[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Ghibli Park, which brings the works of Studio Ghibli, founded by Japanese animation master Hayao Miyazaki, into the real world, opened on the 1st, NHK and others reported on the 31st.
Ghibli Park is accessible by reservation only and has a daily limit of 5,000 visitors. Tickets are already sold out through December. According to Nihon Keizai, the annual number of visitors is expected to be 1.8 million, which is about one-tenth of the maximum attendance at Tokyo Disneyland (2018).
Ghibli Park is located in Nagakute City near Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture. It was planned and developed by Goro Miyazaki, Hayao Miyazaki's son and an animation director. The total project cost was 34 billion yen (approximately 330 billion KRW). Nihon Keizai reported, "Ghibli works, delivered to 190 countries, have many loyal fans overseas, and the park will expand based on stable content competitiveness."
The interior of Ghibli Park consists of five areas. Among them, only three areas are open to visitors first: 'Ghibli's Grand Warehouse,' which recreates characters and famous scenes from Studio Ghibli works; 'Hill of Youth,' inspired by the shop featured in the animation "Whisper of the Heart"; and 'Dondoko Forest,' modeled after the rural scenery of "My Neighbor Totoro." The remaining areas, 'Mononoke Village' and 'Witch Valley,' are scheduled to open before spring 2024.
Studio Ghibli has been operating the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka City, Tokyo since 2001. This museum was a popular tourist attraction for visitors to Japan before COVID-19. Aichi Prefecture expects Ghibli Park to attract tourists as well, generating an economic effect worth 48 billion yen.
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