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NEWS
Studio Ghibli theme park moves towards 2022 opening
POSTED 09 Jan 2019 . BY Andy Knaggs
The Studio Ghibli theme park will replicate popular scenes from the studio's animated movies Credit: Studio Ghibli
New details and designs have been revealed about a proposed Studio Ghibli theme park, which was first announced in 2017 and is now set to open in Japan in 2022.

The park will showcase five special zones drawn from the iconic anime movies produced by the studio and its legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki, and will be situated across a 200 hectare site in Nagakute City, Aichi Prefecture, which was previously used for the 2005 World Expo.

This site already features a replica of Mei and Satsuki’s house from the Studio Ghibli film My Neighbor Totoro, and the surrounding land will replicate Totoro’s rural hometown from the film. This zone will be called the “Dondoko Forest Area” at the theme park.

Further zones include the “Youth Hill Area”, featuring a giant steampunk elevator inspired by Howl’s Moving Castle and a full-sized replica of the Chikyuya antique shop from Whisper of the Heart; the “Ghibli Large Warehouse Area”, which will have an exhibition room, video exhibition room, playing areas, shops and cafes; “Mononoke’s Village Area”, which is dedicated to Princess Mononoke, with a rural Japanese landscape where visitors can learn about traditional charcoal grilling; and the “Witches Valley Area”, inspired in look and feel by Kiki’s Delivery Service and Howl’s Moving Castle, and with restaurants and rest areas included.

It is reported that designs and financial details are still being finalised according to the Aichi Prefectural Government, and that construction will begin in 2020 with the first zones ready to open by autumn 2022, and all five zones open in 2023.

A Studio Ghibli museum already exists in Tokyo, housing artwork and merchandise from the animation studio.
Split into five zones, the park is dotted with familiar figures from the iconic movies Credit: Studio Ghibli
The Witches Valley Area is one of the five zones Credit: Studio Ghibli
The park will cover a 200 hectare site in Nagakute City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan Credit: Studio Ghibli
Play areas, shops and cafes will all add to the customer experience Credit: Studio Ghibli
RELATED STORIES
  Studio Ghibli announces plans to open My Neighbour Totoro anime theme park


Studio Ghibli has announced plans for a theme park based on its iconic anime movies, with the attraction to open its doors in 2020 on the site of the 2005 World Expo near Nagoya in Japan.
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NEWS
Studio Ghibli theme park moves towards 2022 opening
POSTED 09 Jan 2019 . BY Andy Knaggs
The Studio Ghibli theme park will replicate popular scenes from the studio's animated movies Credit: Studio Ghibli
New details and designs have been revealed about a proposed Studio Ghibli theme park, which was first announced in 2017 and is now set to open in Japan in 2022.

The park will showcase five special zones drawn from the iconic anime movies produced by the studio and its legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki, and will be situated across a 200 hectare site in Nagakute City, Aichi Prefecture, which was previously used for the 2005 World Expo.

This site already features a replica of Mei and Satsuki’s house from the Studio Ghibli film My Neighbor Totoro, and the surrounding land will replicate Totoro’s rural hometown from the film. This zone will be called the “Dondoko Forest Area” at the theme park.

Further zones include the “Youth Hill Area”, featuring a giant steampunk elevator inspired by Howl’s Moving Castle and a full-sized replica of the Chikyuya antique shop from Whisper of the Heart; the “Ghibli Large Warehouse Area”, which will have an exhibition room, video exhibition room, playing areas, shops and cafes; “Mononoke’s Village Area”, which is dedicated to Princess Mononoke, with a rural Japanese landscape where visitors can learn about traditional charcoal grilling; and the “Witches Valley Area”, inspired in look and feel by Kiki’s Delivery Service and Howl’s Moving Castle, and with restaurants and rest areas included.

It is reported that designs and financial details are still being finalised according to the Aichi Prefectural Government, and that construction will begin in 2020 with the first zones ready to open by autumn 2022, and all five zones open in 2023.

A Studio Ghibli museum already exists in Tokyo, housing artwork and merchandise from the animation studio.
Split into five zones, the park is dotted with familiar figures from the iconic movies Credit: Studio Ghibli
The Witches Valley Area is one of the five zones Credit: Studio Ghibli
The park will cover a 200 hectare site in Nagakute City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan Credit: Studio Ghibli
Play areas, shops and cafes will all add to the customer experience Credit: Studio Ghibli
RELATED STORIES
Studio Ghibli announces plans to open My Neighbour Totoro anime theme park


Studio Ghibli has announced plans for a theme park based on its iconic anime movies, with the attraction to open its doors in 2020 on the site of the 2005 World Expo near Nagoya in Japan.
MORE NEWS
London Museum makes destination dining part of the attraction
London Museum will open four new food and drink destinations when it launches its new home at Smithfield on 28 November, making hospitality a central part of the visitor experience at one of the capital's biggest cultural openings of the year.
OMA completes New Museum transformation with landmark expansion and Oberon restaurant
OMA has completed a major transformation of New York's New Museum, creating a larger cultural campus that combines expanded exhibition spaces with learning, performance, hospitality and public programming.
David Rockwell creates immersive magic destination, The Hand and The Eye
A US$50 million (£44.2 million, €51.2 million) transformation of Chicago's historic McCormick Mansion has created a new destination that combines live magic, immersive theatre, dining and private membership under one roof.
Montana Heritage Center opens with immersive exhibits and US$107 million investment
The Montana Historical Society has officially celebrated the opening of its new Montana Heritage Center, a US$107 million (£79 million, €92 million) destination that combines immersive storytelling with cutting-edge audiovisual technology to bring the sta
Universal launches new theme park model with Kids Resort
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San Antonio Zoo reports $283 million economic impact as expansion plans progress
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COMPANY PROFILES
iPlayCO

iPlayCo was established in 1999. [more...]
QubicaAMF UK

QubicaAMF is the largest and most innovative bowling equipment provider with 600 employees worldwi [more...]
Sally Corporation

Our services include: Dark ride design & build; Redevelopment of existing attractions; High-quality [more...]
TechnoAlpin Indoor

TechnoAlpin is the world leader for snowmaking systems. With the Indoor snow division, TechnoAlpin c [more...]
+ More profiles  
CATALOGUE GALLERY
+ More catalogues  
DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

23-26 Aug 2026

Elevate Spa Riviera Maya Edition

The Riviera Maya Edition Kanai, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
28-29 Sep 2026

Wellness Destination AI Tech Summit – Tourism, Hospitality & Real Estate, 28-29 Sept 2026

Grand Ballroom, METT Singapore, Singapore
+ More diary  
 


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