Ghibli Park, located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, is making changes to how visitors can buy tickets. Starting in April, people will have the option to purchase tickets for specific areas of the park instead of a single pass for the entire place. The Aichi Prefectural Government recently announced this update, which aims to give visitors more flexibility in choosing which parts of the park they want to explore.
New Ticketing System
Until now, visitors had to buy a pass that allowed entry to all five areas of the park. However, under the new system, they can choose to visit only the sections they are most interested in. This change is expected to help people plan their visits better, reduce crowds in certain areas, and make the park more accessible to a wider range of visitors.
The pricing for the new tickets is as follows:
Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse, Mononoke Village, and the Valley of Witches: Each of these areas will require a separate ticket costing 2,000 yen (approximately $12.80).
Hill of Youth and Dondoko Forest: Entry to these sections will be priced at 1,000 yen (around $6.40) each.
Special Attractions: Some attractions, like Howl’s Castle in the Valley of Witches, will need an extra same-day ticket, costing between 400 and 1,000 yen.
This means visitors can now customize their trip based on what they want to see rather than paying for everything, even if they do not wish to explore all parts of the park.
Changes to the Day Pass
Currently, the park offers an O-Sanpo Day Pass Premium, which gives visitors access to all five areas. This pass is priced at 7,300 yen (about $46.70) on weekdays and 7,800 yen (approximately $49.90) on weekends and holidays.
With the new ticketing system, a new type of pass will be introduced. The O-Sanpo Day Pass Standard will allow entry to only three areas:
Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse
Mononoke Village
Valley of Witches
The price for this new pass will be 3,300 yen ($21.10) on weekdays and 3,800 yen ($24.30) on weekends and holidays.
Tickets for Children
The park has also introduced lower prices for children. Kids aged between 4 years and elementary school age will pay only half the price of the regular tickets. This makes it easier for families to bring young children along and enjoy the magical world of Studio Ghibli.
How to Buy Tickets
All tickets for Ghibli Park must be bought in advance through a reservation system. Visitors cannot purchase tickets at the park entrance. The tickets for April will be available from February 10 at 2 p.m. This system helps manage crowd sizes and ensures that everyone who visits has a comfortable experience without overcrowding.
Why the Changes?
The main reason for this new ticketing system is to offer more flexibility to visitors. Some people may only want to visit one or two areas rather than the whole park, and this new system allows them to do that at a lower cost. Additionally, by allowing people to choose specific areas, the park can manage visitor traffic better, preventing certain sections from becoming too crowded.
At a press conference on January 22, Aichi Governor Hideaki Omura spoke about the changes. He stated, “We will be able to respond to different types of demand in detail, and this is how it should be. We hope you’ll visit us more often than ever before, as we will be able to offer you much greater freedom in how you enjoy your visit.”
Ghibli Park’s Attractions
Ghibli Park is based on the world-famous animated films created by Studio Ghibli. It brings the magical worlds of movies like My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, and Howl’s Moving Castle to life. The park is divided into five themed areas:
Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse – This is the main indoor attraction featuring exhibits, a film theater, and exclusive merchandise.
Mononoke Village – Inspired by Princess Mononoke, this area showcases settings from the movie, including life-sized replicas of characters and structures.
Valley of Witches – This section is based on films like Howl’s Moving Castle and Kiki’s Delivery Service. It includes Howl’s Castle and other fantasy-themed buildings.
Hill of Youth – This area brings to life locations from Whisper of the Heart and The Cat Returns.
Dondoko Forest – A nature-filled section dedicated to My Neighbor Totoro, featuring Totoro’s house and a scenic walking path.
With the new ticketing system, visitors will have the chance to visit only the areas they love the most without paying for the whole park.
What Visitors Can Expect
Since its opening, Ghibli Park has attracted a large number of visitors, both from Japan and abroad. Fans of Studio Ghibli movies travel to experience the beautifully crafted environments and immerse themselves in the worlds of their favorite films.
The new ticketing system is expected to make visits more convenient for both first-time visitors and returning fans. If someone has already been to one part of the park, they can now revisit only the areas they missed or want to see again. This option was not available before, making the new system a welcome change.
