Finally! I got to enter Ghibli Museum for real this year! It was closed during my last visit in 2010 due to renovation (read about it here). It certainly lived up to my expectation and imagination. I thoroughly enjoyed the museum, especially the exclusive short film shown in its theater.
How to get there?
Take JR Chuo line to either Mitaka station or Kichijoji station. From Mitaka station, you can choose to take a 15-minute walk along Kichijoji Avenue or take the shuttle bus to the museum. This time I finally got to see the special shuttle bus to Ghibli Museum. Unfortunately, it was full and I chose to walk from JR Mitaka station to the museum.
"Ghibli Museum, Mitaka" sign at the entrance. During my last visit, I only managed to take photo here, (sob sob).
How to purchase the ticket?
Entrance to the Ghibli Museum is strictly by advance purchase of a reserved ticket which specifies the appointed date of the reservation. For visitors outside Japan, I highly recommend buying the ticket through Lawson website: https://l-tike.com/st1/ghibli-en/
Tickets go on sale from the 10th of each month for the following month (for example, tickets for July 1 through July 31 go on sale on June 10). Tickets are good only for the specified date and time of entry.
Be ready to snatch the ticket a month earlier on the 10th! The tickets sell out really fast, no kidding. Most of the tickets for the morning time slot were already sold out even though I bought the ticket on the 10th itself. There are four time of entry to choose from: 10am, 12pm, 2pm and 4pm. But once inside, you can stay as long as you like until the closing time of the museum at 6pm.
A very large Totoro welcomes visitors at the entrance. But this is not the real entrance. The real entrance is on the other side.
Keep walking and you will see people lining up to get their tickets checked and get in.
The staff will request you to show your ID to check if your name on the ticket matches your ID.
The exterior of the building is painted colourfully.
I found this mini replica of bath house in “Spirited Away” hidden on a potted plant nearby the entrance! Upon entering the building, you can collect the brochure and exchange your ticket with a section of film featuring randomly selected film from Ghibli studio anime.
Once inside, no photos/videos are allowed. I think the intention is for visitors to better enjoy the museum with five senses, instead of busy clicking the camera away.The Saturn Theater and permanent exhibition hall “The Beginning of Movement” dedicated to the art and technique of animation are located on the ground floor. Here I got to see how anime is being made from the 3D moving model.On the first floor, there is another permanent exhibit room “Where a Film is Born” featuring Hayao Miyazaki sensei’s drawing room, his hand-drawn script etc. Also on same floor is a special exhibit room. It was exhibiting “Delicious! Animating Memorable Meals” during my visit. This special exhibition has been extended to November 2018.
The second floor is where you can find the Cat bus from “My Neighbor Totoro”, Reading Room “Tri Hawks” and Museum Shop. It’s a pity only children under age 12 is allowed to explore or climb unto the Cat bus. I bought a ball with Ponyo in it and a pin from the Museum Shop.
A spiral staircase that link to the rooftop garden.
Looking down from the rooftop garden.
Of course, I wouldn’t miss the opportunity to take photo with the giant robot from “Laputa: Castle in The Sky” at the rooftop garden.
Everyone waited patiently for their turn to take photo with it.
Close-up on the robot.
A replica of the cube from “Laputa: Castle in The Sky”.
Last but not least, I went back to the theater to watch an exclusive short film. It was about a pair of old couple who lived in the mountains helping the mice in their house to win a sumo wrestling contest with mice from another place. Although there was no dialogue in the film, the film was funny and we laughed as we were watching it.
After watching the short film, we went to explore a small garden beneath the Straw Hat Café.
The garden is decorated with pretty potted plants and flowers. 
There’s a water pump as well.
Be sure to look out for soot-black Dust Bunnies in the round window.
A beautiful stained-glass window depicting a harbor scenery, I’m guessing it’s from “Howl’s Moving Castle”.
We didn’t dine at the Straw Hat café as it was full.
We only ordered some hot dogs at the take-out counter.
We spent around 2 hours in the museum. It was fun and whimsical.
I would highly recommend it to any Ghibli anime fans. Adult and children alike will enjoy this museum.
This concludes my visit to the Ghibli Museum.
Map of Mitaka's Inokashira Park.
After leaving Ghibli Museum, we walked around Mitaka's Inokashira Park where we found some pretty pink blossom trees. It’s still too early for cherry blossom season, so I’m guessing it’s plum blossom. Then we took the train back to Shinjuku.
Ghibli Museum
Official website: http://www.ghibli-museum.jp/en/
Opening hours: Museum: 10am to 6pm.Straw Hat Café: 11am to 6pmClosed on every Tuesday, except on these Tuesdays. The Museum is also closed at Year-end and for New Year's Holidays and periodic maintenance. Check the website for more information.
Admission Fees:
Over Age 19: ¥1,000
Age 13-18: ¥700
Age 7-12: ¥400
Age 4-6: ¥100
Children under 4 are admitted free of charge.
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