If you love Studio Ghibli anime like Spirited Away or My Neighbour Totoro (and who doesn’t?), then you’ve probably heard that they’ve officially opened their very own theme park (not to be confused with Ghibli Museum which is in Mitaka in Tokyo)! It’s located in Aichi Prefecture, specifically at the Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park which is near Nagoya. If you’ve been following their development you’d know that since announcing the park in 2017, there’s been a few delays. But as of March this year, all five themed areas are now entirely open to the public following the launch of the Valley of Witches area.
Valley of Witches is based on films such as Kiki’s Delivery Service and Howl’s Moving Castle and houses a life-sized Howl’s Moving Castle! This means you can now visit all five areas of Ghibli Park, including Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse, Hill of Youth, Dondoko Forest, and Mononoke Village.
Now, Ghibli Park isn’t your usual theme park where you get thrills and spills. Instead, much like their animated films, the park focuses more on art and atmosphere, encouraging you to explore the natural surroundings.
Visit Ghibli Park via a free boardgame!
Since the park focuses on art and exploration, it comes as no surprise that even their publicity posters should reflect that. Instead of a simple but charming illustrated poster, they’ve come up with something even more practical: a free board game that’s available online for anyone! You’ll just need to print it out, and have a pair of scissors and some tape handy (to make the playing pieces and a dice).
The poster is more than just a game too: it includes Ghibli Park’s URL, a QR code, and a reminder that tickets can be reserved on the 10th of every month (in Japanese). You can download the poster in PDF here.
The game belongs to the sugoroku genre, a well-loved and straightforward board game where players simply roll a dice, move their token the corresponding number of spaces, and follow the instructions on the spot they land. The first player to reach the finish wins. Although it comes with four playing pieces, there’s no limit to how many can join, as long as you have a way to track everyone’s position on the board.
How to play without reading Japanese
The game starts from the Elevator Tower in the Hill of Youth and ends at Dondoko-do in Dondoko Forest, stopping at each five area on the way. You start from the lower right green circle, with リニモ愛地球博記念公園駅 (Linear motion car Aichi World Expo Commemorative Park Station) written on it.
Here’s a translation of the parts:
●リニモ愛地球博記念公園駅
Linear motion car / Aichi World Expo Commemorative Park Station
●ロタンダ 風が丘
Rotunda Kazegaoka / Buy onigiri rice balls
●エレベーター塔
Elevator Tower
●忘れものをして駅にもどる
Looks like you forgot something! Go back to the station to get it.
●地球屋
World Emporium / Sing Concrete Road (a rendition of Country Road from Whispers of the Heart)
●猫の事務所
Cat’s Office / If you land here, jump ahead to the Cat Castle playground equipment space.
●夢のトンネル
You fell into a life quandary in the Tunnel of Dreams. Go back 5 spaces.
●青サギ
You met the Gray Heron. Go forward 2 spaces.
●ジブリの大倉庫
Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse / Everyone has to stop here.
On your next turn, if you roll a 1, 3, or 5, follow the red arrow. If you roll a 2, 4, or 6, follow the green arrow.
☆Red Arrow Path
●ネコバスルーム
You’re playing in the Catbus room. Skip your next turn.
●プラモデル
You stopped to buy a plastic model. Skip your next turn.
●カフェ大陸横断飛行
Transcontinental Flight Cafe / You got hungry and stopped to eat a sandwich. Skip your next turn.
●写真をとりに
You went back to take a picture. Go back 3 spaces.
☆Green Arrow Path
●２マスすすむ
Go forward 2 spaces
●４マスもどる
Go back 4 spaces
● ここに止まったら猫の城の遊具へ
If you land here, head towards the Cat Castle playground equipment (follow the red arrow)
●猫の城遊具
Cat Castle playground equipment
●タタラ場
Tataraba / Everyone has to stop here.
On your next turn, if you roll a 5, follow the Catbus (brown) arrow. If you roll a 5, you stop to eat goheimochi. Skip your next turn. If you roll a 2, 3, 4, or 6 follow the black arrow.
☆Catbus Arrow Path (continued below)
●「私たち風になっている」
You ride the APM Catbus! Shout “We’re riding the wind!” and jump ahead to the Dondoko Forest Entrance space.
☆Black Arrow Path
●魔女の家
Witch’s House / You cast a spell, and all other players have to move back 3 spaces.
●噴水で遊ぶ
You stop to play in the fountain. Skip your next turn.
●「人生」の言いながら３回まわる
You ride the merry-go-round. Spin around in a circle three times while saying “Life.”
●ハウルの城
Howl’s Castle / Everyone has to stop here. On your next turn, if you roll a 6, jump ahead to Satsuki and Mei’s house.
●グーチョキパン屋
Gütiokipänjä Bakery / Play rock-paper-scissors with the player on your right. If you win, take another turn right away.
●オキノ邸
Okino Residence / Leave home to train as a witch. Go back 3 spaces.
●２マスすすむ
Go forward 2 spaces
●バスを乗りまちがえる
You took the wrong bus. Go back to Tataraba.
●サツキとメイの家
Satsuki and Mei’s House / Shout “Come on out, Makkurokurosuke!”
☆Catbus Path (continued)
●どんどこ森入口
Dondoko Forest Entrance / You take a little break. Skip your next turn.
●どんぐりを拾いに
You get caught up gathering acorns. Skip your next turn.
●山道
You get tired out walking up the hills. Go back 4 spaces.
●ゴール どんどこ堂
Finish! Dondokodo pavilion
You’ve reached the finish, so do the dondoko dance from My Neighbor Totoro!
The board game references Studio Ghibli films, so if you’re a fan, then you’ll enjoy this a lot more since it’s got a lot of references to the films (it’ll be an Easter Hunt!).
Visiting Ghibli Park
If you plan on visiting Ghibli Park, you’ll have to do some advance planning. Much like Ghibli Museum in Mitaka (Tokyo), entry to the park is strictly via advance booking. For Ghibli Park, it’s no different. So here are a few things to note:
- You can purchase tickets on the 10th of every month, two months in advance. Currently, reservations for December 2024 go on sale October 10th at 2 pm (Japan time). Tickets can be purchased via Lawsons here.
- Ghibli Park O-Sanpo Day Pass allows you entry into all 5 areas, except some buildings. Tickets for adults go for 3,500 yen (weekdays) and 4,000 yen (weekends and holidays)
- Ghibli Park O-Sanpo Day Pass Premium is an all-access pass. Tickets for adults cost 7,300 yen (weekdays) and 7,800 yen (weekends and holidays)
- The purchase of tickets for resale and/or transfer purposes (including gifts) is strictly prohibited. They’ll randomly select people to show their identification upon entering
If you don’t have the chance to visit Ghibli Park this year, then you can enjoy the experience on this board game. For more on the park, check out their site.
