Travelers Company

The Disney release of the movie Ponyo (here’s an extensive fan review on the Ghibli Blog) has heightened interest in its creator, animation master Hayao Miyazaki, and his Japan-based company Studio Ghibli.

You can visit the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka (a western suburb of Tokyo) to see a spectacular facility dedicated to the wonderful art of Miyazaki’s hand-drawn animation. It gives you a stunning peek into the mind of the Academy Award-winning artist.

My daughter, her cousin and I visited the museum a few years ago and we absolutely loved it.

In addition to the imaginative, swoopy, playful architecture of the building itself, there is a theater with short Miyazaki films (in Japanese but I assure you, it doesn’t matter) exhibits and displays about art and animation, a cafe, a toddler playroom with a giant plush Catbus and a gift shop that requires sumo training to handle the polite but persistent crowds.

Your admission ticket, as seen in my photo above, is an actual piece of film from one of Miyazaki’s movies.

Admission is by dated, timed tickets, so if you’re in Japan, order them at any Lawson’s (a Japanese convenience store similar to 7-Eleven.)  You can also purchase them from travel agents; this page on the Ghibli site explains ticket purchasing.

It’s not hard to get to the Museum, which is located in pretty, green Mitaka Inokashira Park.  Take the JR Chuo Line to Mitaka station (about 20 minutes from Shinjuku station.)  Exit from the Mitaka South Exit and walk about 15 minutes along the Tamagawa Josui “Waterworks” to the Museum. There is also a bus that picks up at the station.

Spending time at the Ghibli Museum will be a highlight of your family’s visit to Tokyo.