Tucked into Tokyo’s Mitaka no Mori (Mitaka Forest), the Ghibli Museum is much more than an animation showcase. From the moment you arrive, you feel Hayao Miyazaki’s philosophy in the details—the handcrafted materials, the architecture that welcomes touch and light, and exhibitions and short films you can experience only here. Together, they pull you gently into a living story.
Give yourself a day here, surrounded by park greenery and pleasantly removed from the city’s bustle, and you’ll find an experience that’s both intellectually stimulating and quietly restorative. If you love Ghibli, you’ll recognize familiar sensibilities; if you’re drawn to culture and architecture, you’ll discover a place that invites you to slow down, look closer, and let your imagination breathe—a true “place to free your mind.”
The building of the Ghibli Museum, Mitaka—crafted to embody Studio Ghibli’s worldview—has been designed so that the entire space feels like a film telling a story. Miyazaki envisioned “making the building itself like a movie,” aiming not for the authoritative grandeur of many museums but for a space where natural light and wind move freely, and where touching the materials conveys warmth (*1).
Step inside and lift your gaze: soft daylight pours through the glass-domed ceiling of the central hall. Stained glass windows featuring beloved Ghibli characters wash the room with color, so the cinematic mood reaches every corner. Overhead in the reception hall, hand-painted frescoes unfurl across the ceiling, while doors and window frames reveal careful artisanal work—Miyazaki’s creative vision made tangible in each detail (*2).
He resists strict stylistic rules, favoring the delight of “things that don’t match”—colors slightly off, forms that surprise. What you feel is playful freedom, not museum formality; it’s the kind of space that nudges you back into a childlike mindset and stirs your imagination.
If you’re used to the polished symmetry of many Western museums, this whimsical environment may open you up in new ways—disarming, welcoming, and wonderfully human, so that cultural distance simply falls away.
You’ll also notice how the building honors traditional Japanese aesthetics and materials. It’s designed to blend with the greenery of Inokashira Park, where ivy and vivid hues shift with the seasons—so much so that the museum can feel like a natural extension of the forest (*3). For visitors, the seasonal changes that Japan cherishes become a quietly poetic part of the experience.
Inside, wood and plaster appear throughout; when you run your hand along a surface, there’s a gentle warmth. This is very much in line with Miyazaki’s wish for a “building that feels warm to the touch” (*1). Instead of leaning on high-tech finishes, the museum celebrates craft—work you can sense with your fingertips.
Where marble and glass might dominate elsewhere, here natural materials soften the atmosphere, creating a comfort that feels familiar even if you’ve come from far away. Curved lines and plant motifs on railings and lights recall classic Japanese domestic design, while the Art Nouveau-like spirit makes the look feel universally appealing. Every element is considered, so the building becomes what it aims to celebrate: a harmonious meeting of tradition and creativity, a work of art in itself.
The Ghibli Museum, Mitaka, offers a variety of exhibitions and programs designed to deepen visitors’ understanding of Studio Ghibli’s creative world. The permanent exhibition, “Where a Film is Born,” features devices that demonstrate the principles of animation, such as 19th-century zoetropes and stroboscopes (*1). Visitors of all ages can enjoy learning how drawings come to life.
As you wander, you can study background paintings, storyboards, and character models—materials that open a window onto how Ghibli films take shape. Many exhibits invite touch and interaction, freeing you from the usual museum script of “look, don’t touch,” and encouraging you to engage with curiosity and play.
This hands-on approach—so characteristic of Japanese museum design—can be especially refreshing if you’re used to passive viewing. It turns learning into discovery, and discovery into memory.
One highlight you won’t want to miss is the Saturn Theater, where original short films screen exclusively for museum guests. You might catch Mei and the Kittenbus, a sequel to My Neighbor Totoro, among a rotating lineup of around ten shorts produced to date. Because the program changes monthly, it’s worth checking the official website before you go (*2).
Beyond exhibitions and films, special programs are designed to spark your own creativity. Rotating special exhibitions explore Ghibli’s craft from new angles or feature collaborations with other animation artists (*3). The tone is inviting: “Making things looks fun—try it!”
At times, hands-on workshops encourage you to roll up your sleeves, whether it’s learning background-painting techniques from professional art directors or coloring your own cels. These moments connect you to Ghibli’s creative heartbeat and deepen your appreciation through experience. Creating alongside fellow fans can become one of those rare travel memories that stays with you well after you return home.
Don’t skip the small library, Tri Hawks, curated by Miyazaki himself. It’s lined with picture books and children’s literature chosen to help young readers “see, touch, and feel the mysterious” (*4). You’re free to browse; when a book catches your eye and pulls you into its world, you may sense the wellspring of imagination that feeds Ghibli’s storytelling.
In a digital-first era, the simple act of opening a physical book can feel both grounding and new. For international visitors, it’s also a glimpse of how deeply Japan values reading and the power of stories.
After your museum visit, slow the pace even further with a café stop. Inokashira Park and neighboring Kichijoji brim with stylish spots for a lingering coffee, a glass of natural wine, or an easy lunch.
A favorite just steps from the museum is Café du Lièvre Usagikan, a French-style hideaway among the trees. Here you can savor Brittany-style galettes and crêpes, the nutty aroma of buckwheat mingling with the quiet of the woods (*1). It’s a lovely way to feel far from the city without leaving it.
In the park, you’ll also find Pepacafé Forest, known for Thai dishes that pair well with a relaxed afternoon. Venture toward Kichijoji Station and your options multiply—from retro coffee houses with a Showa-era mood to acclaimed bakeries and wine-forward bistros. The variety encourages you to choose a spot that matches your mood that day.
Kichijoji may be synonymous with trends, but its café culture is equally rooted. It’s an ideal backdrop to reflect on your museum experience and enjoy unhurried conversation.
When you’re ready to explore again, let the nearby art scene extend the day’s inspiration. On weekends, the Inokashira Park Art Market gathers registered “art casts” who display and sell handmade works—paintings, crafts, accessories—beneath the trees (*3).
Launched in 2006 for the park’s centennial, it was the first event in Japan to connect artists and visitors directly in an open-air park setting (*3). Choosing a piece from its maker, with sunlight filtering through the leaves, can become the keepsake you remember most.
Small galleries dot the neighborhood, too. Near Inokashira Park Station, between gallery focuses on “connections between people,” showing local artists, hosting workshops, and inviting conversation (*4).
Within Kichijoji proper, you’ll encounter antique shops, secondhand bookstores, and intimate cinemas screening independent films. It’s not unusual to find a chic boutique right next to a tiny gallery—an effortless pairing that seems unique to this area (*2).
Strolling here, where contemporary style and artistic heritage coexist, lets you carry the museum’s creative spark into the rest of your day.
If you prioritize sustainable travel, getting to the Ghibli Museum is refreshingly straightforward. Public transport is convenient and scenic: from JR Mitaka Station or JR/Keio Inokashira Line Kichijoji Station, it’s about a 15-minute walk along the Tamagawa Josui waterway. Or ride the community bus wrapped in Ghibli characters from Mitaka Station’s south exit—only about five minutes to the museum (*1). The journey itself becomes part of the experience as you move through the park’s greenery.
Because the museum is roughly 20 minutes by train from central Tokyo, private cars are discouraged. There’s no dedicated parking, and guests are asked not to drive (*1).
If driving is unavoidable, consider a hybrid or EV and park in a nearby public lot before walking in. With Japan’s excellent rail network, you’ll likely find the train the most efficient—and comfortable—choice.
Sustainability isn’t just a talking point here; it’s a guiding principle. When the museum was founded, Miyazaki expressed a hope to create a place that would “not only preserve greenery but become even better after 10 years” (*2). The museum and the surrounding park are meant to grow together.
On the rooftop, a garden flourishes under the watch of the robot soldier from Castle in the Sky. Indoors, LED lighting and careful waste separation support low-impact operations; in the café, disposable plastics are minimized and straw straws are used—small choices that reflect Japan’s “mottainai” spirit and Ghibli’s respect for nature.
During a major renovation in 2016, the team used original materials and methods whenever possible—often working with the same artisans involved at the start (*3). It’s a thoughtful, craft-first approach that extends the building’s life and preserves its warmth.
Studio Ghibli and Mitaka City have also collaborated on practical improvements around the park—signage, outdoor restrooms, bus stops—so the environment remains both welcoming and protected. The result is a model for high-value cultural destinations where community, culture, and nature thrive together.
You arrive for art and storytelling; you leave with a deeper awareness of sustainability in practice—and perhaps new habits to carry into the rest of your travels.
A day at the Ghibli Museum, where animation and culture meet so naturally, is a rare chance to satisfy your curiosity and unwind your mind. You’ll admire architecture shaped by Miyazaki’s vision, explore exhibitions and short films that reveal creative depth, and carry that inspiration into nearby cafés and galleries that show another side of Tokyo.
Set within tranquil greenery, the museum offers an oasis where you can step away from the city and into a story. Let yourself lean into that feeling—use all five senses, notice the textures, watch the light, and rediscover the joy of looking closely. It’s the kind of experience that stays with you long after the day ends—quietly enriching, distinctly memorable, and made for the traveler you are.