Some places you visit. Others you have been waiting for since you were a teenager. The Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Tokyo, was one of those for me. In this article, I tell you about my visit, from the zoetropes that made me gasp to the shop where I lost all self-control. I also share everything you need to know to go: how to get Ghibli Museum tickets, how much they cost, how to get there and what to expect inside.
Visited in 2015. Practical information updated in October 2026.
Ghibli Museum: Quick Facts
- Where: Inokashira Park, Mitaka, western Tokyo
- Ticket prices: ¥1,000 for adults (€5.64), ¥700 for ages 13 to 18 (€3.94), ¥400 for ages 7 to 12 (€ 2.25), ¥100 for ages 4 to 6 (€0.56), and free for ages 3 and under
- Booking: advance tickets only, no walk-ins. Tickets for the following month go on sale on the 10th of each month at 10:00 (Japan time)
- Where to buy: Lawson Ticket or JTB (see section “How to Get Ghibli Museum Tickets”)
- Opening hours: 10:00 to 18:00, with timed entry slots
- Closed: Tuesdays and some maintenance periods
- Photos: not allowed inside, allowed outside and on the rooftop garden
- Time needed: about 2 to 3 hours
How I Fell In Love With Studio Ghibli
I really discovered manga as a teenager. Sure, I watched Sailor Moon as a child, but to me it was simply a cartoon like any other. In high school, a friend of mine was reading manga and she lent me some. My very first one was Gunnm, and I still love it.
Around the same time, I discovered the Ghibli movies and fell in love with their poetry. Spirited Away was my first, and it is still very dear to me. Then came My Neighbor Totoro. It was made for children, but I adore it. Plus, it came out in 1988, just like me.
So when I finally decided to go to Japan, there was one place I could not miss.
Flying To Japan To Fulfill A Dream
After traveling to Canada on my own, I felt like I could go anywhere and do anything I dreamed of. So I flew to Japan, for a whole month, starting and ending in Tokyo.
On the plane, I became friends with the woman sitting next to me and we swapped contact details. At the hostel, I met lovely people who were passionate about Japanese culture, literature and food. My hostel was near Asakusa, and I loved that district from the very first evening.
(Little anecdote: on the first morning, I was quite surprised to see a shirtless guy in my room. I didn’t remember booking a mixed dorm, and I was very glad I hadn’t slept in my underwear that night!)
I had booked my Ghibli Museum ticket months in advance, and I counted the days. Some of the people I met at the hostel wanted to go too, but they had waited too long and tickets were sold out. I felt so lucky.
Setting Foot In A Fantasy World
The Ghibli Museum was designed by Hayao Miyazaki himself, and you feel it immediately. It doesn’t look like a museum at all. It looks like a house from one of his films, with winding pathways, round shapes, spiral staircases, tiny bridges and little windows everywhere: it’s a pleasure to explore it! There is no set route: the museum’s motto is “Let’s get lost together”, and that is exactly what you do.
One thing to know: the museum is quite small. Don’t expect a huge building with endless galleries. Its charm is in the details, not the size.
The Zoetropes: When The Characters Come Alive
The first things I saw were the “carousels” of characters from the films, called zoetropes. Figures are placed in a circle, and when they spin fast under a flashing light, the characters suddenly come alive. The Catbus starts to run! It is the most basic principle of animation, and yet it feels like pure magic. I could have stayed there for an hour.
Inside Miyazaki’s Imagination
The museum’s exhibitions feel like stepping into the creative brain of Hayao Miyazaki: sketches, watercolors, books, piles of drawings on desks, as if the artist had just left the room. There is a permanent exhibition about how animated films are made, and a temporary one that changes regularly.
Photography is forbidden inside, so I took my time in every room, trying to remember every detail. (More than ten years later, I can tell you it didn’t really work. But I remember the feeling, and that is what matters.)
The Saturn Theater: A Short Film You Can’t See Anywhere Else
Your ticket includes one screening in the Saturn Theater, a small cinema that shows original Studio Ghibli short films made only for the museum. They rotate regularly, so you never know which one you’ll get, and you can’t watch them anywhere else in the world.
The one I saw was A Sumo Wrestler’s Tail. It’s about an elderly couple in the countryside who feed the mice living in their house, then help them train a little sumo mouse to fight a mouse from a rival group nearby. It was adorable, and both the adults and children in the room loved it.
After The Exhibitions: The Shop, The Café And The Garden
The Mamma Aiuto! Shop: Like A Kid In A Candy Store
When the visit ended, I wasn’t sad for long, because I arrived at the museum shop, Mamma Aiuto! And let me tell you: I was like a kid in a candy store. I wanted everything! Many items are only sold here, which makes resisting even harder.
I bought a few souvenirs and stuffed animals. And by “a few”, I mean a lot. I don’t regret a thing.
The Straw Hat Café
The museum also has a café, the Straw Hat Café, which serves dishes and desserts inspired by the films. To be honest, I was a bit disappointed by it, so I didn’t stay long. It is often busy, with a line on weekends and holidays, so if you are short on time, I’d skip it and spend longer in the exhibitions or on the rooftop.
Meeting The Robot Soldier On The Rooftop Garden
Up on the rooftop garden stands a massive statue of the Robot Soldier from Castle in the Sky. It looks incredible, surrounded by greenery, and it is one of the few places in the museum where you can take photos.
I couldn’t resist taking a picture of myself with it. I know, cliché… But sometimes I love being a cliché tourist!
How To Get Ghibli Museum Tickets
This is the most important part, because you cannot buy tickets at the door. Here is how it works:
- Know the release date. Tickets for the following month go on sale on the 10th of each month at 10:00 Japan time. For example, tickets for a visit in March go on sale on February 10.
- Choose the experience that suits you. From abroad, you can use Lawson Ticket to book your ticket or the Special Bus Tour by Sunrise Tours JTB (that includes other destinations as well).
- Pick your date and entry time. Entry is by timed slots. Weekends and Japanese holidays sell out first.
- Bring your passport. The name on the ticket may be checked at the entrance.
My advice: set an alarm for the release day and book the moment tickets open. When I tried to go back on my second trip to Japan, I couldn’t get a simple museum ticket from abroad, only an expensive package with other visits included. Today you can book a simple ticket on Lawson Ticket’s international site, so don’t do what my hostel friends did, and book as early as you possibly can.
How To Get To The Ghibli Museum
- From Mitaka Station (JR Chuo Line): take the south exit and walk about 15 minutes along the Tamagawa Josui canal, or take the yellow Ghibli community bus (about 10 minutes) that runs every 15 minutes.
- From Kichijoji Station: walk 15 to 20 minutes through Inokashira Park. This is a good route if the weather is nice. The park seems beautiful, with its lake and swan boats.
Idea: Make a day of it. Combine the museum with a stroll in Inokashira Park and a wander around Kichijoji, a lovely neighborhood full of cafés and little shops.
Ghibli Museum Or Ghibli Park?
Since 2022, there is also Ghibli Park, in Aichi Prefecture near Nagoya, about 2 to 2.5 hours from Tokyo by shinkansen and local train. It is much bigger and recreates places from the films, such as Satsuki and Mei’s house from My Neighbor Totoro.
I have no personal opinion about it because I have never visited it. I think that if I went back to Tokyo I might give it a try, but I have heard bad reviews from friends who said that it felt too commercial and less aligned with the Ghibli universe and its spirit. I have also read reviews saying that it tends to be really crowded with long waiting lines. But if you are a true fan, why not try it?
Beyond the Ghibli universe, if you’re looking for an extraordinary experience in Tokyo, I would recommend the teamLab Borderless exhibition.
Ghibli Museum FAQ
- Do I need to book the Ghibli Museum in advance? Yes. There are no walk-ins. Tickets go on sale on the 10th of the previous month and often sell out quickly.
- How much does the Ghibli Museum cost? ¥1,000 for adults (€5.64), ¥700 for ages 13 to 18 (€3.94), ¥400 for ages 7 to 12 (€ 2.25), ¥100 for ages 4 to 6 (€0.56). Children under 4 enter for free. Packages bought from abroad can cost more.
- Can you take photos inside the Ghibli Museum? No. Photos are only allowed outside, including on the rooftop garden with the Robot Soldier.
- How long does a visit take? Plan around 2 to 3 hours, including the short film, the shop and the rooftop.
- Is the Ghibli Museum worth it for adults? Absolutely. I went as an adult and felt like a child again. If you love the films, it is a must.
- When is the Ghibli Museum closed? On Tuesdays, plus some periods for maintenance or new exhibitions. Always check the official calendar before planning your day.
A Little Piece Of My Heart Stayed In Mitaka
Years later, I still smile when I think about that day: the Catbus and Chibi Totoro running in the zoetrope, the sumo mice, the strange staircase, my arms full of stuffed animals and my cliché selfie with the Robot Soldier… If you love the Ghibli movies, the Ghibli Museum is not just a visit, it’s a deep dive into Miyazaki’s wonderful universe!
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