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Studio Ghibli

Studio Ghibli is not your typical Tokyo museum.

You only have to see it from the outside to realize that there's something pretty special going on here.

If you're a fan of Hayao Miyazaka and his animation works such as Laputa, Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, and Totoro, the Ghibli museum is a must.

Actually I would say to anyone, if you have the opportunity to visit this museum, go. It's something else.

Booking Is Only In Advance

The most important thing to know about Studio Ghibli is that tickets must be purchased well in advance of your intended visit.

Usually you need to allow at least a month between your time of booking and the date you want to visit. During peak times of year such as school holidays we would advise a couple of months if you can.

Go straight to our Studio Ghibli tour booking page to check costs and, if you want to, reserve your place now.

If you're in Japan and are able to book tickets in advance in person, the place to do this is a Lawson convenience store.

Instructions are given on this page provided by Lawson about how to do this. They have not updated their English translation so it talks about 2007. Don't worry, these are still the up to date instructions on how to use the ticketing machine as of January 2009.

Vital Statistics - Ghibli Museum

Opening hours are from 10:00 - 18:00.
Entry times are indicated on your ticket and you must select when you purchase your preferred entry time. You can choose from 10:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 16:00. Be aware that the deadline to enter using your ticket is within 30 minutes of the time indicated on your ticket.
Studio Ghibli is closed on Tuesdays and also over the New Year period, usually from around December 28 - January 3. For exact dates closed each year please check with your agency or check the menu on the ticket machine in Lawsons convenience store.
The admission fees are: Adults ¥1,000; 13 - 18 year olds ¥700; 7 - 12 year olds ¥400; 4 - 6 year olds ¥100; under 4 years old is free.
Access is via the Chuo line from Shinjuku or Tokyo station on the Yamanote Line. Get off at Mitaka station and then either take the museum bus from directly outside the station for ¥200, or walk along the river - it is signposted - for around 20 minutes. You can also get here on the Inokashira line from Shibuya. You need to get off at the last station on the line Kichijoji. The Ghibli museum is in the West Garden of Inokashira Park.

Ghibli Museum Mission

A sense of what's to come at Studio Ghibli can be captured by reading the mission statement of one of the founders of the museum, Hayao Miyazaka.

I love the sentiments expressed here and they truly do represent the spirit of the Ghibli Museum. This is definitely a place where where fantasy and escapism have been caught for everyone to share.

Here are the last four lines of the mission statement to give you a taster of the mind behind the place. It's definitely worth reading the whole thing when you get there!

This is the kind of museum I don't want to make!
A pretentious museum
An arrogant museum
A museum that treats its contents as if they were more important than people
A museum that displays uninteresting works as if they were significant

What's Inside Studio Ghibli?

I don't want to give the game away too much with this one, and it's worth noting straight away that photos are not allowed in the Ghibli museum.

I think the names of some of the areas will conjure up some accurate impressions of what you might find. Enter through the "Totoro Entrance", have a cup of tea or coffee in the "Straw Hat Cafe", buy your souvenirs in the "Mamma Aiuto", and explore the "Saturn Theater".

If you have children with you, the Cat Bus is a must visit and there is a very funky animation studio replica on the first floor which takes you through the whole process of making an animated film from beginning to end. If you or your little ones are a fan of animation, this is a must on your list of things to in Tokyo.

For more information about what's on and what you can see, visit the official Ghibli Museum website. Curious about the Cat Bus? You'll find it on the first page ; )