26-05-2025
The Ghibli Golden Route: Japan's most accessible destinations for fans and first-time visitors
By Laura Payne
Since the 1980s, Studio Ghibli has produced globally acclaimed films. These movies have captivated both children and adults because while the studio's animated worlds are full of whimsy and adventure, they are also not afraid to feature universal themes and realities such as romance, grief, war and coming of age.
In June 2025, the studio will commemorate its 40th anniversary. Fans traveling in Japan will find no shortage of ways to mark this occasion as the country is full of Ghibli-related destinations. Among these, some of the most famous are situated along the Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka 'Golden Route' — an itinerary recommended for first-time visitors in Japan due to features such as convenient access.
The Ghibli Golden Route — like Ghibli movies themselves — invites visitors to find beauty in everyday items, explore fantasy worlds and reflect on real-life tragedies.
From museums to movie settings, here are some key highlights of the Ghibli Golden Route.
Tokyo: Ghibli Museum and real-life inspirations
Besides its gorgeous main building, the Ghibli Museum is known for its themed cafe, special exhibitions and screenings of original Ghibli short films.
Image: MARODG/Pixta
With international flights arriving at Haneda and Narita airports daily, Tokyo is where many Golden Route travelers begin their journey.
After arriving, local trains and buses can bring travelers to the first Ghibli Golden Route destination: the Ghibli Museum. Rather than passively consuming curated displays, this museum designed by director Hayao Miyazaki encourages visitors to create their own unique experience by freely exploring a building that looks like a Ghibli setting.
Many exhibits at the Edo Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum feel like something from a Ghibli movie because they come from the same time period as certain films' settings.
Image: Ryozo/Pixta
The Edo Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum is another Ghibli-related site that lies about 50 minutes away from the Ghibli Museum via public transportation. The architectural museum is home to more than two dozen historic buildings — used by Ghibli animators as references when creating movies such as 'Spirited Away' (2001)
Studio Ghibli's connection to the architectural museum is also clearly seen in the institution's caterpillar mascot, Edomaru, who was created by Hayao Miyazaki. Visitors who become fans of this little-known Ghibli character should stop by the museum gift shop as it carries souvenirs featuring Edomaru.
Besides the museum and other memorials, Yokoamicho Park features a children's play area.
Image: mandegan/Pixta
While the Ghibli Museum and the architectural museum evoke wonder, other sites in Tokyo are powerful reminders of harsher incidents depicted in Ghibli movies. Yokoamicho Park, for example, is home to the Great Kanto Earthquake Memorial Museum. In 1923, this earthquake and subsequent fires became one of Japan's deadliest disasters, claiming thousands of lives. Studio Ghibli portrayed this earthquake in the 2013 film 'The Wind Rises.'
Inside the memorial museum, visitors can view photos and artifacts from the disaster's aftermath. The surrounding Yokoamicho Park is home to even more memorial structures for victims of the earthquake and the Great Tokyo Air Raid of 1945. Air raids have been depicted in multiple Ghibli films such as 'The Boy and the Heron' (2023), 'Grave of the Fireflies' (1988) and even the fantasy film 'Howl's Moving Castle' (2004). Scenes like these are just one way Ghibli has sparked reflection on conflict's consequences.
Nagoya: Explore Ghibli Park and Showa-era attractions
The Toromon Gate stands between Ghibli's Grand Warehouse and Dondoko Forest — two of five areas inside Ghibli Park.
Image: kunami/Pixta
Although not traditionally part of the Golden Route, Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture is an easy addition since it is accessible from Tokyo via shinkansen (bullet train). Nagoya is also an essential destination for Ghibli fans as it serves as the gateway to Ghibli Park.
Located inside Moricoro Park (Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park), Ghibli Park is a place that brings the studio's best-known and lesser-known films to life. In the park's five areas, visitors can enter iconic scenes and settings from their favorite movies such as the bakery from 'Kiki's Delivery Service' (1989) or the antique shop from 'Whisper of the Heart' (1995). Some small rides such as a carousel are available, but like Tokyo's Ghibli Museum, most of the fun at Ghibli Park comes from exploration and discovery.
Ghibli Park is accessible in about one hour by train from Nagoya station. Spending at least one day exploring the park is recommended, though visitors who hope to enjoy every detail of all five areas may need two days.
Another smaller attraction that Ghibli fans in Nagoya should consider visiting is the Showa Era Lifestyle Museum. Ghibli films such as 'My Neighbor Totoro' (1988) and 'Only Yesterday' (1991) take place during Japan's Showa Era (1926 - 1989), and this museum exhibits thousands of everyday items from this period such as cars, toys and advertising signage.
Hiroshima: Ghibli inspiration and wartime reflection
Hayao Miyazaki is just one famous figure who has traveled to Tomonoura in the town's long history. Other notable visitors include actor Hugh Jackman and the samurai Ryoma Sakamoto.
Image: まちゃー/Pixta
Take a bullet train to Fukuyama station, and from here a local bus whisks visitors to Tomonoura — one of the most historic port towns in Hiroshima Prefecture.
Hayao Miyazaki is known to have stayed in Tomonoura for about two months, and it is believed that his time here inspired the setting of the movie 'Ponyo' (2008). Stop by the Tomonoura Tourist Information Center upon arriving, and you can find information about places in town with ties to the movie. Besides Ponyo-related sites, Ghibli fans should also stop by Onfunayado Iroha — a restaurant and ryokan (traditional-style inn) that was renovated using sketches by Miyazaki.
Tomonoura's long history also means that there are countless other local wonders to explore that are not related to Ghibli. Even if travelers cannot stay for as long as Miyazaki did, the sights and stories of Tomonoura are sure to stir the imagination.
Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park was built near the hypocenter of the atomic bombing that destroyed the city on Aug. 6, 1945.
Image: denkei/Pixta
The final recommended stops on the Ghibli Golden Route are in Hiroshima City — about 20 minutes away from Fukuyama station by bullet train.
Although they do not have direct connections to Ghibli films, travelers should visit Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park and museum. Ghibli directors Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki were children during World War II, and both directors have explicitly portrayed the destruction caused by war in their movies. The year 2025 will be the 80th since atomic bombs were dropped on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. As the anniversaries of these tragedies and the peace advocate Studio Ghibli coincide, perhaps now is one of the best times to remember the studio's real-world commentary.
Beyond the Ghibli Golden Route
Japan's most famous and accessible Ghibli-related sites are found along the Golden Route, but there are many more inspirations to explore. After traversing the Golden Route, countless other new worlds await.
© Japan Today
