Before Ghibli Park opened in Nagoya, the Ghibli Museum, Mitaka in Tokyo was definitely a pilgrimage destination for every Hayao Miyazaki fan visiting Japan.
The entire museum was personally designed by Hayao Miyazaki around the concept of “Let’s get lost together.” There is no fixed route through the museum at all. It is filled with curved wooden staircases, stained glass, and geometric windows, creating the atmosphere of a dreamlike castle. The hand-drawn animation exhibit on the first floor recreates an animator’s work desk and displays countless sketches and sources of color inspiration. The exclusive Saturn Theater screens short animated films that can only be seen at the museum, while the giant God Warrior statue standing in the rooftop garden is a classic photo spot.
Even after all these years, what I treasure most is still that one-of-a-kind admission ticket stub! Made from actual 35mm film stock, each ticket has three randomly selected frames, making every one a unique surprise. I was lucky enough to get the classic scene of Yubaba’s office from Spirited Away. When light shines through it, the details are incredibly intricate. This utmost dedication to detail makes it something I can’t bear to put down!
