Nagakute, Aichi Pref. ¨C The world¡¯s first theme park dedicated to the beloved works of Studio Ghibli is finally open. It¡¯s not a typical amusement park ¡ª there¡¯s no roller coasters spraying water, no big-haired princesses waving from parade floats ¡ª but rather a muted ode to the legendary animation company. In comparison to the fanfare of the world¡¯s biggest parks, like those run by Disney or Universal Studios, it may not seem like much of a grand event, but Ghibli Park signals a quiet departure for the 37-year-old studio.
Since 2001, Ghibli has run a museum in Tokyo¡¯s Kichijoji neighborhood, adjacent to Inokashira Park. It¡¯s easily accessible, but usually involves lines and requires a considerable hassle to get tickets. It¡¯s also a relatively small space, with a strictly enforced no-photography policy. Staff are known to insist that visitors delete any surreptitiously taken photographs.
By contrast, the new Ghibli Park in Aichi Prefecture is an Instagrammer¡¯s playground. In one of the three spaces that opened Tuesday, there¡¯s a two-floor wing that lets people pose in various movie scenes, serving in essence as a sprawling photoshoot. Visitors can insert themselves into scenes from 13 Ghibli works, sitting on the ¡°Spirited Away¡± train to Zeniba¡¯s house, running across waves with Ponyo or standing under the head of a decapitated Forest Spirit from ¡°Princess Mononoke.¡± It¡¯s not difficult to imagine people traveling from all over Japan just for a selfie with No Face.
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