Here’s a First Look at How the Studio Ghibli Theme Park Will Look in 2022

Studio Ghibli Theme Park Plans

Concept plans for Witch Valley, which will feature attractions for “Howl’s Moving Castle” and Kiki’s Delivery Service”

If you’re a fan of the iconic Hayao Miyazaki films, chances are that you’re eager to visit the forthcoming Ghibli Theme Park. While the project was originally slated for completion in 2020, there’s been a slight delay—it’s now expected to open in 2022. Although a setback, there are new concept drawings and plans for what we can anticipate once it’s complete.

When we first wrote about Ghibli Park, we reported that it would be located in EXPO Park, which was once the site of the 2005 World EXPO in Nagakute City. It’s an ideal location, as it already boasts a scale replica of Mei and Satsuki Kusakabe’s home from My Neighbor Totoro.

Elements from the films will be recognizable as soon as you approach the park. Upon entering the nearly 500-acre area, there will be buildings reminiscent of Howl’s Moving Castle and Whisper of the Heart’s antique shop. European-style brick buildings will be beyond the gates, as will the Big Ghibli Warehouse, which will have themed play areas in addition to exhibition galleries and cinemas. Shying away from massive rollercoasters (although there will be rides), current Ghibli Park plans will allow park goers to focus on nature trails as they enjoy features from popular films like My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away. Statues of boars and spiders will also be in the park to bring the essence of Studio Ghibli’s work to life. It’s times like this we wish time travel was real!

The Studio Ghibli theme park is set to open in 2022, and new plans for it have been released.

Studio Ghibli Theme Park Plans

Plans for the Big Ghibli Warehouse

Studio Ghibli Theme Park Plans

Concept art for the Big Ghibli Warehouse

Upon entering the nearly 500-acre area, there will be buildings reminiscent of Howl’s Moving Castle and Whisper of the Heart’s antique shop.

Studio Ghibli Theme Park Plans

Plans for the main gate

Studio Ghibli Theme Park Plans

Structures from “Howl’s Moving Castle”

Studio Ghibli Theme Park Plans

Plans for the Dondoko Forest Area

Studio Ghibli Theme Park Plans

Plans for Princess Mononoke Village

Studio Ghibli Theme Park Plans

Concept for Princess Mononoke Village

Is 2022 too far away? In the meantime, you can visit a scale replica of Mei and Satsuki Kusakabe’s home from My Neighbor Totoro. It is already in EXPO Park.

Studio Ghibli Museum

All images via Studio Ghibli.

Related Articles:

Giant ‘Castle in the Sky’ in Tokyo Celebrates the Work of Studio Ghibli

Artist Dissects Hayao Miyazaki’s Animated Films, Displays All Iconic Objects Found in Them

100+ Artists Pay Tribute to Creative Genius Hayao Miyazaki in 3 Day Art Show

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled 'Embroidered Life' that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
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