Studio Ghibli tourism

Studio Ghibli tourism is travel inspired by the animated films of Studio Ghibli, the Japanese studio founded in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata and Toshio Suzuki. Films such as My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Kiki's Delivery Service and Princess Mononoke have a large worldwide following. Many fans travel to the studio's museum and theme park, and to the real-life places that inspired the films.

Ghibli films are known for detailed natural scenery and for settings that blend real places with imagination. The directors often drew on real locations in Japan and Europe, but the studio usually describes its settings as composites rather than depictions of specific places. Many "Ghibli locations" are therefore fan-identified and may not match the film scenes exactly.

Several films are rooted in Japanese countryside life and folklore: Totoro in rural Japan of the 1950s, Princess Mononoke in ancient forests, and Spirited Away in bathhouse and onsen culture. Others, such as Kiki's Delivery Service, Howl's Moving Castle and Porco Rosso, are set in imagined versions of Europe.

My Neighbor Totoro (1988):

• 35.7994139.46891 Sayama Hills (狭山丘) (Tokorozawa, Saitama). A wooded area on the edge of Tokyo said to have inspired the landscape of My Neighbor Totoro. A local trust, the Totoro Forest Foundation, protects parts of the woodland and preserves old farmhouses, including the "Kurosuke House". Many of the paths and farms are private, so stay on public routes.  

Grave of the Fireflies (1988):

• 34.6945135.19572 Sannomiya and Nishinomiya (Kobe area, Hyogo). Settings linked to Grave of the Fireflies, based on Akiyuki Nosaka's semi-autobiographical story.  

Only Yesterday (1991):

• 38.2404140.36363 Yamagata Prefecture (山形県) (Yamagata, Tohoku). The countryside scenes of Only Yesterday are set in Yamagata, where safflower (benibana) is grown. The flowers bloom around July, which is the best time for a visit.  

Pom Poko (1994):

• 35.625139.4454 Tama Hills (多摩丘陵) (Tama, Tokyo). The setting of Pom Poko, in which tanuki try to stop the development of the hills into Tama New Town. The suburban landscape of the area is still recognizable from the film.  

Whisper of the Heart (1995):

• 35.6417139.44675 Seiseki-Sakuragaoka (聖蹟桜ヶ丘) (Tama, Tokyo). The area around this Keio Line station is associated with Whisper of the Heart and its hilltop town scenes. A local shopping area acknowledges the connection.  

Princess Mononoke (1997):

• 30.35130.56 Yakushima (屋久島) (Kagoshima Prefecture). A World Heritage island with ancient cedar forests and mossy valleys. The Shiratani Unsuikyo area is often linked with the forest of Princess Mononoke. Hikes range from easy walks to full-day treks.  

Spirited Away (2001):

• 33.8519132.78647 Dogo Onsen (道後温泉) (Matsuyama, Ehime). One of Japan's oldest hot springs. Its wooden main bathhouse, Dogo Onsen Honkan, is widely regarded as an inspiration for the bathhouse in Spirited Away.  
• 35.716139.51138 Edo-Tokyo Open-Air Architectural Museum (江戸東京たてもの園) (Koganei Park, Koganei, Tokyo). Closed Mondays; check seasonal closing times. An open-air museum of relocated historic buildings, including the Kodakara-yu bathhouse and a reconstructed old shopping street. These are often cited as influences on the look of the bathhouse and town in Spirited Away. About ¥400 (adults).  
• 40.5140.19 Shirakami-Sanchi (白神山地) (Aomori and Akita Prefectures). A World Heritage beech forest on the border of Aomori and Akita. It is often cited alongside Yakushima as an inspiration for the forests in Princess Mononoke.  

Ponyo (2008):

• 34.3844133.38310 Tomonoura (鞆の浦) (Fukuyama, Hiroshima). A traditional port town on the Seto Inland Sea where Hayao Miyazaki stayed while developing Ponyo. Its harbor, old streets and sea views are associated with the film. It is a residential town, so be considerate when taking photos.  

When Marnie Was There (2014):

• 42.9849144.381411 Kushiro and the Hokkaido wetlands (釧路湿原) (Kushiro, Hokkaido). The eastern Hokkaido coast and wetlands are associated with the landscape of When Marnie Was There. The film is based on a British novel set on the Norfolk coast of England and moves the story to Japan. See also Norfolk for the original setting.  

Kiki's Delivery Service (1989):

• 57.634818.294812 Visby (Gotland, Sweden). Miyazaki has named Visby as an inspiration for the coastal town in Kiki's Delivery Service. Its medieval walls and old streets are the closest match.  
• 59.325118.071113 Stockholm Old Town (Gamla stan) (Stockholm, Sweden). Miyazaki has also cited Stockholm as an influence on the film's town, particularly the old town and the harbor.  

Howl's Moving Castle (2004):

• 48.07947.358614 Colmar (Alsace, France). A medieval town of half-timbered houses and canals, widely regarded as an inspiration for the look of Howl's Moving Castle.  
• 48.16647.302815 Riquewihr (Alsace, France). A walled wine village a short drive from Colmar, with similar streets and architecture. Both towns are popular and crowded in summer and in the Christmas market season.  

• 35.6963139.570416 Ghibli Museum (三鷹の森ジブリ美術館) (Mitaka, Tokyo (15-minute walk or short bus ride from Mitaka Station)). 10:00-18:00, closed Tuesdays and some other days. The studio's own museum, opened in 2001 and designed under the direction of Hayao Miyazaki. It has original artwork, a short film screening room exclusive to the museum, a rooftop garden with a robot soldier from Castle in the Sky, and a cafe. Interior photography is not allowed. Tickets are sold for a fixed date and time in advance, usually from the 10th of the previous month, and they often sell out within hours. Tickets cannot be bought at the door. Check the official site for the current sales method, including options for overseas visitors. About ¥1,000 for adults; cheaper for children.  
• 35.1717137.085617 Ghibli Park (ジブリパーク) (Aichi Expo Memorial Park, Nagakute, near Nagoya). A theme park in the grounds of the 2005 World Expo. It opened in stages from 2022 and has several themed areas: Ghibli's Grand Warehouse, the Hill of Youth, Dondoko Forest (with the Totoro house of Satsuki and Mei), Mononoke Village and the Valley of Witches (opened 2024, with buildings based on Howl's Moving Castle and Kiki's Delivery Service). Most areas require tickets bought in advance, and some individual attractions need separate reservations. Check the official site for current details.  
• 35.6646139.758518 Giant Ghibli Clock (日テレ大時計) (Nippon TV Tower, Shiodome, Tokyo). A large animated clock designed by Hayao Miyazaki that performs mechanical shows at set times. It is free to see. Check the current show times before you go.  

• Ghibli Museum bans photography inside the building.

• Fiction tourism
• Film tourism
• Anime and manga in Japan