Studio Ghibli Park Complete Guide 2025: Valley of Witches, Mononoke Village & Ticket Tricks
Image © Ghibli Park / Aichi Prefecture via Blooloop
Since , all five themed areas of Studio Ghibli Park have been open—meaning 2025 is the first full year you can explore everything in one go. From the brand-new Valley of Witches (hello, Howl’s Castle!) to the forested charms of Mononoke Village, here’s the ultimate primer on tickets, itineraries and little-known hacks.
Fast Facts for 2025
- Location: Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park (Moricoro Park), Nagakute
- Areas: Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse, Hill of Youth, Dondoko Forest, Mononoke Village, Valley of Witches
- Hours: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (weekends 9 a.m.–5 p.m.); select summer nights to 8 p.m.
- Cashless Only: Credit cards, IC cards & QR wallets accepted—no cash on site
1 │ Ticket Tricks (Read This First!)
Tickets drop two months ahead, on the 10-th of each month at 2 p.m. JST. Overseas visitors buy through LAWSON Ticket or Klook; inventory appears seconds after the clock strikes 2 p.m., so be logged in early. The most flexible option is the O-Sanpo Day Pass Premium, covering all five areas in one day.
- Set a timer + autofill: Slots can vanish in under five minutes.
- Weekday advantage: Tuesdays–Thursdays see up to 30 % more availability.
- Split strategy: Can’t land a full-park pass? Pair a Grand Warehouse + Valley of Witches ticket with a separate Dondoko Forest / Hill of Youth pass the next morning.
2 │ Area-by-Area Highlights
■ Valley of Witches
A European-style village starring a four-storey replica of Howl’s Moving Castle, Kiki’s red-roofed bakery and a whimsical carousel. Try the Flying Machine ride for sweeping park views.
■ Mononoke Village
Walk into Princess Mononoke: tatara ironworks, a soot-covered boar god playground and hands-on kinako-grinding workshops. Kids can climb inside the fearsome demon-boar slide—don’t worry, it’s foam!
■ Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse
Indoor mega-complex packed with film sets, a mini-cityscape food court and Cinema Orion—the only place outside Mitaka’s museum to watch Ghibli shorts.
■ Hill of Youth
Relive Whisper of the Heart in Seiji’s antique shop, then climb the vintage elevator tower for skyline selfies.
■ Dondoko Forest
Board the Catbus to Satsuki & Mei’s country house, nestled among towering cedars, and ring Totoro’s “Dondoko” drum for good luck.
3 │ Getting There & Moving Around
- Train: 50 min from Nagoya via Higashiyama subway → Linimo maglev (Aichikyūhaku-kinen-kōen Stn)
- Time budget: Plan 4–5 hrs for Grand Warehouse + one outdoor area; full-park pass needs a full day plus comfy shoes.
- Food: Picnic tables are scattered throughout Moricoro Park; bringing snacks is allowed but no coolers.
4 │ Pro Tips for 2025
- Screening slots: Reserve free short-film tickets in Grand Warehouse immediately upon entry.
- Hydrate: Summer temps can hit 34 °C; grab the limited-edition Totoro misting bottle at gift shops.
- Photo ops: Valley-of-Witches lights up after sunset on select Saturdays—worth a second lap.
- Stay nearby: Hotels in Sakae or Nagoya Station cut morning commute to < 1 hr door-to-gate.
Ready for Your Ghibli Pilgrimage?
Book those tickets early, charge your phone (QR codes everywhere) and prepare to step inside the worlds Hayao Miyazaki imagined. See you under Howl’s soaring castle!