ghibli museum tour jtb

All admission to the Ghibli Museum is by advance reservation only.

No reservation or ticket purchase can be made at the Museum.

Ages 19 and over

Ages 13 to 18, ages 7 to 12, ages 4 to 6, ages 3 and under, official web ticket store.

Visitors may purchase tickets from overseas through one of the following methods:

(1) Sales Online by LAWSON TICKET

Tickets become available for purchase at 10 a.m. (JST) on the 10th of each month for the subsequent month. For example, tickets for February 1st through February 28th go on sale at 10a.m.(JST) on January 10th. Tickets are valid only for the specified date and time of entry, with no set exit times. Access Lawson Ticket Lawson Ticket（English）

(2) Special Bus Tour by Sunrise Tours JTB

This tour includes multiple destinations, with the Ghibli Museum among them. For more information and booking, visit Sunrise Tours JTB(English)

Museum Calendar

Museum hours, january 2024, february 2024, august 2024, september 2024, october 2024, november 2024, december 2024, january 2025, february 2025.

All admission to the Ghibli Museum, Mitaka is by advance reservation only.

Current Exhibition

"the boy and the heron" special exhibition.

Started on November 18, 2023.

Current Film

Mon mon the water spider.

April 1 - 30, 2024

Boutique Japan

Planning Your Visit to Tokyo’s Ghibli Museum

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 considered “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.

Originally written in 2017, this post was updated on December 22, 2021.

About the Ghibli Museum

The name “Ghibli” is from the Italian word for a hot desert wind, 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.

The Ghibli Museum 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!

Located on the edge of Tokyo’s Inokashira Park (more on how to get to the museum below), the Ghibli Museum is a multi-storied mansion full of twists and turns, tiny doors, winding staircases, and a rooftop garden — recreating the mood of the enchanting Studio Ghibli universe.

Ghibli Museum Exhibits

Photography isn’t allowed inside, which only adds to the excitement and mystery of the place. I won’t spoil it all for you, but there are quite a few things to look forward to.

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. I spent 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.

How to Get Tickets to the Ghibli Museum

Excited to visit? Don’t forget, you’ll need to plan ahead to purchase your tickets, as they sell out in advance!

Getting tickets to the Ghibli Museum is no easy feat. Apart from the fact that tickets sell out ahead of time, the ticket-buying process is also not as simple as most travelers wish it were.

First, of course, you’ll need to decide when you’d like to visit. The official Ghibli Museum website typically lists its opening calendar. Note that there are usually closures around the New Year’s holidays, and irregularly throughout the year for exhibit changes. The museum is also typically closed on Tuesdays, and open from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm on other days.

Ghibli Museum Tickets via JTB

JTB is Japan’s largest travel agency, with offices throughout the world. The Ghibli Museum offers tickets through JTB’s global offices.

JTB offers a limited number of tickets available for purchase approximately 3 months before your desired visit date. The tickets go on sale on the 1st of the month for the entire month 3 months later. So if you’d like to visit anytime in May (whether May 1st or May 31st), tickets would go on sale on February 1st for all of May.

Getting Ghibli Museum Tickets via Lawson Convenience Store

Lawson is one of a handful of ubiquitous conbini (convenience stores) in Japan . If you’re in Japan or have a friend in the country, you can purchase tickets at Lawson in person. For those of you outside of Japan, you can get Ghibli Museum tickets via Lawson’s online ticket platform .

Tickets go on sale at 10:00 am Japan Standard Time on the 10th of each month for the whole following month; in other words, on April 10th at 10:00 am Japan time for the entire month of May.

Ghibli Museum tickets sold via Lawson are for a specific day and time, and sell out very quickly (for example, weekend time slots usually begin selling out within the first few minutes). Also, due to the large number of people trying to purchase online, you may have to be really persistent and patient to get through.

Even though tickets are for specific timed entries (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.

Other Ways to Get Ghibli Museum Tickets

If the idea of hovering over your computer at 10:00 am JST while frantically hitting refresh on your browser sounds less than ideal, keep in mind that there are other ways to get tickets to the Ghibli Museum.

One is to work with a company like ours that specializes in bespoke Japan trips . Any top-quality Japan travel company should be able to make the process seamless for you, from helping you decide when to visit, to handling the legwork of obtaining tickets for you.

Another option is to check major online travel agencies (such as Rakuten ), which often offer Ghibli Museum tickets. They may charge a premium, but it is likely worthwhile for travelers who highly value convenience.

Finally, if you’re desperate to visit but regular tickets are sold out, consider joining a Ghibli Museum Tour. JTB and other large travel agencies occasionally offer group tours that include tickets to the Ghibli Museum. Even if you’re not typically the tour type, this can be a good backup method when all else fails.

How to Get to the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka

Once you have managed to purchase your tickets (congratulations!), getting to the museum is relatively painless. The museum’s address is:

Ghibli Museum 1-1-83 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka-shi, Tokyo-to 181-0013 Google Map

Located on the edge of Tokyo’s Inokashira Park, the museum is equidistant from both Kichijoji Station and Mitaka Station. You can take the JR Chuo Line from the massive Shinjuku Station to either Kichijoji or Mitaka, or take the Keio Inokashira Line from Shibuya to Kichijoji.

If you love to walk, we recommend strolling from Kichijoji Station to the Ghibli Museum. Make sure to leave time before and/or after to explore Kichijoji itself. It’s a fun and energetic neighborhood full of interesting shops and great food and drink. Alternatively, there is a local bus from Mitaka to the Ghibli Museum, which runs roughly every 20 minutes from Mitaka Station’s south exit.

Once you arrive, be prepared to queue before entering. Museum staff will be checking tickets and passports while you wait.

Side Trips to Combine with Your Visit to the Ghibli Museum

Since you’ll be in this part of western Tokyo, you may as well make a day of it! There are plenty of great things to see and do in this part of the city, including:

• A stroll through Inokashira Park and Kichijoji for its great food and unique boutiques
• Nakano’s frenetic energy, and the Nakano Broadway shopping district
• Alternative youth culture in Koenji and Shimokitazawa , two neighborhoods overflowing with record shops, cafes, vintage stores.

Good luck getting tickets, and we hope you enjoy your visit to Tokyo’s Ghibli Museum!

More Great Posts

Japan’s Best Boutique and Luxury Hotels & Ryokans

The best hotels and ryokans in Japan range from charming traditional inns in the countryside, to stylish design hotels and…

Traveler’s Guide to the JR Pass (Is It Worth It?)

The Japan Rail Pass (or JR Pass, for short) can be a good way to get around Japan, but many…

Major Holidays and Peak Travel Seasons in Japan

If you’re considering a trip to Japan during one of the country’s peak travel seasons, be aware that things can…

Plan Your Japan Trip

Learn more and contact us to discuss your unique trip.

Get Started

• The Process
• Testimonials

How to Score Yourself Ghibli Museum Tickets Before It's Too Late Here are the 4 best ways

December 20, 2016 • words written by Carla Sinclair • Art by Aya Francisco

The Ghibli Museum is probably at the top of every anime fan's list of places to visit in Tokyo. In fact, it's spectacular enough for anyone to enjoy, even if you've never seen Spirited Away , My Neighbor Totoro , Castle in the Sky , or any other Studio Ghibli film.

Conjured up by director Hayao Miyazaki himself, the museum's cartoonish architecture, colorful organic shapes, spiral staircases, and ginormous sculpted characters can take your breath away. Walking around the Ghibli Museum is like moving through a dream.

The museum, located in Mitaka, Tokyo, is also highly engaging – for adults as well as children. Some of the museum's highlights include:

• Fascinating demonstrations on how animation works
• A theater that shows Studio Ghibli short films that you can't see anywhere else
• A huge Totoro Cat Bus that you can climb aboard
• A children's play area
• The whimsical Straw Hat Cafe that offers super cute food (yes, food can be cute!)
• An awesome (if not too crowded) gift shop full of Ghibli goods you won't find elsewhere

The Ghibli Museum is now at the top of your must-visit list, but it's not a done deal. Deciding you want to go is easy, but getting your hands on a ticket is the hard part. You can't just walk up to the museum, buy a ticket, and saunter in. In fact, come to the museum without a ticket and you'll be turned away – you need to purchase it in advance.

4 Ways to Buy Ghibli Tickets

The four best ways to get a Ghibli ticket are:

• Lawson's Loppi Machines (purchase in Japan)
• Lawson online
• Japan Travel Bureau (JTB)
• Booking a tour

These aren't the only ways to get your hands on a ticket, but trying another way can be iffy. For instance, some people have luck getting their hotel concierge to buy Ghibli tickets, but that could mean waiting until the last minute, which is not a good idea. Other people who have friends living in Mitaka can sometimes procure a special "neighborhood ticket," and if that's you, go ahead and ask your friend.

But for the rest of us, there are tried and true methods. As long as you plan ahead, they're your best bets for getting into the magical doors of the Ghibli Museum.

1. Lawson's Loppi Machines (Purchase in Japan)

If you're going to be in Japan for over a month, the easiest and cheapest way to get a Ghibli ticket is to buy it at a Loppi ロッピー （ ） (short for Lawson online shopping) ticket machine, found at any Lawson convenience store. With 11,384 Lawson stores spread across all 47 prefectures of Japan , you shouldn't have a problem finding one.

If buying through Loppi, make sure to plan your purchase ahead of time. Tickets for Ghibli go on sale at 10:00 a.m. on the 10th of the month before your actual visit. So if you are planning to visit the museum in February, tickets would become available January 10th. This doesn't mean you have to buy them right on the 10th, but the longer you wait, the higher chance you have of the date and time you want selling out.

In peak seasons, it's especially important to buy a ticket as soon as possible, but during off-season months, it's common to find tickets on Loppi even a week or less in advance, and sometimes right on the same day, especially during the week. Tofugu editor Michael Richey just traveled to Japan, and he had a friend in Tokyo buy his Ghibli ticket via Loppi a month before he got there – if you know anyone already in Japan, maybe they can get you a ticket ahead of time too.

Ticket Prices

Tickets are least expensive when buying through Loppi :

• ¥1000 for adults
• ¥700 for teens ages 13-18
• ¥400 for kids ages 7-12
• ¥100 for children ages 4-6
• FREE for anyone under four years old

How to Use Loppi

Once you're at Lawson, look for the shiny red machine near the cashier. The screen can look intimidating with its many buttons almost all in Japanese. But don't worry, you can do it!

Tap the "Information" button at the top of the screen.

Tap the second button at the top of the screen that says "English."

Now you'll see some English, but there is still a lot of Japanese mixed in, which can make this part confusing. But have no fear. We've found two sites that will help: Ghibli and Mihoshappylife . Click on one (or both) of these for a step-by-step guide to get you through the rest.

And perhaps even more helpful, here's a YouTube video by two travel bloggers who do a pretty good job showing us how to use the machine . They speak Italian but kindly add English subtitles.

Once you've ordered your ticket(s), the machine will spit out a receipt. Take this receipt to the cashier, sign it, and pay. The cashier will hand you a voucher, which you will later exchange at the Ghibli Museum for a real live ticket.

Other Tips About Using Loppi

You will need to know the "L-code" for the month you want to visit, and this is simple: January is 30001, February is 30002, March is 30003, etc. December would be 30012. When it comes to entering the month, just figure out your code and hit the button that corresponds.

There are no refunds, so make sure to choose the exact date and time you want. If it's sold out they will let you know and you can choose again. If you accidentally hit the wrong date and time and finish the transaction, sorry Charlie. They will not refund or exchange a ticket once you've purchased it.

Once you get your receipt, you have only 30 minutes to give it to the cashier, so no leisurely shopping for Pocky before heading to the register.

2. Lawson Website (Purchase Online)

If you don't have the luxury of kicking around Japan for a month or more (in order to purchase tickets on Loppi way in advance), a safer bet is to order your tickets ahead of time online. One place to do this is through Lawson .

The great advantage to ordering through Lawson is that they don't charge extra fees: you get the same base price that Loppi offers (see above).

The other great advantage is that you can print out your ticket at home, so there are no shipping fees (like there are with JTB travel agency, below).

Just like ordering through the Loppi machine, tickets become available on the 10th of the month before the month you want to visit. When I checked mid-morning on Dec 10th, all of December and most of January was already sold out.

The moral of the story is to check Lawson online early in the morning, right on the 10th! These tickets sell out fast.

3. JTB Corp Travel Agency (Purchase Online)

If Lawson online is sold out, you can try JTB Corporation, Japan's largest travel agency. Unfortunately, tickets are almost double the price at JTB, since they add tax and handling fees (then even more for shipping fees if you don't have a JTB office in your city). Here's a list of JTB offices in the US .

Make sure to order online as soon as you can. Unlike Loppi, which sells tickets approximately 4-7 weeks in advance, JTB makes tickets available on the 1st of every month, four months in advance. And don't take that as a pass to ponder the dates. As soon as the 4-month window of ticket availability opens up, jump online and grab your tickets! Fast! As I look on JTB for Ghibli availability on December 1, I see NOTHING available for all of December, Only ONE day available in January (the 29th), and half of February is available. March is wide open. So plan ahead and buy four months in advance if possible.

JTB's Fine Print

• JTB sells to non-residents of Japan only.
• You can only purchase a maximum of six tickets at a time.
• You must buy your tickets at least 10 days before your departure date so they can ship you the "tickets."
• You won't really be getting "tickets" – JTB sends you vouchers that you exchange for tickets once you get to Ghibli.
• Make sure to bring your original vouchers – not copies – Ghibli only takes the real deal.
• JTB does not offer refunds or exchanges.

4. Booking a Tour (Purchase Online)

This is the way I got into the Ghibli Museum, but I suggest this as a last resort, mainly because it's expensive and it's not really a "tour." You do take a tour bus (as well as a train) to get there, and you get interesting Ghibli trivia from the guide while traveling on said transportation. But once you get in the door of the museum, you're on your own, Bub. This is fine by me, but I'm not sure why it's called a tour.

The advantages of booking a Ghibli "tour" are:

• From the center of Tokyo it could take over an hour of navigating train stations and bus stops to get to the museum, so traveling with a guide makes getting there easy and stress free.
• You'll get all kinds of fun facts about Studio Ghibli and the museum on your way there.
• Most importantly, it's an alternative way to secure Ghibli tickets before you get to Japan.

The company I booked with was Viator . The tickets were SIX times the amount a ticket through Loppi or Lawson would be! But all the other methods were sold out for the week I was going to be in Japan, and Viator had an open date, so I cracked open the piggy bank and went for it. At least the tour guide was really friendly and informative, and getting there was a breeze. Since I couldn't find another way to get a ticket, I was happy I booked the tour, er, found a way to get into the Ghibli Museum doors.

Note: Booking through Viator may be a request for tickets if they're available, and not necessarily a purchasing of tickets. One reader told us they booked through Viator, only to be told the tickets could not be secured. So keep in mind, your experience may vary.

Ghibli Hours and More Quirky Rules

Don't let the dreamlike magic of the Ghibli Museum fool you: this place runs a tight ship (but you've probably already noticed that, with the no-refunds and 30-minutes-to-get-from Loppi-machine-to-the-Lawson-cashier type of rules mentioned above). So here are a few other things to keep in mind for smooth sailing.

Hours of operation: 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.

Days open: Every day except Tuesdays. Oh, except January 3 and March 21 – for some reason these two Tuesdays are open in 2017. Ghibli Museum also closes for a week at the end of the year and for the New Year holiday, from December 27-January 2.

Get there on time! You have half an hour from your entrance time to get your feet in the door. Otherwise, start all over and buy another ticket.

Times you may enter the museum: When ordering a ticket, you have a choice of only four times to enter the museum: 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., and 4:00 p.m. Once you're there, you can stay as long as you like.

Getting there from Tokyo: As I mentioned above, getting to Mitaka from the center of Tokyo can take a while. From Tokyo Station, the train lines become local and hit every stop, and once you finally get to Mitaka Station, you have to buy a special bus ticket from a machine at the bus stop to get on a Ghibli bus that takes you to the museum. So make sure to give yourself at least 1.5 hours to get there, just to be safe.

Punctuality: Get there on time! You have half an hour from your entrance time to get your feet in the door. Otherwise, start all over and buy another ticket.

What to Bring (Things You Better Not Forget!)

• Your passport! You won't get in without it.
• Your voucher (or printout with barcode if you're ordering from Lawson online) – in other words, your tickets!
• Some hidden food, if you can. The Straw Hat cafe is adorable and yummy, but there could be a wait of 1-2 hours, and there is nowhere else to eat inside the museum. Just don't tell them we told you to bring food if you get caught.

Is it worth it? Yes!

I know, I know. Getting into the Ghibli Museum isn't easy. From grabbing an available date to following all the rigid rules to navigating your way to MItaka, it's a miracle anyone gets inside the museum. But once there, you're whisked into pure enchantment, an alternate universe, and all the hassles of getting there are instantly forgotten. Seriously, it's totally worth the trouble. So go get those dang tickets, and be quick about it!

Ghibli Museum and Bus Tour - Excursion in Japan - Japanspecialist

Ghibli museum and bus tour.

Ghibli Museum Tour

Step into the magical world of Studio Ghibli.

Suggested itinerary.

The tour meets at JTB Sunrise Tours Sales Office on the 3rd Floor of Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo's Main Tower in Shinjuku. Please arrive 10 minutes before the starting time with your voucher. You will then transfer to your bus.

Lunch at Hotel Gajoen Tokyo (60 minutes)

Welcome to the Hotel Gajoen Tokyo, a Ghibli icon. The beautiful hotel lobby inspired Miyazaki’s film "Spirited Away". Take a picture of the famous red entrance before enjoying a buffet lunch. After lunch, you'll move to the next destination.

Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum (60 minutes)

Start your afternoon with the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum; an outdoor museum dedicated to historic structures with the major cultural significance representative of the Edo and Showa periods. 

The museum is essentially a small village where you can walk and see old teahouses, onsen, and the private residential homes of Japanese legends. Here you'll feel the atmosphere of Ghibli movies as Miyazaki and his colleagues are said to have taken inspiration here.

Ghibli Museum (150 minutes)

Continue the visit with the visit of the famous Ghibli Museum, where you can witness a huge selection of exhibits, including insights into how the animations are made and witness an exclusive short animated Ghibli original feature that can only be seen at the museum. Here you will have two and a half hours to explore at your own pace. Don't forget to go on the rooftop to see the robot from the movie "Laputa: Castle in the Sky."

The tour ends at the arrival at Shinjuku Station where you will be dropped off by bus.

What is included

• English Speaking guide
• Transportation
• Entrance fee

What is not included

• Pick-up and drop-off service

Incorporate this excursion into a tailor-made itinerary

We believe that every trip to Japan should be unique and full of memories that last a lifetime. With our Online Consultancy Service, our experts are will create a custom itinerary incorporating not only this excursion, but all the others you wish to experience during your time in Japan.

The price of this service starts at EUR 50,- and is fully reimbursable if you book your tour with us.

What is covered during the consultation?

Experience Japan your way with our experts

We are part of JTB, the largest travel company in Japan and one of the biggest in the world, with over 100 years of experience. We are passionate about this wonderful country, having spent decades designing adventurous itineraries for our clients.

Your tailor-made holiday in four simple steps

You may also be interested in....

Discover Arashiyama's culinary specialties and scenic wonders.

Cruise along the Aqua Liner, explore the iconic Osaka Castle and embrace the vibrant spirit of this dynamic city.

Discover Kanazawa´s most beautiful spots like the Kenrokuen garden, the Samurai District and Higashi Chaya-gai.

Our Services

News Release

1/26/2024   jtb set to sponsor mlb's world tour, offer exclusive hospitality packages for seoul series, 4/28/2023   useful information for traveling to japan, japan tours.

Popular Destinations

Travel Services

Travel News Letter

Jtb usa official sns.

Search the website

Search our website for some key-words or phrases.

{{sectionConfig.secondary_remarks}}

• {{m.title}}

Sydney & Melbourne counter service is currently closed. Please email us your enquiry instead!

{{sectionConfig.labels.more_shops}}

• {{subM.title}}

Home » Tickets » Ghibli Museum Ticket

GHIBLI MUSEUM ENTRANCE TICKET

Ghibli museum temporarily closed, mitaka, tokyo.

Visit Hayao Miyazaki’s Animation World – Ghibli Museum is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Japan. It’s also one of the most difficult to obtain tickets! JTB is the only company in Australia that’s authorised to sell tickets to the Ghibli Museum. A must-see for anyone who is a fan of Japanese animation, cinema history and Japanese culture.

Next Sale Date:

• Ticket requests can only be made three months in advance! The Ghibli museum only release a certain amount of tickets (if any) to JTB Australia each month in which we have no control over the allocated amount provided by the Museum. Thank you for your understanding. 
• July 2020 entry tickets will be available for request from this page : Date T.B.A.    09:30 of 14 April 2020 (Tuesday)   . Please note that the number of tickets released from the Ghibli Museum to JTB is not known and therefore we cannot guarantee you securing a ticket at that time. The request you make online will be strictly on a request bases only.  Purchase can not be made over the phone.
• The ticket is valid for entry at any time  between 10:00 ~ 17:30   on the nominated date.
• Please note that re-entry after leaving the museum is not permitted

Current Ticket Availability: (as of 20 Mar 20)

Closed dates:.

• The Museum is closed every Tuesday, except on these Tuesdays:  2020: 11 February, 05 May, 22 September, 03 November
• Tickets for 01 and 04 October 2020 are only available to residents of Mitaka city and other neighboring cities.
• The Museum is also closed at Year-end and for New Year’s Holidays and periodic maintenance: Periodic Maintenance 1:  19 May 2020 through 29 May 2020 Periodic Maintenance 2: 09 November 2020 through 20 November 2020 Year-end and New Year Holidays: 28 December 2020 through 02 January 2021
• Schedule is subject to change without notice

Ticket Conditions:

• Names as per passports must be entered when the ticket request is made. 
• Only 1 booking request can be made per party. Multiple requests will result in being charged for each request.  
• Tickets are strictly non changeable & non refundable.
• Name changes are not allowed once the request has been made. 
• JTB takes no responsibility for lost or stolen tickets. 
• The Ghibli ticket is a physical ticket that is stamped by JTB and entry is only accepted with the original ticket. The Ghibli Museum will not accept a copy of the ticket or mobile devise proof.
• You must show your passport with your ticket when you enter the museum.
• The ticket is valid for entry at any time between 10:00 ~ 17:30 on the nominated date. Please note that re-entry after leaving the museum is not permitted
• Japanese passport holders are not eligible to purchase these tickets –  the exception is if you are a Japanese national with Australian permanent residency (You must show both passport and permanent residency visa at the gate – a soft copy will not be accepted) If you are a dual citizen, you can present your Australian passport at the time of museum entry. 
• Price includes JTB handling fee
• Ghibli Museum tickets purchased over the counter in our office will also include a $10 office-processing fee

How To Request Online:

• Ticket requests can only be made three months in advance (on the first day of the month). For example an entrance date request for the 25th May can be made from the 01st February.
• Nominate the date you wish to enter the museum. When you request your ticket online, it’s on request base only. You will receive an order summary by email. Your credit card details will be taken as a pre-authorisation only. You will be contacted by a JTB staff member by email or phone within 1-2 business days of ordering online. Only then if your ticket is confirmed will your card by charged. 
• If confirmed, a physical ticket needs to be delivered to your residential street address before you depart Australia.
• Please make sure you enter your full name as per passport. 

Museum Opening Hours & Location:

• 10:00am-18:00pm (Tickets allow entry to the museum at any time on the confirmed date)
• Straw Hat Cafe opens from 11:00-19:00, however customers are not permitted to enter after 18:00
• Address: 1-1-83 Simorenjaku, Mitaka-shi, Tokyo, Japan
• To Mitaka station, take the JR Chuo train line, approximately 20 minutes from Shinjuku station. From Mitaka South Exit, approximately 15 minutes walk along the Tamagawa Josui ‘Waterworks’ to the museum. A community bus is also in operation from Mitaka Station to the Museum. Bus charge will apply.  

If you are a Travel Agent: 

• Please email agent enquiries to  [email protected]
• Brochure Request
• Travel Agents

Stay in Touch!

Subscribe to our mailing list to receive exclusive offers.

• Articles   >

The Moscow Metro Museum of Art: 10 Must-See Stations

There are few times one can claim having been on the subway all afternoon and loving it, but the Moscow Metro provides just that opportunity.  While many cities boast famous public transport systems—New York’s subway, London’s underground, San Salvador’s chicken buses—few warrant hours of exploration.  Moscow is different: Take one ride on the Metro, and you’ll find out that this network of railways can be so much more than point A to B drudgery.

The Metro began operating in 1935 with just thirteen stations, covering less than seven miles, but it has since grown into the world’s third busiest transit system ( Tokyo is first ), spanning about 200 miles and offering over 180 stops along the way.  The construction of the Metro began under Joseph Stalin’s command, and being one of the USSR’s most ambitious building projects, the iron-fisted leader instructed designers to create a place full of svet (radiance) and svetloe budushchee (a radiant future), a palace for the people and a tribute to the Mother nation.

Consequently, the Metro is among the most memorable attractions in Moscow.  The stations provide a unique collection of public art, comparable to anything the city’s galleries have to offer and providing a sense of the Soviet era, which is absent from the State National History Museum.  Even better, touring the Metro delivers palpable, experiential moments, which many of us don’t get standing in front of painting or a case of coins.

Though tours are available , discovering the Moscow Metro on your own provides a much more comprehensive, truer experience, something much less sterile than following a guide.  What better place is there to see the “real” Moscow than on mass transit: A few hours will expose you to characters and caricatures you’ll be hard-pressed to find dining near the Bolshoi Theater.  You become part of the attraction, hear it in the screech of the train, feel it as hurried commuters brush by: The Metro sucks you beneath the city and churns you into the mix.

With the recommendations of our born-and-bred Muscovite students, my wife Emma and I have just taken a self-guided tour of what some locals consider the top ten stations of the Moscow Metro. What most satisfied me about our Metro tour was the sense of adventure .  I loved following our route on the maps of the wagon walls as we circled the city, plotting out the course to the subsequent stops; having the weird sensation of being underground for nearly four hours; and discovering the next cavern of treasures, playing Indiana Jones for the afternoon, piecing together fragments of Russia’s mysterious history.  It’s the ultimate interactive museum.

Top Ten Stations (In order of appearance)

Kievskaya station.

Kievskaya Station went public in March of 1937, the rails between it and Park Kultury Station being the first to cross the Moscow River.  Kievskaya is full of mosaics depicting aristocratic scenes of Russian life, with great cameo appearances by Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin.  Each work has a Cyrillic title/explanation etched in the marble beneath it; however, if your Russian is rusty, you can just appreciate seeing familiar revolutionary dates like 1905 ( the Russian Revolution ) and 1917 ( the October Revolution ).

Mayakovskaya Station

Mayakovskaya Station ranks in my top three most notable Metro stations. Mayakovskaya just feels right, done Art Deco but no sense of gaudiness or pretention.  The arches are adorned with rounded chrome piping and create feeling of being in a jukebox, but the roof’s expansive mosaics of the sky are the real showstopper.  Subjects cleverly range from looking up at a high jumper, workers atop a building, spires of Orthodox cathedrals, to nimble aircraft humming by, a fleet of prop planes spelling out CCCP in the bluest of skies.

Novoslobodskaya Station

Novoslobodskaya is the Metro’s unique stained glass station.  Each column has its own distinctive panels of colorful glass, most of them with a floral theme, some of them capturing the odd sailor, musician, artist, gardener, or stenographer in action.  The glass is framed in Art Deco metalwork, and there is the lovely aspect of discovering panels in the less frequented haunches of the hall (on the trackside, between the incoming staircases).  Novosblod is, I’ve been told, the favorite amongst out-of-town visitors.

Komsomolskaya Station

Komsomolskaya Station is one of palatial grandeur.  It seems both magnificent and obligatory, like the presidential palace of a colonial city.  The yellow ceiling has leafy, white concrete garland and a series of golden military mosaics accenting the tile mosaics of glorified Russian life.  Switching lines here, the hallway has an Alice-in-Wonderland feel, impossibly long with decorative tile walls, culminating in a very old station left in a remarkable state of disrepair, offering a really tangible glimpse behind the palace walls.

Dostoevskaya Station

Dostoevskaya is a tribute to the late, great hero of Russian literature .  The station at first glance seems bare and unimpressive, a stark marble platform without a whiff of reassembled chips of tile.  However, two columns have eerie stone inlay collages of scenes from Dostoevsky’s work, including The Idiot , The Brothers Karamazov , and Crime and Punishment.   Then, standing at the center of the platform, the marble creates a kaleidoscope of reflections.  At the entrance, there is a large, inlay portrait of the author.

Chkalovskaya Station

Chkalovskaya does space Art Deco style (yet again).  Chrome borders all.  Passageways with curvy overhangs create the illusion of walking through the belly of a chic, new-age spacecraft.  There are two (kos)mosaics, one at each end, with planetary subjects.  Transferring here brings you above ground, where some rather elaborate metalwork is on display.  By name similarity only, I’d expected Komsolskaya Station to deliver some kosmonaut décor; instead, it was Chkalovskaya that took us up to the space station.

Elektrozavodskaya Station

Elektrozavodskaya is full of marble reliefs of workers, men and women, laboring through the different stages of industry.  The superhuman figures are round with muscles, Hollywood fit, and seemingly undeterred by each Herculean task they respectively perform.  The station is chocked with brass, from hammer and sickle light fixtures to beautiful, angular framework up the innards of the columns.  The station’s art pieces are less clever or extravagant than others, but identifying the different stages of industry is entertaining.

Baumanskaya Statio

Baumanskaya Station is the only stop that wasn’t suggested by the students.  Pulling in, the network of statues was just too enticing: Out of half-circle depressions in the platform’s columns, the USSR’s proud and powerful labor force again flaunts its success.  Pilots, blacksmiths, politicians, and artists have all congregated, posing amongst more Art Deco framing.  At the far end, a massive Soviet flag dons the face of Lenin and banners for ’05, ’17, and ‘45.  Standing in front of the flag, you can play with the echoing roof.

Ploshchad Revolutsii Station

Novokuznetskaya Station

Novokuznetskaya Station finishes off this tour, more or less, where it started: beautiful mosaics.  This station recalls the skyward-facing pieces from Mayakovskaya (Station #2), only with a little larger pictures in a more cramped, very trafficked area.  Due to a line of street lamps in the center of the platform, it has the atmosphere of a bustling market.  The more inventive sky scenes include a man on a ladder, women picking fruit, and a tank-dozer being craned in.  The station’s also has a handsome black-and-white stone mural.

Here is a map and a brief description of our route:

Start at (1)Kievskaya on the “ring line” (look for the squares at the bottom of the platform signs to help you navigate—the ring line is #5, brown line) and go north to Belorusskaya, make a quick switch to the Dark Green/#2 line, and go south one stop to (2)Mayakovskaya.  Backtrack to the ring line—Brown/#5—and continue north, getting off at (3)Novosblodskaya and (4)Komsolskaya.  At Komsolskaya Station, transfer to the Red/#1 line, go south for two stops to Chistye Prudy, and get on the Light Green/#10 line going north.  Take a look at (5)Dostoevskaya Station on the northern segment of Light Green/#10 line then change directions and head south to (6)Chkalovskaya, which offers a transfer to the Dark Blue/#3 line, going west, away from the city center.  Have a look (7)Elektroskaya Station before backtracking into the center of Moscow, stopping off at (8)Baumskaya, getting off the Dark Blue/#3 line at (9)Ploschad Revolyutsii.  Change to the Dark Green/#2 line and go south one stop to see (10)Novokuznetskaya Station.

Check out our new Moscow Indie Travel Guide , book a flight to Moscow and read 10 Bars with Views Worth Blowing the Budget For

Jonathon Engels, formerly a patron saint of misadventure, has been stumbling his way across cultural borders since 2005 and is currently volunteering in the mountains outside of Antigua, Guatemala.  For more of his work, visit his website and blog .

Photo credits:   SergeyRod , all others courtesy of the author and may not be used without permission

Moscow Metro Tour

• Page active

Description

Moscow metro private tours.

• 2-hour tour $87:  10 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with hotel pick-up and drop-off
• 3-hour tour $137:  20 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with Russian lunch in beautifully-decorated Metro Diner + hotel pick-up and drop off. 
• Metro pass is included in the price of both tours.

Highlight of Metro Tour

• Visit 10 must-see stations of Moscow metro on 2-hr tour and 20 Metro stations on 3-hr tour, including grand Komsomolskaya station with its distinctive Baroque décor, aristocratic Mayakovskaya station with Soviet mosaics, legendary Revolution Square station with 72 bronze sculptures and more!
• Explore Museum of Moscow Metro and learn a ton of technical and historical facts;
• Listen to the secrets about the Metro-2, a secret line supposedly used by the government and KGB;
• Experience a selection of most striking features of Moscow Metro hidden from most tourists and even locals;
• Discover the underground treasure of Russian Soviet past – from mosaics to bronzes, paintings, marble arches, stained glass and even paleontological elements;
• Learn fun stories and myths about Coffee Ring, Zodiac signs of Moscow Metro and more;
• Admire Soviet-era architecture of pre- and post- World War II perious;
• Enjoy panoramic views of Sparrow Hills from Luzhniki Metro Bridge – MetroMost, the only station of Moscow Metro located over water and the highest station above ground level;
• If lucky, catch a unique «Aquarelle Train» – a wheeled picture gallery, brightly painted with images of peony, chrysanthemums, daisies, sunflowers and each car unit is unique;
• Become an expert at navigating the legendary Moscow Metro system;
• Have fun time with a very friendly local;
• + Atmospheric Metro lunch in Moscow’s the only Metro Diner (included in a 3-hr tour)

Hotel Pick-up

Metro stations:.

Komsomolskaya

Novoslobodskaya

Prospekt Mira

Belorusskaya

Mayakovskaya

Novokuznetskaya

Revolution Square

Sparrow Hills

+ for 3-hour tour

Victory Park

Slavic Boulevard

Vystavochnaya

Dostoevskaya

Elektrozavodskaya

Partizanskaya

Museum of Moscow Metro

• Drop-off  at your hotel, Novodevichy Convent, Sparrow Hills or any place you wish
• + Russian lunch  in Metro Diner with artistic metro-style interior for 3-hour tour

Fun facts from our Moscow Metro Tours:

From the very first days of its existence, the Moscow Metro was the object of civil defense, used as a bomb shelter, and designed as a defense for a possible attack on the Soviet Union.

At a depth of 50 to 120 meters lies the second, the coded system of Metro-2 of Moscow subway, which is equipped with everything you need, from food storage to the nuclear button.

According to some sources, the total length of Metro-2 reaches over 150 kilometers.

The Museum was opened on Sportivnaya metro station on November 6, 1967. It features the most interesting models of trains and stations.

Coffee Ring

The first scheme of Moscow Metro looked like a bunch of separate lines. Listen to a myth about Joseph Stalin and the main brown line of Moscow Metro.

Zodiac Metro

According to some astrologers, each of the 12 stops of the Moscow Ring Line corresponds to a particular sign of the zodiac and divides the city into astrological sector.

Astrologers believe that being in a particular zadiac sector of Moscow for a long time, you attract certain energy and events into your life.

Paleontological finds 

Red marble walls of some of the Metro stations hide in themselves petrified inhabitants of ancient seas. Try and find some!

• Every day each car in  Moscow metro passes  more than 600 km, which is the distance from Moscow to St. Petersburg.
• Moscow subway system is the  5th in the intensity  of use (after the subways of Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul and Shanghai).
• The interval in the movement of trains in rush hour is  90 seconds .

What you get:

• + A friend in Moscow.
• + Private & customized Moscow tour.
• + An exciting pastime, not just boring history lessons.
• + An authentic experience of local life.
• + Flexibility during the walking tour: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences.
• + Amazing deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the very best cafes & restaurants. Discounts on weekdays (Mon-Fri).
• + A photo session amongst spectacular Moscow scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime.
• + Good value for souvenirs, taxis, and hotels.
• + Expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time in Moscow.

Write your review

• Japan & Asia Tours

Tour is no avaialbe

We are sorry, your selected tour or activity is currently no available.

If you need futher assistance, please visit nearest JTBUSA branch office or call: 1(800) 223-6104.

JTBUSA Inc. JTB Reservation Center

• Airport Security Information
• Our Holiday Hours
• Branch Special List
• JTB Reservation Center
• Los Angeles
• San Francisco
• Washington D. C.
• Look American Tours
• JR Pass (Whole Country)
• JR East Pass
• JR West Pass
• JR Kyushu Pass
• JR Hokkaido Pass
• Service Info
• Travel Insurance
• Ghibli Museum
• Travel Newsletter
• Branch Info
• Job Opportunities
• JTB Group Info
• Holiday Office Hours
• For Travelers
• For Travel Managers
• For Executives

• Preplanned tours
• Daytrips out of Moscow
• Themed tours
• Customized tours
• St. Petersburg

Moscow Metro

The Moscow Metro Tour is included in most guided tours’ itineraries. Opened in 1935, under Stalin’s regime, the metro was not only meant to solve transport problems, but also was hailed as “a people’s palace”. Every station you will see during your Moscow metro tour looks like a palace room. There are bright paintings, mosaics, stained glass, bronze statues… Our Moscow metro tour includes the most impressive stations best architects and designers worked at - Ploshchad Revolutsii, Mayakovskaya, Komsomolskaya, Kievskaya, Novoslobodskaya and some others.

What is the kremlin in russia?

The guide will not only help you navigate the metro, but will also provide you with fascinating background tales for the images you see and a history of each station.

And there some stories to be told during the Moscow metro tour! The deepest station - Park Pobedy - is 84 metres under the ground with the world longest escalator of 140 meters. Parts of the so-called Metro-2, a secret strategic system of underground tunnels, was used for its construction.

During the Second World War the metro itself became a strategic asset: it was turned into the city's biggest bomb-shelter and one of the stations even became a library. 217 children were born here in 1941-1942! The metro is the most effective means of transport in the capital.

There are almost 200 stations 196 at the moment and trains run every 90 seconds! The guide of your Moscow metro tour can explain to you how to buy tickets and find your way if you plan to get around by yourself.