Ghibli Park: Popular souvenirs selling out in 10 mins?! Sneak peek into the new area ‘Mononoke Village’

I will introduce popular souvenirs and foods at Ghibli Park along with the attractions of ‘Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse’ and ‘Mononoke Village’! (For articles on ‘Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse,’ ‘Hill of Youth,’ and ‘Dondoko Forest,’ click here. For the latest area ‘Valley of Witches,’ click here.)


Contents

  1. Arrive 15-30 mins before opening!
  2. Popular goods selling out in 10 mins
  3. Delicious foods with a long line
  4. The grand opening of ‘Mononoke Village’
  5. Enjoy Ghibli Park again and again

1. Arrive 15-30 mins before opening!

This time, we entered with a set ticket for ’Mononoke Village’ and ’Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse’ (note that ticketing has changed since March 2024; for the latest information, click here). ’Mononoke Village’ represents the world of Princess Mononoke, while ’Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse’ showcases Ghibli’s world with a screening room, special exhibits, shops, and a café. Upon arriving 10 mins before the earliest weekday entry time slot (10:00am) at ’Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse,’ there was already a line, and we entered at 10:10am. The popular photo spot ‘Memorable Ghibli Scenes Exhibition’ has long lines from the morning, so it’s recommended to arrive 15-30 mins before opening!

10 mins before entry to ‘Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse’
First, check the opening hours of the café and the souvenir shop!
The central staircase symbolizing ‘Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse’
Within 10 mins of opening, there’s a long line…
A very popular photo spot!
Spirited Away and Laputa are especially popular!

2. Get the popular goods!

There are limited places to buy souvenirs at Ghibli Park, with the shop ‘Adventurous Flying Squadron’ inside ‘Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse’ offering a wide variety. Be aware of varying opening times (typically 10:30am on weekdays and 9:30am on weekends/holidays). Popular items sell out quickly after opening, so if you prioritize souvenirs over photos, line up before the shop opens and then enjoy the other attractions!

10 mins before the gift shop ‘Adventurous Flying Squadron’ opens
Finally open! The shop is crowded with people looking for souvenirs!
Beautifully embossed boxes of amber sugar from Whisper of the Heart sell out within 10 mins!
We bought snacks, plush toys and magnets!

3. Delicious foods with a long line

Ghibli Park has few places to sit and eat, so for a leisurely meal head to ‘Transcontinental Flight Café’ inside ‘Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse’. Note varying opening times (11:00am on weekdays and 10:30am on weekends/holidays). There’s a long line during lunchtime, even before noon, so line up 10 mins before opening!

A long line as usual (10 mins before opening)
The menu is stylish too! (menu details here)
Sandwiches with character flags
Found a limited-time fried chicken sandwich!
The pizza looks delicious… yum-yum
Front: Neapolitan sandwich, miso cutlet pizza Back: fried chicken sandwich, green apple/raspberry soda float

4. The grand opening of ‘Mononoke Village’

A sneak peek into the opening day of ‘Mononoke Village’! This new area recreates the rustic landscape from Princess Mononoke, featuring giant statues of Lord Okkoto and Demon Spiri. The hands-on learning center ‘Tatara-ba’, inspired by the movie’s buildings, offers a chance to make gohei-mochi, a traditional sweet miso-flavored rice cake snack from central Japan. Check out exclusive souvenirs like character mascots and dried meat!

Beautiful font marks the area
Impressive Demon Spirit!
Lord Okkoto is also massive!
A slide on its back! (For children 12 and under)
Spotting ‘Tatara-ba’!
Experience charcoal-grilling your own gohei-mochi at ‘Tatara-ba’
About a one hour wait to enter on opening day
For 1200 yen, choose one skewer of mochi and one jar of sauce (three types: walnut miso, soy sauce, Neapolitan). Extra mochi and sauce are available for purchase!
First, roast the mochi until it gets a nice char
Then spread sauce on both sides
It smells delicious!
You can get powdered cheese on Neapolitan mochi!
The walnut miso sauce was the tastiest!
Check out the shop near ‘Tatara-ba’!
We recommend the jerky!
Ramune is always delicious

5. Enjoy Ghibli Park again and again

This was my second visit to Ghibli Park, and I thoroughly enjoyed the areas that I previously visited. The main reasons being the limited-time exhibits, souvenirs, and food! The short films by Studio Ghibli were a highlight. In the screening exhibition room “Cinema Orion” inside ‘”Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse” you can watch short animations previously only shown at the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Tokyo. With a different film out of the ten available shown each month, you’ll enjoy every visit!

Screening Room “Cinema Orion”
Don’t forget to check the screening schedule
A cute and nostalgic film Mei and the Kittenbus

 


This concludes the second report on Ghibli Park! If you’re interested, be sure to visit!

‘Ghibli goes on’

——————

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Panda, Chief Editor

There's nothing I like more than Manga. After working as an organizer and interpreter at one of Europe's largest cultural events, I eventually became the chief editor of "ComicAddict."

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