The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness

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

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.

 

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

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.

Museum Facilities

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

           

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.

Tri Hawks

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.

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"

-Hayao Miyazaki