Ghibli Theme Park is Suitable for Two Types of Visitors

One type is those who purchase the premium tickets that allow access to all buildings, and the other is those who enjoy nature and hiking. Ghibli Park is divided into five areas spread across Aichi Expo Memorial Park, with Totoro Forest being somewhat distant from all other areas. The entire park is more than twice the size of Tokyo Disney Resort, so unless you have exceptional stamina, it's impossible to explore the entire park on foot in one day. If you have a premium ticket, the recommended order to visit the five areas is: 1. The Grand Warehouse, 2. Witch Valley, 3. Youth Hill, 4. Totoro Forest, and 5. Ghost Village. Regardless of the ticket type, you must choose an entry time for the Grand Warehouse. If you get a morning entry time, you can arrive at the park an hour early and explore Youth Hill, which is closest to the station, before queuing for the Grand Warehouse. The premium ticket costs 7,300 yen on weekdays and 7,800 yen on weekends, with an additional 110 yen service fee if purchased on the official Boo-Woo site. Compared to USJ's ticket prices and attractions, the cost-performance ratio is not high, so be prepared to lower your expectations. Tickets go on sale two months in advance, and since they are not cheap, it's best to plan ahead to avoid paying extra to agents. The premium ticket allows entry to buildings in Witch Valley (3), Youth Hill (1), and Totoro Forest (1) only once. The essence of Ghibli Park lies in recreating scenes from the animations, so the props inside the buildings are either real objects or highly accurate replicas. Most props can be touched and opened to observe their interiors, so once inside, be sure to explore the prop books, items, instruments, and furniture drawers for surprises. The park's essence and greatest playability lie in its faithful recreation of movie scenes. Ghost Village has no playability, but those who enjoy making Gohei Mochi can try it there. After visiting Totoro Forest, if you're too tired to walk to the next area, consider taking the Cat Bus directly to Ghost Village for 1,000 yen, which allows you to take photos with the bus for free. When there are fewer people, you can consider the free bus, but it runs only three times an hour, so plan accordingly. Regarding dining, after 1 PM, the restaurant at the entrance of Witch Valley has shorter lines, and with luck, you can be seated immediately or after a 10-minute wait. Finally, for those who criticize Ghibli Park for being unreasonable, remember that the Expo Memorial Park was originally for Aichi residents, with cultural and sports facilities before Ghibli Park was added. Therefore, Ghibli had to adapt to existing conditions. The entire Expo Park is an open large park, and you need to have your ticket checked repeatedly to enter Ghibli areas. Ghibli has always been a bit of a cash grab; I've visited the Mitaka Museum twice, and its cost-performance ratio isn't high either. It's better to lower your expectations before visiting the park. Also, Nagoya is a car-centric city, and if you don't drive, the cost of public transportation from the city center is indeed a downside. #Japan #ThemeParkTips #Ghibli #HayaoMiyazaki