Studio Ghibli theme park to open in November in Aichi Pref.

The Yomiuri Shimbun

14:00 JST, January 28, 2022

NAGOYA — Ghibli Park, a new theme park based on the Studio Ghibli animated films, was unveiled to the press in Nagakute, Aichi Prefecture, on Thursday. The facility is being jointly developed by the famed animation studio and the prefecture.

The park, which is still under construction, is divided into five areas, each dedicated to a particular location from the films. The Aichi prefectural government said three areas are set to open on Nov. 1, and the other two are expected to open about a year later. The Dondoko-mori (Dondoko forest), which is made to resemble the rural landscape seen in “Tonari no Totoro” (“My Neighbor Totoro”), is set to be among the first to open.

The park’s general producer Goro Miyazaki, son of the acclaimed director Hayao Miyazaki, and Studio Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki spoke at the press preview, and revealed that visitors will be able to experience environments seen in such popular Ghibli films as “Tenku no Shiro Laputa” (“Castle in the Sky”) and “Howl no Ugoku Shiro” (“Howl’s Moving Castle”).

A promotional video made by the studio was also shown.

“I hope everyone will find something they can enjoy,” Goro Miyazaki said.