The “Ghibli’s Big Warehouse” area of Ghibli Park has life-sized exhibits from films produced by Studio Ghibli. Visitors can act as characters from the anime. (Video by Tadashi Mizowaki)

Photo/Illutration Visitors look around the “Ghibli’s Big Warehouse” area of Ghibli Park in Nagakute, Aichi Prefecture, on Nov. 1. (Tadashi Mizowaki)

NAGAKUTE, Aichi Prefecture—Anime fans from near and far flocked to a theme park based on Studio Ghibli Inc.’s beloved films when the facility partially opened on Nov. 1.

Amid a light rain, several hundred fans lined up in front of “Ghibli’s Big Warehouse,” one of the three areas of Ghibli Park that opened at 10 a.m. on that day.

The first person in line, a 47-year-old nurse from Kanazawa in Ishikawa Prefecture, said he stayed overnight in his car near the park.

“I want to become the first to enter,” he said.
He said he was excited because he can act like the protagonists of his favorite movies at the park.

Ghibli Park features exhibits and facilities that immerse visitors into the worlds of such anime as “My Neighbor Totoro” and “Spirited Away.”

It covers 7.1 hectares of the 157 hectares of the prefecture-run Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park, the site of the 2005 World Expo.

“Ghibli’s Big Warehouse” has life-sized exhibits and allows visitors to experience famous scenes from various movies.

The “Hill of Youth” area that opened is themed on the film “Whisper of the Heart,” while “My Neighbor Totoro” features heavily in the “Dondoko Forest” area.

Two other areas of the park will open later. “Mononoke Village,” based on the film “Princess Mononoke,” is scheduled to open in autumn 2023, while the “Kiki’s Valley” area featured in “Kiki’s Delivery Service” will open in March 2024.

Park operators expect the fully opened park to attract 1.8 million visitors a year, creating around 48 billion yen ($325 million) in annual economic effects largely through spending on accommodations and sightseeing.

Ghibli Park Co., a company jointly set up by Studio Ghibli and The Chunichi Shimbun, manages and operates the park.

Starting in February, admission fees will range from 1,000 yen to 3,500 yen for junior high school students and older, and 500 yen to 1,750 yen for elementary school pupils and younger.

Admission fees for some areas will priced differently for weekends and holidays. Children aged 3 and under can enter free of charge.

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