ghibli museum walking tour

Truly Tokyo

A Tokyo Travel Guide

Inokashira-koen Park and Ghibli Museum

A short trip west of Shinjuku , Inokashira-koen Park is popular with locals and travelers alike, especially those with children. In addition to the standard park fare, there is also a zoo, a museum, a shrine, and several food shacks to power you through the day, as Mario Leto explains in this family-friendly adventure.

The park covers approximately 385,000 square meters—the equivalent of almost 54 football pitches—and was first opened on May 1, 1917 as a gift from the emperor to the people of Tokyo, a first of its kind. This fact is reflected in the park’s official name: Inokashira Onshi Koen (井の頭恩賜公園), which translates to Inokashira Imperial Grant Park.

Obviously, nobody can be bothered by that lengthy title and so the “Imperial Grant” portion is routinely omitted. Two more historical boasts include 1) Inokashira Pond, the centerpiece of the park, was the original water source for the city of Edo—the former name of Tokyo—and 2) the accompanying underground spring—ocha-no-mizu—supplied water for the tea ceremonies of Tokugawa Ieyasu and his shogun entourage.

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As with many Tokyo attractions, there is more than one point of access. If you’re coming from southern metropolitan Tokyo, take the Inokashira train line from Shibuya to the final station, Inokashira-koen Station (29 minutes, Y200 from Shibuya Station). If you’re traveling from northern or central Tokyo, take the Chuo train line to Kichijoji Station (26 minutes, Y390 from Tokyo Station). In my case, I started from Kichijoji Station . I exited the station via the conveniently named Park Exit.

The city of Kichijoji itself is worth a visit with its youthful, vibrant atmosphere and labyrinth of local shops, cafes, and drinking establishments. Even if you don’t spend time in the city, your walk to the park will give you a flavor of what awaits in the future should you decide to go back.

Leaving the station, take the escalator down to ground level at the Park Exit and then follow the crowds. If there were no buildings blocking your way, you could walk a straight line from the escalator to the park. As things stand, you’ll have to jog left or right for the first couple blocks before hitting stride down the home stretch of a shop-lined street that ends at a north-side park entrance.

Entering the northern side of the park, the bulk of Inokashira Pond will lay directly ahead, offering three options for circumnavigation: the route to the left, the route to the right, and a figure-eight route beginning across Nanai Bridge which dissects the pond. On my own day at the park, a day that coincided with cherry blossom season , I immediately crossed Nanai Bridge and turned left to find a place on the other side of the pond to throw down a tarp under the cherry trees for a lunchtime picnic under a sprinkling of white cherry-blossom petals.

The tradition of viewing cherry blossoms—hanami in Japanese, literally meaning “flower look”—is over a millennium old and included a much larger range of floral display back in the day. Today’s modern tradition of hanami is mostly limited to cherry blossoms and, less so, plum blossoms, which bloom slightly earlier. If you have yet to reach middle age, then hanami for you most likely means lots of food, even more drink, and unbridled revelry on a blue tarp beneath the blooming cherry trees. (See our guide to cherry blossom season in Tokyo for more info).

If you are middle-aged or older, or not yet of drinking age, it most likely means a stroll with a loved one, perhaps the family, maybe a rice ball and a low-calorie beer on a park bench beneath the cherry trees, definitely a few photos of the flowers for posterity. For everyone, regardless of age, hanami is the annual reminder of our humanity: Stunning in beauty but fleeting in duration. “There’s a tear in my beer...”

If you make it to the other side of the pond, the south side, and are in need of a refreshment, I recommend Blue Sky Coffee. It sits up a small incline on the perimeter of the park and sells any number of beverages, including beer, wine, coffee, latte, and non-caffeinated sober-minded alternatives. For the linguistically challenged, there is a small sign in English at park-path level that announces “TAKE OUT COFFEE”.

By now you should have noticed the boat pier near Nanai Bridge and the swarms of swan boats dotting the surface of the pond. This is standard fare for Japanese parks, especially during hanami season when a boat on the water can offer the best views of the cherry blossoms. Why swans, you ask? Good question. And it seems that in Japan, as far as I can tell, there is no definitive answer. The best I can offer is a story from 1870s Boston in the United States: Man likes rowboats; man wants new boats; man makes catamaran with bicycle pedals; man shapes boat like swan. More interesting is the reason he chose a swan: Man likes the opera Lohengrin by Wagner in which a knight of the holy grail, Lohengrin, crosses a river in a boat pulled by a swan to defend an unjustly accused maiden and take her hand in marriage. Funnily enough, just as Lohengrin’s romantic quest ends in tragedy, legend has it that couples who ride a swan boat together on Inokashira pond are also doomed romantically. The culprit this time, though, is none other than one of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune, Benzaiten.

If you have read my other blog post about the Yanaka area of Tokyo , you will recall a section on the Seven Gods of Good Fortune, including Benzaiten, traditionally the god of waterways but more commonly known as the god of luck, love, education, and the arts. In fact, Benzaiten is the only female god of the seven, and it is her jealously that seals the fate of all lovers who ride on the pond she presides over. How influential is this curse? Well...not very. A quick survey of the boat passengers indicates that nobody seems to care much.

Benzaiten Shrine , located at the northwest corner of the pond and home to the jealous god Benzaiten, is rather quaint and worth a visit, especially if a small group of elderly people are playing traditional music on the shrine balcony while other elderly people with masks on dance around them, as happened on the day that I was visiting. The shrine supposedly dates back to 1197 but has been rebuilt at least once due to a fire. It is here that you will find a grinding stone used by Tokugawa Ieyasu to make tea. Check out the link above for the official Benzaiten English-language website and a satisfying amount of information regarding the history of the shrine and the development of the god Benzaiten.

After circling the pond and taking in the sights of cherry trees, angry goddesses, and doomed lovers, you may wish to check out the Inokashira Park Zoo , one entrance of which is located near the south-west end of Nanai Bridge. While I am not a fan of caging sentient beings, I do recognize the role zoos play in educating young children, and so it was that I found myself strolling through the zoo grounds with two young kids in tow, pointing out the wonders of the natural world while attempting to subtly impress upon my kids the need for a little more compassion regarding our furry, feathery, and leathery cohabitants. And scaly. Let’s not forget the scaly fish.

All things considered, the zoo is cheap—free for kids under 12 and only ￥400 for adults—and offers a less crowded place to eat lunch and/or enjoy a quiet stroll. I might also mention that it is broken into two parts—you have to exit one section and walk to the other and re-enter—but one ticket will give you access to both sections all day long. Check out the website above for free-entrance days and zoo hours.

After rounding the pond, visiting a shrine, and completing the first half of the zoo, my kids and I were whiny and hungry and so took a load off at a small mom-n-pop shop in the middle of the park between the zoo and Benzaiten Shrine. There is no prominent name displayed outside, but you can’t miss it. There are tables out front and a small platoon of septuagenarians moving back and forth between.

I had soba noodles (so-so), my kids had udon noodles (all udon is great according to kids), and the rest of the clientele seemed to be ordering and enjoying the curry and rice. I later noticed a sign outside touting the glory of the curry and rice and at that moment realized my folly. I also had a beer and ordered some sweets for my kids and overall everyone was happy and refreshed. Mom-n-pop shops like that in Japan are more about sitting down and ordering some refreshments than they are about eating a five-star Michelin meal and so should be viewed as such and not scrutinized too much. At the end of the day, the waitresses were nice, the building was quaint, and we were sitting in the middle of a park in mid-spring. What more could we ask for?

As you can see from the park map above, Inokashira-koen is shaped like a boomerang. The right wing of the boomerang contains the pond, Benzaiten Shrine, and the smaller portion of the zoo. This is where most people come to play, including hanami revelers. The left wing, while further from Kichijoji station and further yet from Inokashira Park Station, has more traditional park space, including a sports field, tennis courts, and playground. It also contains the larger half of the zoo and the Ghibli Museum. If you don’t know the name Ghibli (pronounced jee-boo-lee), then you must be from another planet. Welcome to planet Earth.

Ghibli is the name of the film studio that makes Japan’s most famous, most successful, and most beloved animation: My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, and Howl’s Moving Castle, to name but a few of the many. There are no children in Japan who do not know these films, and fewer and fewer abroad who have not viewed and enjoyed them as well. Studio Ghibli was co-founded in 1985 by Isao Takahata, Toshio Suzuki, and the more well-known Hayao Miyazaki. The name itself comes from the Italian word of the same spelling that means “Mediterranean wind” and was chosen for the metaphorical significance of breathing (wind) new life into the animation industry. The Ghibli Museum is an extension of the studio which opened in 2001 and takes a bit of planning to gain entrance.

Gaining access to the museum requires purchasing tickets prior to your day of arrival. This is not a spot-saving measure that can be ignored in the hopes of a low turn-out on the day you plan to visit. No advance purchase means no entrance, regardless of the number of people who actually visit on that day. At any rate, the museum is sure to always be full to capacity. It’s one of the most famous animation studios in the world and admission is strictly controlled. Tickets can be bought from travel agencies in select countries, as well as through Lawson convenience stores in Japan.

Check the website above for more details on ticket purchase, hours, and special exhibitions and see our How To Get Ghibli Museum Tickets guide .

Just past the Ghibli museum, at the furthest south-west point of the park, are a couple of playgrounds with jungle gyms and other child-exhausting mechanisms to ensure a good night’s sleep. As you may have already surmised, Inokashira Park is a great place for children : picnics, boats, zoos, animation museums, playgrounds, and lots of open space to run wild. The worst part about the playgrounds, though, is that once there, you have reached the end of the park and the only thing to look forward to is a long slog back toward the station. If you visit on a weekend, though, you might just be granted the reprieve of buskers on the hunt for a bit of extra spending cash.

Buskers are public performers looking for cash donations from entertained onlookers. They are traditionally musicians but sometimes include other street performers like jugglers or mimes. Mimes? Yes, mimes. Inokashira Park is well-known for its busker environment and so adds a bit more entertainment value to a place already steeped in weekend entertainment. In addition to that, 2017 will mark the 100th anniversary of the park opening, guaranteeing even more events “that will allow more people to enjoy the park to its fullest.” That previous quote comes from backside of the Inokashira Park Guide Map put out by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and shown in one of the photos above, and that guide map can be had for free from the Inokashira Park Visitor Center near the northwest corner of the pond, not far from the zoo’s aquatic life section.

The Tourist Information Center is a small nondescript red-brick building between the two sections of the zoo, directly off the main road Kichijoji-dori. It is unfortunately a bit poorly placed for visitors entering the park, but there are enough giant maps and direction signs to maneuver comfortably before a visit. I recommend dropping by after circling the pond and taking in the general park atmosphere. Once at the visitor center, making your way to the zoo or to Benzaiten Shrine is rather easy. In addition to the map, staff is usually present to answer any questions, although I can’t vouch for their language abilities.

If you have the time and the energy after doing all the previously mentioned activities, there are still a few small points of attraction that you can incorporate into your day, like Benten Bridge, which gives a lovely view of the backside of Benzaiten Shrine and a more overgrown part of the pond, and the underground spring that supplied the water for the tea of Tokugawa Ieyasu.

There are also easily overlooked attractions that are stunning in their simplicity and bogglingly attractive to children, like the four concrete pillars laid flat end to end in an Escher-esque square for kids to endlessly walk along in dizzying circles. And If you go on the weekend or holidays, be sure to visit the art market on both the north and south sides of the pond. This last event is part of the 100th anniversary activities leading up to 2017.

As parting words, I must say that Inokashira Park is one of the lovelier parks in the Tokyo metropolitan area . Perhaps that’s because of fond hanami memories of unbridled youth. Or perhaps because of long, romantic strolls with love interests (that never worked out...Benzaiten!!). Whatever the reason, the park is a full package with something for everyone and even more if you have the time and inclination to leave the park and browse the local shops in the area. It’s busy but relaxed, crowded but secluded, lively but peaceful, educational but lighthearted. It’s a side of Tokyo you will see in few other places.

About Mario Leto Mario Leto is assistant professor in the School of Global Japanese Studies at Meiji University in Tokyo. His research and writing interests include travel, literature, and media discourse on food and dietary alternatives.

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Ghibli museum tickets and inokashira park walking tour from kichijoji.

Great way to get into the Ghibli Museum at the right time of day

A walk in the park, then to ghibli, pick-up not available, what to expect, travelers interested in this activity also viewed, traveler's photos.

Overall rating

We were too late when trying to purchase Ghibli tickets directly, so we opted to go on this walking tour in order to attend while we were in Tokyo. While we weren't initially looking forward to the walking tour, we w ... ere pleasantly surprised! We learned a thing or two, increased our luck with money, and the tour guides were absolutely delightful. The tour itself is very short, but the best part is the timing - you get into the museum pretty much as it opens (before the crowds roll in) and you can roam around at your leisure. So you will have time to see everything before everyone else gets there. Highly recommended!!

I enjoyed the Walking tour over the Inokashira Park, the guides were kind and took care of every member of the tour. During the walk, we would stop at certain points and the guides would give a brief summary of the plac ... e and its history, which is a nice touch. I appreciated that the guides were not just following the motions and doing "their job", but also injected personality and humor to the tour. Entry to the Ghibli museum was easy, and we were provided instructions on how to go back to the station by bus as well, for those that didnt wish to go back to the park. Overall, I would recommend the tour to others.

Quick and charming walking tour that is a legitimate way to get to the Ghibli museum!

Exactly as it says, this tour is a convenient way into the museum if you weren't lucky to grab the online tickets when they were being sold. The tour guide spoke English and lead us all the way to the Museum(which is a f ... air distance from Kichijoji Station) and we were allowed to browse inside the museum for as long as we wanted. Just remember to bring comfortable shoes and maybe pack a lunch because the Strawhat Cafe will probably be packed. You also get the fancy commemorative Ghibli film reel ticket too!

Activity Provider Cool Japan Travel, Inc.

Activity provider, payment / cancellation policy.

• Credit card payment

• Any cancellations made between 00:00 local time, 10 business days to 00:00 local time, 7 business days prior to the activity will be subject to a charge of 20% of the total amount.
• Any cancellations made between 00:00 local time, 7 business days to 00:00 local time, 1 business days prior to the activity will be subject to a charge of 30% of the total amount.
• Any cancellations made between 00:00 local time, 1 business days to 23:59 local time, 1 business days prior to the activity will be subject to a charge of 40% of the total amount.
• Any cancellations made between 23:59 local time, 1 business days to 1 hours prior to the activity start time will be subject to a charge of 50% of the total amount.
• Any cancellations made after 1 hours prior to the activity start time will be subject to a charge of 100% of the total amount.
• Every 12/29 - 01/03

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日本語ガイド＆オムレツ昼食付き, eur 152.00~.

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• Please note that you cannot enter the museum without joining the walking tour. You may not join the tour from the museum.
• Walking shoes
• Comfortable clothing
• The tour around Inokashira park will be 30 minutes and will walk for 1.5 km. While the visitation duration at the museum will be around 120 minutes.
• Lunch, drinks and personal expenses are not included in the tour fare.
• Photography, video recording and smoking within the museum premises are prohibited.
• For participants who are photosensitive (sensitive to light), please be aware that there are displays in the permanent exhibition room that use bright stroboscopic lights.
• The garden roof of the museum may be closed during inclement weather.
• Eating and drinking inside the museum is prohibited. However, participants may eat their packed food at the outside cafe deck and must bring home their own litter. (The deck area will be closed during inclement weather.)
• You can book a maximum of 5.

• STEP 3 Book another activity, and use the coupon for a discount!
• Valid for one (1) booking per account during the designated promotional period.
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Tokyo · April 11, 2024

Ghibli Museum (Mitaka) Tokyo Itinerary + How to Purchase Tickets

If you want to visit the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Tokyo, this guide is for you! Here, you’ll find tips for purchasing tickets and a Ghibli Museum day itinerary that includes Totoro cream puffs and the beautiful Inokashira Park.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post at no extra cost to you. These are all products and services I highly recommend. Please read full disclosure   here .

Ghibli Museum Overview

The  Ghibli Museum in Mitaka  is easily accessible if you’re staying in Tokyo. It’s located in Inokashira Park in Mitaka, a city in western Tokyo. The museum showcases the art, history, and world of the Japanese animation studio—Studio Ghibli.

The minute you step inside, you immediately feel as if you’ve been transported straight into one of Studio Ghibli’s films. The intricate details of the building nod to a world that feels uniquely Ghibli.

As a big fan, I loved visiting and learning more about the studio’s animation process. There’s even an exclusive film shown only to museum visitors.

The Ghibli Museum is great for kids and adults.

How to Purchase Ghibli Museum Tickets

The cheapest way to purchase Ghibli Museum tickets is through the  Lawson’s Website ; however, it does not have the best user experience. I’ve read from other reviews that it’s not great for booking big groups and can be really slow. It does have the best price point, though!

If you’re staying in a premium hotel, you can call their concierge and see if they can help book your ticket in advance.

Or you can also buy tickets from Lawson stores once you’re in Japan. But again, tickets are very popular, so tickets for the dates you want may be sold out.

In my opinion, the best and easiest option (although not the cheapest) would be to book this  Ghibli Museum and Inokashira Park Walking Tour , which includes admission to the Ghibli Museum.

TIP: Holidays and weekends are very popular dates, so you can get tickets on weekdays better.

When do Ghibli Museum tickets go on sale?

Tickets must be purchased in advance, and they sell out quickly (within 30 minutes of being on sale!).

Tickets go on sale every 10th of the month at 10 am Japan time.

Ghibli Museum Tokyo Itinerary

📍Kichijōji Station.

From here walk to Shiro Hige’s Cream Puff Factory.

📍Shiro Hige Cream Puff (Kichijoji)

Three words: Totoro. Cream. Puffs.

Open 11 am to 5 pm every day except Tuesday.

I recommend arriving at Shiro Hige’s right when it opens to avoid waiting in a long line. There’s no place to sit, and it’s a small shop where you can pick up cream puffs and cookies.

We boxed our cream puffs and took them with us to eat on a bench in the nearby park ( 📍Inokashira Park) .

📍Ghibli Museum

Plan for at least two hours to explore the different exhibitions, playgrounds, rooftop, and outdoor cafeteria.

📍Inokashira Park

You’ll have to walk through Inokashira Park to get to the Ghibli Museum. However, if your schedule pans out like ours, you’ll probably be power-walking through it to get to the museum.

I recommend really taking your time as you stroll through the expansive park. The park is humongous and filled with small temples, large ponds, wildlife, and more!

You can ride swan boats through the pond during certain seasons, and there’s a zoo with a guinea pig petting zoo (yes, GUINEA PIGS 🥹).

The fall colors and the spring cherry blossoms are a sight to see.

📍Explore the shopping area near the park

Near the park’s exit/entrance, there are many small souvenir shops and restaurants. You can find reasonably priced souvenirs here or stop for a quick bite to eat.

✍🏻  How to Buy Tickets: Tokyo Disneyland, Disney Sea, Universal Studios, Ghibli Park & More!

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Ghibli Museum Tickets and Inokashira Park Walking Tour from Kichijoji - Tokyo - Get Local Tour

Ghibli museum tickets and inokashira park walking tour from kichijoji.

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Description

Make your way to the 100-year-old Inokashira Park from Kichijoji and stroll through the scenic spots with an English-speaking guide. For the latter half, enjoy a self-guided museum tour as you meet Totoro and friends in the whimsical world of Ghibli! VELTRA says: Discover the importance of people and nature through a guided tour of the historical Inokashira Park before venturing through the artistic world of Ghibli at the famed museum.

Cancellation Policy

• Any cancellations made between 10 business days (00:00 local time) to 7 business days (00:00 local time) prior to the activity will be subject to a charge of 20% of the total amount.
• Any cancellations made between 7 business days (00:00 local time) to 1 business days (00:00 local time) prior to the activity will be subject to a charge of 30% of the total amount.
• Any cancellations made between 1 business days (00:00 local time) to 1 business days (00:00 local time) prior to the activity will be subject to a charge of 40% of the total amount.
• Any cancellations made between 1 business days (23:59 local time) to 1 hours prior to the activity start time will be subject to a charge of 50% of the total amount.
• Any cancellations made after 1 hours prior to the activity will be subject to a charge of 100% of the total amount.

Activity Detail

Pricing details.

• Ghibli museum admission fee
• English-speaking guide

Min/Max Quantity To Book

• Max Qty: 5 (Maximum tickets can be booked)

Start Timings

Check in/pickup location details.

• Go down the escalator from the Keio Line Kichijoji Station to the indoor underground square. Make your way to the second floor of the building. You will find a staff member wearing a pink vest waiting "Kirarina Keio Kichijoji" (there is a Starbucks above on the 3rd floor). For the exact direction please refer to the attached file below. Download Details

Restrictions

• Please note that you cannot enter the museum without joining the walking tour. You may not join the tour from the museum.

Additional Notes

• The tour around Inokashira park will be 30 minutes and will walk for 1.5 km. While the visitation duration at the museum will be around 120 minutes.
• Lunch, drinks and personal expenses are not included in the tour fare.
• Photography, video recording and smoking within the museum premises are prohibited.
• For participants who are photosensitive (sensitive to light), please be aware that there are displays in the permanent exhibition room that use bright stroboscopic lights.
• The garden roof of the museum may be closed during inclement weather.
• Eating and drinking inside the museum is prohibited. However, participants may eat their packed food at the outside cafe deck and must bring home their own litter. (The deck area will be closed during inclement weather.)

Dressing & Items to Bring

• Walking shoes
• Comfortable clothing

You will receive an email containing a link allowing you to reset your password to a new preferred one.

Ghibli Museum & Ghibli Film Appreciation Bus Tour (Round Trip from Shinjuku)

per person USD 173 JG025S

This hugely popular bus tour includes special entry to the advance-reservation-only Ghibli Museum.The museum features a plethora of exhibits introducing animation and production processes as well as a small theatre where a Studio Ghibli’s original short animated film is screened. Includes original merchandise exclusive to this tour! All tour participants will receive a Ghibli Museum teacup on board the tour vehicle. Feel free to bring it home as a souvenir.

• Optional Tour

Day 1: Tokyo

Meet Point: JTB Sunrise Tours Sales Office on the 3rd Floor of Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo's Main Tower in Shinjuku

Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo Main Tower 3F Check-in Counter

*Please show your reservation confirmation sheet at reception. Please arrive at least 10 minutes before the departure time.

[Access to Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo]

- 5 min on foot from Shinjuku Station West Exit (JR lines).

- 5 min on foot from Shinjuku Station (Keio Line, Odakyu Line, and Marunouchi and Toei Shinjuku subway lines).

- Immediate access from Exit B1 of Tochomae Station (Toei Oedo Line)

The tour departs Keio Plaza Hotel by bus.

11:00  - 12:30

Hotel Gajoen Tokyo

Take a commemorative photo and enjoy a buffet lunch at a spectacular, historical hotel said to be the inspiration for a famous Ghibli film. *

13:45 - 15:00

Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum

The Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum is an outdoor museum featuring historical structures with high cultural significance which have been moved to the museum from their original sites, recreated and preserved for exhibit. Walk down streets lined with colorful and intriguing buildings which evoke an atmosphere just like in the Studio Ghibli film, "Spirited Away."

15:30 - 18:00

Gibli Museum

Enjoy freely walking around inside. The museum features a plethora of exhibits introducing animation and production processes, a reading room, as well as a Ghibli original short animated feature viewable only at the museum. A Studio Ghibli original teacup will be handed out on board the tour vehicle. *Please check the Remarks as well.

18:45 - 19:00

This tour ends upon arrival near Shinjuku Station West Exit. *Please head to your next destination on your own from Shinjuku. The National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter will inform customers how to return afterwards.

Departure Date

2024: Jan.10 - Dec.19, Wed., Thu., (except Mar.20, May.15,16,22,23,Aug.14,15,Nov.6,7,13,14,20,21,Dec.25 & 26)

National Government Licensed English Guide Interpreter, Lunch (buffet), Ghibli Museum ticket, Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum admission

Not include

Drinks at lunch

Meeting Place

JTB Sunrise Tours Sales Office on the 3rd Floor of Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo's Main Tower in Shinjuku

[Reception Method]

At reception, please show the reservation confirmation sheet or e-mail (printout/digital copy on mobile device) to staff.

[Operation Conditions/Tour Conditions]

This is a special tour for international visitors. Please understand that residents of Japan cannot make bookings for this tour.

If the minimum number of participants (1) is not met by 4 days before the scheduled date, the tour on that date may be canceled. The tour will be canceled if Ghibli Museum is closed due to unforeseen circumstances.

[Exemptions/Itinerary Guarantee: Itinerary/Destinations]

- If the tour cannot visit Hotel Gajoen Tokyo or Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum due to facility circumstances, an alternate destination will be visited and the tour will still be held. (Instead of the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum, the tour may visit Jindai-ji Temple or Takahata Fudoson Temple.) Refunds will not be issued in case of this itinerary change. Thank you for your understanding.

- Participants may not go directly to the destination on their own, and may not join the tour midway. Leaving the tour midway at Ghibli Museum is allowed. In such cases, customers must head to their next destination on their own from Ghibli Museum, and no refunds will be provided.

- Arrival times may be delayed by traffic conditions.

[Important Notes/Supplements: Guide/Tour Conductor]

The National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter does not provide guidance inside Ghibli Museum. After arriving at Ghibli Museum, participants will have time to walk freely through the museum once entrance procedures are finished.

[Important Notes/Supplements: Regarding Children/Infants]

Baby strollers cannot be taken into Ghibli Museum. Children 3 years of age and younger may join the tour, but they will not be provided with bus seats or meals.

[Important Notes/Supplements: Regarding Meals]

The meal is served buffet style. Please understand that there is no vegetarian option available.

[Important Notes/Supplements: Bus Company]

One of the following: Fuji Kyuko Kanko Co., Ltd.; Fuji Express Co., Ltd.; KM Kanko Bus Co., Ltd.; Hato Bus Co., Ltd.; Tokyo Yasaka Sightseeing Bus Co., Ltd.; Heisei Enterprise Co., Ltd.; Amore Kotsu Ltd.; Tokyo Bus Co., Ltd.; Toto Kanko Bus Co., Ltd.; Chuo Kanko Co., Ltd.; Tokyo Passenger Co., Ltd.; Kokusai Kogyo Co., Ltd.; Izuhakone Kotsu Co., Ltd.; Kusakabe Sightseeing Bus; Asuka Motor Co., Ltd.; Hinomaru Limousine Co., Ltd.; or Teito Motor Transportation Co., Ltd

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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!

Look! Totoro Is Waiting for Us at the Entrance!

When you walk along Kichijoji Avenue, in the shade of the tall green trees of Mitaka's Inokashira Park, you come upon a colorful building. Standing in front of a sign that says "Ghibli Museum, Mitaka", a very large Totoro welcomes you at the entrance. When you look through the portholes, soot-black Dust Bunnies are there as well. But this is not the real entrance. Totoro shows you where the real entrance is.

Open the door and welcome to wonderland! Every window and lamp is lovingly hand-crafted with beautiful and colorful stained glass using Ghibli characters, pretty plants and flowers, and forest animals. When the sun is shining, the vivid colors of the glass are reflected in splashes of colored light on the stone floors.

Welcome to The Space of Wonder

Look up at the ceiling, and you will find it covered in fresco painting. In the center of a blue sky, there is a shining, smiling sun. Trees stretching up towards the sky are filled with grapes, melons, deliciously ripe fruits, and beautiful blossoms which you may never have seen before. If you look carefully, you may see Kiki on her broom, Nausicaä on her jet glider, or other characters flying through the sky.

Tickets are given over to visitors here in exchange for reservation coupons. These tickets are made of pieces of the actual 35mm film that were used in theaters. You can hold it up to the light and see which scene from a Ghibli film turned out to be your ticket. Since the Ghibli Museum treats every child as an independent guest, even very small children can stand on the special platform at the reception counter to be handed their own ticket.

The Central Hall - The Wind Whistles and the Light Shines Through

Here is a towering open space extending up through the entire height of the Museum. In the glass dome at its center, a yellow whale swims in the ocean and the blades of a giant fan rotate overhead. Shining marbles of colored glass are fitted into the ironwork of the stairs and handrails. Taking in the whole room from bottom to top, you will discover a maze of spiral stairways, bridged passages, and overhanging terraces. This marvelous space transports you into the world of Hayao Miyazaki and the strange buildings which often appear in his films. Here you can see and feel them for yourself. Please pause before entering the exhibition rooms, and find your own secret favorite spots.

A Boy's Room - A Gift from Grampa

This is one of the five rooms on the first floor called "Where a Film is Born". The room seems to belong to someone who was sketching at the desk just a few minutes ago. The room is filled with books and toys. The walls are all covered with illustrations and sketches. Hanging from the ceiling are a model of an airplane and a model of a Pteranodon. It's a place where the owner of the room has stored his favorite things. This room provides lots of inspiration for what will go on to the blank piece of paper on the desk to become the origin of an actual film.

After walking through the five rooms, you will get an idea how an animated film is made. With a little bit of an idea and a flash of inspiration, a film-maker struggles with his work and ultimately completes the film.

Ghibli Original Short Animated Film at the Museum Only!

The Saturn Theater is a small theater in the basement of the Museum with only about 80 seats. There you can watch an original short animated feature from Ghibli, which can only be seen in the Museum's theatre. A blue sky and lots of colorful flowers are drawn on the ceiling and walls. When the film ends, the windows open and the sunshine comes in. You can sit on a little red bench or the back of a seat to see the big screen without being blocked.

The Reading Room "TRI HAWKS" Full of Our Recommended Books

"TRI HAWKS" (a pun on the name of the city "Mi-taka" — literally 3-hawks — where the museum is located) is the reading room inside the Ghibli Museum. It was created to communicate the Museum's wish to have children see, touch, and feel strange and mysterious things through books.

Books which are specially recommended by Hayao Miyazaki and the Museum can be found here for children to browse through freely.

Poof, Boing! The Cat Bus

The Cat Bus is waiting for you in a room on the second floor. It must be everyone's dream to touch and ride the Cat Bus. In order to make this wish come true, we made a room with an actual Cat Bus. If you remember the Cat Bus from "My Neighbor Totoro", you have probably dreamed of touching its fluffy fur. Now you can do it. Next to the Cat Bus, a bunch of soot-black Dust Bunnies are waiting for you to play with them. We wanted to make the Cat Bus as big as it is in the film, but because it wouldn't fit in the museum, we ended up downsizing him a little bit.

The Cat Bus is for elementary school children and under (age 12 and under) only.

Our Guardian - The Robot Soldier on the Rooftop

From the terrace off the Cat Bus Room, a spiral stairway leads to the roof, and there you will find a grassy rooftop garden. From this lofty post, a serene five-meter-tall Robot Soldier (from "Castle in the Sky") looks down on Inokashira Park.

But have no fear; the Robot Soldier is the Guardian of the Ghibli Museum!

Passing behind the Robot Soldier you will find yourself in a patch of wildly growing vegetation which makes you forget that you are on a building and not in the park itself. Please take a moment to experience the seasonally changing plant life.

An Old-Fashioned Hand-Pump Well

A cozy patio is located between the Museum and the Café. Surrounded by tiled roofs and colorful flowers, the space is full of sunshine. Looking up from here, you see the vivid orange walls of the Café. There is a hand-pumped well in the central gazebo. If you pump it hard, you will be rewarded with fresh, cool water from the well. The well is set in an area full of specially handcrafted ornaments and designs, including a metal hatch cover that looks like a smiling face. Just nearby, stacks of firewood are stored in front of a rustic shed. When winter comes, the firewood can be winched up to the floor above and used to fire the wood-burning stove in the café. You may even encounter some of our staff chopping firewood.

A Towering Pine Marks the Terrace of the Café

Surrounded by some of Mitaka's rare red pines and set off against the bright orange wall and red window frames of the building that houses it, the deck of the Straw Hat Café provides you with an open outdoors atmosphere where you can relax and enjoy the natural setting of Inokashira Park. There is a washstand decorated with colorful tiles just to the side of the Café deck so you can wash your hands before mealtime.

The Café offers breaded pork cutlets, hot dogs, sweet desserts and beverages which are all handmade in its kitchen and perfect for relaxing after a day of exploring the museum. Experience the changing seasons and enjoy the slow passing of time at the Café.

You'll Find Your Treasure Here

The museum shop "MAMMA AIUTO!" was named after the sky pirates in "Porco Rosso". It means "Mama, help me!" in Italian.

Here at this shop, you will find your favorite Studio Ghibli character products along with original Museum gift items.

The window displays are filled with things that are pretty, unexpected, and completely out of the ordinary. Spend some time to look around... you might discover something special for yourself.

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

Upcoming Exhibition

"the boy and the heron part 2: layouts" special exhibition.

Starting on May 25, 2024.

Upcoming Film

The day i bought a star.

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VISITING THE STUDIO GHIBLI MUSUEM IN TOKYO

Article | |--> Dayna Hannah

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LOVE GHIBLI ANIME? CHECK OUT THE STUDIO GHIBLI MUSUEM IN TOKYO!

If you can't get enough of the whimsical world of Ghibli, there's no better place to go than the Studio Ghibli Museum in Tokyo . Visiting takes some planning because purchasing Ghibli Museum tickets isn't easy, but the trouble is worth the trip. Even if you've only seen a few of Studio Ghibli's movies, the museum will capture your imagination. You'll also get an immersive lesson in director Hayao Miyazaki's production process. Studio Ghibli is the creative giant behind many beloved Japanese animated movies such as Spirited Away , Princess Mononoke , and My Neighbor Totoro . Their intricate technique focuses on movement, and animators include as many details in the backgrounds as they do in the foregrounds. When you watch their films, the characters and settings seem realistic, no matter how fantastical the plot is. When the Studio Ghibli Museum opened in 2002, Hayao Miyazaki wanted to design a space that reflected his distinctive style and reveal the behind-the-scenes operations. The result became one of Tokyo's—and Japan's—most popular museums for children, families, and fans of Japanese animation.

PURCHASING GHIBLI MUSEUM TICKETS

When you approach the entrance, you'll see Totoro at the "box office." It's a charming place for a photo-op, but not where you'll find tickets for the Ghibli Museum. You can buy tickets at Lawson convenience stores or other third parties, but you'll need to act fast! They sell out within minutes of becoming available. The Ghibli Museum's hours are from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm every day except Tuesdays. There are also irregular closing days due to holidays and exhibit changes. Once you determine when you want to go , you'll need to get your tickets at least one or two months in advance. The Ghibli Museum releases tickets on the tenth of every month at 10:00 am Japan Standard Time. Note that the available dates will be for the following month. For example, if you want to visit the Studio Ghibli Museum in April , you'll need to buy your tickets in March . You can use Lawson's website to purchase them from outside of Japan, but you'll need patience, persistence, and a little luck. The high volume of traffic can make the site run slowly. It's possible to go through a resale site or a third party, but these options can incur high fees . To avoid these kinds of charges or frustration trying to get tickets yourself, consider booking an anime tour through a company like us . Not only will you have a guaranteed ticket, but you'll also be able to see other anime-related spots in Tokyo . Your ticket will include both an entry date and time. Try to arrive about thirty minutes before your scheduled time, and don't forget to bring your passport to validate your identification. Inside, you'll exchange your paper ticket for an official ticket, which is a roll of film from a random Ghibli movie scene.

GETTING TO THE STUDIO GHIBLI MUSEUM

The Ghibli Museum is easy to access by public transportation , even if it's your first time in Japan . It is equidistant between Mitaka and Kichijoji Stations. From Mitaka Station, you can board a Ghibli-themed shuttle bus for a small round trip or one-way fare. If you choose to walk, we recommend going through Kichijoji Station. The trendy neighborhood is home to sophisticated independent shops and department stores. You'll also pass through Inokashira Park, which is one of the best places to see cherry blossoms in Tokyo .

WHAT IS INSIDE THE GHIBLI MUSEUM?

Part of this place's charm is that there's no official Studio Ghibli Museum tour. Once you go inside, you're free to explore any path around the facility. There are three floors of exhibits, including a theater, cafe, gift shop, and a rooftop garden . Many people stop by the Saturn Theater first, which is in the basement. The small theater seats around 80 people and plays short films produced by Studio Ghibli that are exclusive to the museum. They change monthly and run several times an hour. Next, check out the main exhibition hall. This room illustrates the production process of animation with interactive contraptions like zoetrope show boxes and panorama boxes. You can watch sketches and models come to life by turning cranks and spinning knobs. Another permanent exhibition room recreates the animators' work stations that include details from the type of paint they use to the snacks they prefer to keep on their desks. Inked and uninked sketches litter the walls, as well as scrapbooks of pictures that show how Studio Ghibli takes inspiration from nature , machinery, and abstract art. In other areas of the museum, you can explore life-size models of scenery from your favorite films. There are also special exhibits that change periodically. These temporary displays highlight characteristic features of Studio Ghibli, such as the food you see, how the artists paint the backgrounds, and even first-draft sketches. Before you reach the rooftop garden, you'll pass a room with a life-size plush catbus from the movie My Neighbor Totoro . Only children aged 12 and under can enter to play and climb in this room. From the catbus room, you'll take a spiral staircase to the garden where a giant robot from Laputa: Castle in the Sky looms over you. The path from here will lead you to the Ghibli Museum's shop and the Straw Hat Cafe, where you can purchase desserts and drinks.

HOW LONG DO YOU NEED AT THE GHIBLI MUSEUM?

Although your ticket will have a specific entry time, once you go inside, you can stay until the Ghibli Museum closes. Many travelers are surprised when they see how small the Ghibli Museum is from the outside. Future visitors hearing this might wonder if the Ghibli Museum is actually worth the trip. However, it'll take you longer than you might think to get through everything. Stained glass windows and art cover every inch of the walls, as well as drawers and shutters to open and discover hidden treasures. You'll also want time to spend in the Saturn Theater, take a break at the cafe, and shop for souvenirs . You can easily spend two hours without realizing so much time has passed!

CHECK OUT OUR TOURS THAT VISIT GHIBLI MUSEUM HERE

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