Studio Ghibli theme park coming to Japan gets opening date

After announcing plans in 2017 to build a theme park in Japan, Studio Ghibli has revealed that the park will open in Fall 2022.

By Niamh Larkin

Construction began on the “Ghibli Park” earlier this year, but was halted for two weeks in April and May due to COVID-19.

Aichi Prefecture Governor Hideaki Omura said that, despite the brief closure, the park construction remains on track for opening in 2022.

The park will be located in Aichi Expo Commemorative Park in Nagakute City, Japan and will have five themed areas based on Studio Ghibli films.

Three of these areas are under construction currently; The Hill of Youth area is loosely inspired by “Whisper of the Heart” and “Howl’s Moving Castle,” the Giant Warehouse area is based on “Spirited Away,” the third area is the Dondoko Forest and is based on “My Neighbor Totoro.”

The remaining two areas that are yet to start construction are Mononoke Village, based on “Princess Mononoke,” and Witch Valley, which is inspired by both “Kiki’s Delivery Service” and “Howl’s Moving Castle.” Development is expected to start on these areas in 2021.

President of Studio Ghibli, Kiyofumi Nakajima, has stated that an official groundbreaking ceremony for the park’s construction will take place on July 28.

To get your Studio Ghibli fix while you wait for this unique theme park to open, you can stream the entire film catalog now on HBO Max.