Ghibli Park Review and Guide (1): How to Avoid Crowds, Ticket Tips, Itinerary, Hotels, and Souvenirs

2025-10-23

Fisrt Review and guide index about "Ghibli Park" in Japan

To all of you who were once children (and are now adults) — this one’s for you.

We’re Shimakuma couple 🐻🐼, born with Castle in the Sky, raised with Totoro, and once dreamed of flying like Kiki.

Here begins our Ghibli Park Adventure 🧳 — a travel diary for those who still carry a spark of wonder.

If this series can inspire fellow dreamers who are wondering whether to visit Ghibli Park, our mission is complete 🐾

Most Important: About Media Research

The best way to experience Ghibli Park is to avoid watching too many photos or videos while researching your trip — let some of the magic stay a surprise. Avoid spoilers and let yourself feel as if you’ve stepped right into a Ghibli movie.

We’ll publish our favorite memories in a separate photo gallery, but this article intentionally keeps photos to a minimum. For the record, we took over 2,000 photos! 📸 So I think you make sure bring plenty of SD cards too.

List of what we will be showing you next

When you try to look up information about Ghibli Park, most reviews are written for families with kids. If you’re an adult wondering, “Is it okay to visit just by myself or with other adults?”, our own adventure story is for you — for grown-up fans who still believe in magic 🐾

Shimakuma

After all, we are the Mei-chan generation from Totoro🌽 This is the adventure we have been waiting for!!!

Each post stands alone, so you can start reading from any page!

Ghibli Park Ticket Booking Tips: The 2 Ticket Types Explained (My Personal Illustrated Guide)
- Visual guide to Premium vs. Standard tickets
- Details on same-day sales for Valley of Witches
- The exact booking method we personally used and recommend
Ghibli Park Route Tips: 2 Original Itineraries, Time Slots & Duration Explained
- Two-day model itinerary (recommended)
- One-day version if you’re short on time
Ghibli Park Dining Tips: Essential Notes on Food & Where to Eat
- Restaurants & Cafés in the Paid Areas(Ghibli Park)
- Restaurants & Cafés in the Free Areas(outside of Ghibli Park)
- Food & Drink Carry-in Policy (Crucial!)
- Guidelines for Trash Disposal
Ghibli Park Access Tips: Train vs. Bus from Nagoya Station (Directions with my Photos!)
Ghibli Park Essentials: Must-Haves & What to Wear (Ghibli-Inspired Outfit Tips)
- Ghibli Park Weather Tips: Beware of Mountain Weather, UV Rays & Safety Measures
- Ghibli Park Strategy: 3 Reasons Why a Suitcase Is Key & Baggage Size Limits for Train/Plane
- What to Wear to Ghibli Park? Local Sightings of Adult Ghibli-Inspired Outfits & Item Ideas
Nagoya Station Best Hotel Review: Direct Connection, Top Location & Nagoya’s Local Specialty Breakfast

I would be happy if I could help everyone who is going on an adventure next time🐾

I’ll be sharing more posts little by little, so stay tuned!

Must-See Spots in Japan

Written by

Shimakuma

I was born and raised in Japan, and obviously, I'm a huge anime fan--a real Otaku. This blog was originally a travel review blog for a Japanese audience, but I've started translating some posts into English. I hope these articles are a helpful resource for your trip to Japan!

This blog shares real travel information and experiences that you won't find in guidebooks, accompanied by original photos I've taken on location.

My specialties:
- Photography that conveys the local atmosphere
- Detailed information organization based on first-hand experience

I post the latest updates on X (formerly Twitter). It might be faster than the articles!