“Let’s get lost together” at Ghibli Museum

“Let’s get lost together” – this is the theme at Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Tokyo.
This museum is very popular among the Japanese people, which is no surprise as it goes without saying that Ghibli films and its exceptional worldviews are admired and loved by many not only in Japan, but all over the world.
In order to visit this museum, you must make a reservation in advance, as there are no tickets sold on site. You can do this from abroad – the specifics are below.

Learn about animation production and enjoy an original short animated film!

At the Ghibli Museum, you can first learn about the processes involved in animation production. Learn about how a movie is created and indulge yourself in the world of animation.

At the Saturn Theater located in the basement of the museum, you can watch an original short animated film from Ghibli that can only be seen at this museum! Aside from the original short animated film, there are also showings of animation films recommended by Ghibli.

Ride on the Cat Bus from “My Neighbor Totoro”

For children, we recommend the enormous plush Cat Bus located on the second floor. Anyone who’s ever watched the Ghibli film “My Neighbor Totoro” would agree that they’ve dreamt of touching the fluffy fur of the Cat Bus at least once. Finally, your dream can come true :)
Elementary school children and under (age 12 and under) are allowed to climb on top of the Cat Bus or hug it to their heart’s content.

Snap a photo with the Robot Soldier in the rooftop garden

On the grassy rooftop, the Robot Solder from “Laputa Castle in the Sky” looms over us. It is life-size and five meter in height, made from bronze. Standing still in the garden, the statue holds a strange air of gentleness and loneliness combined.

Restaurants and shops filled with originality and creativity

If you’re feeling hungry, head for Cafe Mugiwaraboshi, or the Straw Hat Cafe. Their theme is “heart-warming home cooked meals”, and although the dishes are quite simple, the meals here all taste gentle, filling to the heart as well as the stomach. Almost all the ingredients used in the meals are organically grown.

We recommend the pork cutlet sandwich and the strawberry shortcake, which are both simple and amazing. You can also enjoy alcohol along with your meals here.

At the museum shop “MAMMA AIUTO!”, named after the sky pirates in “Porco Rosso”, you can buy souvenirs that are only available here in this museum. The wide selection of products based on Ghibli characters and films is an absolute must-see.

writer：Nozomi

Photos from
flickr
n-jinny
fashion-press
chikyuza
ghibli-museum
ghibli-museum