s western district of Mitake is dedicated
to the studio’s work, as well as to illuminating the mechanics of the world of
animation. Even though there are many references to the lovable films within
the museum, you don’t have to be a Studio Ghibli fan to appreciate the amazing
artistry on display, or be completely charmed by the exhibits!.
So,
come with me for a rundown of everything you need to know about the Ghibli
Museum, including how to get your hands on the all-important tickets.
Ghibli
Museum Tickets
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The main exhibition hall demonstrates the
magic of animation, with over-sized and intricate mechanical contraptions.
Then there are smaller exhibition rooms throughout the building – some
permanent, and others that change from year to year.
One permanent exhibition room recreates a
Studio Ghibli art director’s studio to include the tiniest details, even
down to real bowls of candy on the desk, and pots of gouache paint with
paintbrushes used to paint the gorgeous backdrops of these lovable films.
The walls of this “studio” are covered in
fine art, and Studio Ghibli is somewhat unique among animation studios in
that they place important emphasis on the background, spending as much time
developing the mood and details of the world the characters live in, as
they spend developing the action elements in the foreground. There are
several interesting scrapbooks on display, showing how the artists were
inspired by nature, feats of engineering, and abstract art to create these
mesmerizing films.
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Another
exhibit area features interactive, life-size recreations of popular film
settings, such as the interior of the amazing flying ships of “Laputa” where
you can explore the galley, opening drawers and cabinets to find them full of
kitchen utensils and cooking ingredients.
Near
the top of the museum, visitors have the chance to play with one of the most
adored characters in the Studio Ghibli films: a giant plush catbus from “My
Neighbor Totoro!” Please note that only children aged 12 and under can climb
inside.
In
addition to various exhibition rooms, back on the ground floor is a delightful
miniature theater, which shows an animated short from the studio, created
exclusively for the Ghibli Museum and only viewable here. The short movie plays
several times each hour.
You
may be pleasantly surprised that almost everywhere you turn at the museum,
you’ll find English-speaking staff
who are extremely versed in all things Studio Ghibli, so any question you might
have can be easily answered. You may end up spending a really enjoyable 20 minutes learning how
the tone of a film is set, and how many animators it takes to produce a film
like “Spirited Away,” one of my favorites.
Even
though most tickets are for specific timed entries (typically 10:00 am, 12:00
pm, 2:00 pm, or 4:00 pm), once you’re in you can stay as long as you like
(until closing).
Make
sure to arrive on time, and plan to allot at least 2 to 3 hours to enjoy the
exhibition halls, view the short animated film, and explore the gift shop on
the top floor.
Getting Tickets to the
Ghibli Museum
Getting tickets to the Ghibli
Museum is no small feat.
Apart
from the fact that tickets sell out well in advance, the ticket-buying process
is also not as simple as most travelers wish it were!
So the
first thing to do is determine when you want to visit. Make sure to check
the Ghibli Museum
calendar for closures (which happen at year-end, and irregularly
throughout the year for exhibit changes). The museum is usually closed on
Tuesdays, and open from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm on other days.
Tickets
typically go on sale one or two months in advance, but some methods allow you
to get tickets even sooner. No matter which method you pursue, keep in mind
that tickets sell out very soon after going on sale!
Below
are some of the best ways to get tickets to the Ghibli Museum (please note that
some of these details may change from time to time).
Getting your Ghibli Museum tickets via
Lawson
Lawson is one of Japan’s
most ubiquitous conbini (convenience
stores).
In
Japan, convenience stores are extremely convenient,
and most offer a wider array of services (and foods!) than we might be
accustomed to outside of Japan.
Lawson
allows you to purchase tickets in person, or via their online ticket platform if
you’re outside of Japan.
Tickets
go on sale on the 10th of each month (at 10:00 am Japan Standard Time) for
the following month.
So if, for example, you are planning to visit sometime in July (i.e., between
July 1st and the 31st), tickets would be available on June 10th.
Tickets
go on sale at exactly 10:00 am JST, and sell out very quickly! The tickets sold
via Lawson’s online system are for a specific day and time, and weekend time
slots usually begin selling out within the first few minutes.
Note: For the summer months of July and August, the museum
opens a “lottery application period” ahead of the usual ticket buying window,
with winners announced the day before the ticket window officially opens. At
present, the lottery application website is only available in Japanese.
Also,
due to the huge number of people trying to purchase online, you may have to be
really persistent and patient to get through.
If you
purchase through Lawson, you’ll pay online and your ticket vouchers will be
emailed to you.
As for
all of the methods, make sure to follow all instructions closely to ensure you
are granted entry!
Getting your Ghibli Museum tickets from
GoVoyagin
If
waiting by your computer at 10:00 am JST while frantically hitting refresh on
your browser sounds less than ideal — and you’re willing to pay a bit more for
convenience — GoVoyagin is a great option.
GoVoyagin
is a website offering a huge variety of travel services, including tickets
to the Ghibli Museum.
The
convenience fee is 5,000 JPY at last check, and tickets must be ordered by the
8th of the month before your
desired visit. Tickets are for a specified date and time slot, as with Lawson
above.
Even
though this method may be more convenient, it’s not guaranteed. A GoVoyagin
representative will be purchasing tickets when they go on sale to the public,
so your request doesn’t automatically guarantee you tickets. You can, however,
request multiple dates and times to increase your chances.
Tickets
purchased through GoVoyagin can be delivered to a Japanese hotel, but not to a
guesthouse, hostel, or private residence. If you won’t be staying at a hotel,
you’ll have to pick up your vouchers from their Shibuya office.
Getting your Ghibli Museum tickets from
JTB
The
Japan Tourism Board (commonly known as JTB) is a huge Japanese travel agency,
with offices throughout the world.
Getting
tickets through JTB can be a great option because they begin offering tickets
earlier than the above methods. You will pay a small convenience fee (and a
delivery fee), but overall it can be a great option.
JTB
offers Ghibli Tickets via its local offices in different countries – for
example, JTB
USA, JTB
Australia, and JTB UK.
Ticket
requests can only be made three months in advance (on the first day of the
month). For example, an entrance date request for May 25th can only be made
from February 1st. As with the other methods, tickets sell out very quickly!
Along
with the ticket-purchase window opening sooner, another benefit of JTB tickets
is that they are not tied to a specific time, so you can enter at any time on
the specified date.
Joining a Tour that includes Tickets to
the Ghibli Museum
In
case you are not able to get tickets via another method, one other option is to
see if you can join a group tour that includes the Ghibli Museum (various
companies, including JTB, offer tours like this).
Most
people seeking tickets fail to consider this option, which may be to your
benefit!
Of
course, these tours can also sell out — and they cost a bit more, since they
include a guide and transport — but it’s worth considering!
Special
Exhibitions
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There is an area for special exhibitions.
These special exhibitions rotate regularly and generally last less than a
year (you can see the current special exhibition on the Studio Ghibli website).
The Ghibli Museum’s special exhibitions are
one of its best features. The exhibitions are typically related to a
different aspect of the studio’s work, a particular film or animation
technique. On occasion, exhibitions will also take a look at non-Ghibli
animation, which in the past has included a focus on Wallace and Gromit and
Pixar.
The most recent exhibition
is entitled "Painting the Colors
of Our Films" started on November 17, 2018.
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In addition to the museum’s exhibitions, there are a number
of extra facilities you should check out during your time there.
The Straw Hat Cafe
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The Straw
Hat Cafe is where visitors can pick up some refreshments whilst at the
museum. Hot and cold drinks, snacks and desserts are all available from the
simple but good quality menu. All ingredients are selected from organic
farms and are always fresh. Be sure to check out the chef’s special pork
cutlet sandwich and strawberry shortcake.
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Tri Hawks
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Tri Hawks, a pun on Mitake
(meaning ‘three hawks’), is the museum’s specially designed reading room.
Find here books for children and adults selected by Hayao Miyazaki himself
and a quiet environment in which to read them.
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Mama Aiuto!
Mama Aituo is the Ghibli Museum’s shop.
Always a big hit with the Ghibli mega-fans, the shop stocks a wide array of
exclusive merchandise including art, DVDs, toys and stationary.
Ghibli
Museum Tickets
Admission
Fees
Over 19 years 1,000 yen
13-18 years 700
yen
7-12 years 400 yen
4-6 years 100
yen
Under 4 years Free
Be
aware, tickets are not available at the museum itself. Tickets must be bought
in advance for a particular day and time slot. It is possible to buy tickets
before your arrival in Japan or indeed when you get here, though keep in mind
that tickets sell out quickly and resale prices can be astronomical.
Visitor
Information
Hours
10:00 – 18:00
Admission
Time Slots
When purchasing your tickets
you will be asked to choose from one of the following time-slots:
10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00
(ensure you arrive in advance of your time slot)
Closed
Every Tuesday (except the
first Tuesday of January) and over the New Year Holiday period (usually Dec
29th to Jan 3rd or 4th ).
Museum hours and event dates
are subject to change, check the museum calendar for updates.
"The creation of a single world comes from a huge number of fragments and chaos"
"The creation of a single world comes from a huge number of fragments and chaos"
-Hayao Miyazaki
