Studio Ghibli tourism: Culture and Travel Context

Studio Ghibli tourism is travel inspired by the animated films of Studio Ghibli, the Japanese studio founded in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata and Toshio Suzuki. Films such as My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Kiki's Delivery Service and Princess Mononoke have a large worldwide following. Many fans travel to the studio's museum and theme park, and to the real-life places that inspired the films.

Ghibli films are known for detailed natural scenery and for settings that blend real places with imagination. The directors often drew on real locations in Japan and Europe, but the studio usually describes its settings as composites rather than depictions of specific places. Many "Ghibli locations" are therefore fan-identified and may not match the film scenes exactly.

Several films are rooted in Japanese countryside life and folklore: Totoro in rural Japan of the 1950s, Princess Mononoke in ancient forests, and Spirited Away in bathhouse and onsen culture. Others, such as Kiki's Delivery Service, Howl's Moving Castle and Porco Rosso, are set in imagined versions of Europe.

1 Sayama Hills (狭山丘) (Tokorozawa, Saitama). A wooded area on the edge of Tokyo said to have inspired the landscape of My Neighbor Totoro. A local trust, the Totoro Forest Foundation, protects parts of the woodland and preserves old farmhouses, including the "Kurosuke House". Many of the paths and farms are private, so stay on public routes.

2 Sannomiya and Nishinomiya (Kobe area, Hyogo). Settings linked to Grave of the Fireflies, based on Akiyuki Nosaka's semi-autobiographical story.

3 Yamagata Prefecture (山形県) (Yamagata, Tohoku). The countryside scenes of Only Yesterday are set in Yamagata, where safflower (benibana) is grown. The flowers bloom around July, which is the best time for a visit.

4 Tama Hills (多摩丘陵) (Tama, Tokyo). The setting of Pom Poko, in which tanuki try to stop the development of the hills into Tama New Town. The suburban landscape of the area is still recognizable from the film.

5 Seiseki-Sakuragaoka (聖蹟桜ヶ丘) (Tama, Tokyo). The area around this Keio Line station is associated with Whisper of the Heart and its hilltop town scenes. A local shopping area acknowledges the connection.

6 Yakushima (屋久島) (Kagoshima Prefecture). A World Heritage island with ancient cedar forests and mossy valleys. The Shiratani Unsuikyo area is often linked with the forest of Princess Mononoke. Hikes range from easy walks to full-day treks.

7 Dogo Onsen (道後温泉) (Matsuyama, Ehime). One of Japan's oldest hot springs. Its wooden main bathhouse, Dogo Onsen Honkan, is widely regarded as an inspiration for the bathhouse in Spirited Away.

This cultural overview is an excerpt of a community travel guide. Confirm current access, schedules and prices with the venue before planning a visit.

Source and licence

Text adapted from Studio Ghibli tourism by Wikivoyage contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0. Paragraphs have been selected and abridged, and formatting adjusted. This adapted text is shared under the same licence. Contributor history.