Japan has begun construction of Ghibli Park, a brand new theme park modeled after several famous Studio Ghibli films from director Hayao Miyazaki. Set to open in 2022, the park will feature regions themed after such films as My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, and Howl's Moving Castle, with others to be added by 2024.
The park is being constructed in the same spot where the 2005 World Expo took place in Nagakute, Aichi Prefecture. The Aichi Prefectural Government is heading the construction in direct collaboration with Studio Ghibli Inc. Governor Hideaki Omura of Aichi spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony, saying “The 2005 Expo’s theme of ‘love’ has also been portrayed in Studio Ghibli’s films consistently, so we can inherit that philosophy. We aim to make the facility a world-class park and hope many people will visit here.” The Prefectural Government hopes the park with bring around 1.8 million visitors annually.
A notable element of the construction is how both Studio Ghibli Inc. and the Prefectural Government are making a point to preserve the land in and around the park. In an ambitious move, they plan to not cut down any trees in the entire 500-acre plot, and to use the forests surrounding the area as a natural backdrop. Those familiar with the films may be familiar with how lush and "green" they tend to look, so this could be a clever and conscious way to improve the park's atmosphere.
Fans of Studio Ghibli will likely jump at the chance to immerse themselves in the worlds of these classic films. The 500-acre future location of the park already boasts an attraction modeled after the house from My Neighbor Totoro, which will remain as part of Ghibli Park. While no information has been released on the rides to be included in the park, it is set to include plenty of shops, areas focused on nature, and even a spot where the worlds of different Studio Ghibli films can exist in the same realm.
Aside from the three films already listed, more regions are set to be added in the years following the park's grand opening. Parkgoers can expect to see content from other films like Kiki's Delivery Service and Princess Mononoke as the updates roll out. Appropriately, aside from the themed elements, the park will include a cinema where screenings of the films themselves will be shown.
Ghibli Park appears to be an ambitious undertaking, but considering the current state of the world, another wholesome park centered around films enjoyed by people of all ages may be just what the public needs by the time it opens.
The initial opening of Ghibli Park's first three regions is aimed at late 2022, with the final two to be opened sometime between then and March 2024.
Source: The Japan Times, Arch2O