All tourists and any Ghibli lover who were set to visit the Ghibli Museum some time during this May through July were surely swamped in their own tears when they announced how the museum will be closed down for two whole months.

Though they’ve had a periodical 2-week maintenance every year in May and November, right around the time they usually switch up their exhibitions, this is the first long-term maintenance that takes place ever since they built their forest back in 2001. With one more month left until the re-opening of Ghibli heaven, we cover the new additions that they will be ready to present you with as well as some useful tips for Ghibli first-timers!

A Cat Bus For Adults?

Ghibli films define childhood for many millenials in Japan as well as across the globe — we grew up hoping to find ourselves lost in a forest where we get to take a nap on Totoro‘s belly, dreamed like we could fly like Kiki to do some delivery system of our own if not theirs, and aspired to be courageous and stand up for what we believe i/in and love, like Princess Mononoke. Not only were their films packed with role models we would follow the paths of early on in our lives, their magical and fantastical element (weren’t we scared to turn into pigs after eating food for free?) was what drew us into the world of Ghibli.

For those who have been, you may be familiar with the structure of their exhibitions where they spotlight the process an animator goes through when piecing a Ghibli masterpiece together. You’ll see a pencil lying around on the desk and a number of original sketches you can scour through to relive your favorite scene from that iconic Ghibli movie. It almost makes you feel as though you’re one of the creators taking part in the grand scheme of things. However this time around, they’re making their grand return with an exhibition where they string together all of their previous exhibitions in one. Their upcoming exhibition has been given the title, “Neko Bus ni Notte Ghibli no Mori E (Ride the Cat Bus to the Ghibli Museum)” so if you missed out on any exhibitions or haven’t ever visited the Ghibli Museum before, you’ll get a full glimpse of what they’ve been exhibiting in the past 15 years they’ve been running! That includes all 14 of their exhibition that they’ve held in the past that started off with “Spirited Away” in 2001, and they’ve went to hold ones for “Castle in the Sky” and “Ponyo” ever since. This also means exhibits that won major popularity will readily return, such as the Cat Bus for adults, for those who were wondering! (*Adults had unfortunately been shunned by the cat bus until then, the regular cat bus ride is limited for elementary school kids) Note that you can also spot the bears from “Goldilocks and Three Bears” in full size (picture reference below).

Photo credits: http://powet.tv/

Useful Tips When Visiting the Ghibli Museum

Farewell to Lining Up and Crowded Spaces

Who enjoys a long wait? Not I! Put your hands up in the air to for their progressive idea of incorporating a convenient reservation system to avoid all waits as well as crowded spaces. You can get tickets for four designated times (10:00/12:00/14:00/16:00) and tickets cost ¥1,000 for adults, ¥700 for high school/junior high school students, ¥400 for elementary school kids, and ¥100 for any child that is over 4 but not yet an elementary school student.

Obviously with the excitement rising over the new Ghibli museum that is set to open after two months of renovation, reservations are expected to spike up — which makes it totally understandable that applying for a spot in July/August will be a draft system. Usually you’re able to book your tickets for next month on the 10th of the previous month at Loppi, a ticketing machine in LAWSON. The July applications have come to an end already, but you can apply for a spot in August starting on June 25~30 and you’ll be notified whether you’re the lucky winner or not on July 9th. Click here to open up doors to Ghibli wonderland.

Never Get Lost!

One way to head out to the Ghibli Museum is to take the community bus from Mitaka station (¥210 for adults/¥320 for roundtrip, ¥110 for kids/¥160 for roundtrip) and it’s a 5-min ride. You’ll spot a myriad of illustrations painted in the inside and outside of the bus that’ll get your Ghibli-loving veins pumping from the get-go. If you prefer to fit in some daily exercise, walk 15-min along the “Kazenosampomichi” which goes alongside Tamagawa Jyosui. They’ve got signs with mini Totoros on them that lead the way to the museum, so say goodbye to Google maps and get ready to enjoy the western Tokyo landscapes!

Ghibli Museum

Address: 1 Chome-1-83 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-0013

Phone number: 0570-055777 (Operates from 9:00～18:00 / Do not operate on Tuesdays)

Hours: 10:00～18:00

Holidays: Closed on Tuesdays

Web: http://www.ghibli-museum.jp/en/