And so we did, in Studio Ghibli, Mitaka.

It was really difficult getting the tickets [they do not sell it in Sg]. When I went to Melbourne last Oct, I had to beg the very nice sales lady to make a special call to the Ghibli Museum to get extra tickets for sister and I. Then sister asked if I could get another for a friend, Nick, which I failed to, and she had to buy his ticket from Hong Kong.

A ‘ba zhang’ picture. Sister bundled herself up and she looked so cute so it was suggested that I do the same, and we took a picture together.

What was this unidentified girl doing?

Ordering her meal-in-between-breakfast-and-lunch.

They have lots of these around in Tokyo. You put your money in the vending machine and choose the food you want. Then you go into the shop and pass the cook your ‘ticket’ to order your food.

Rush hour in Tokyo.

Fat, fat, fat.

Veering off-course for a moment. *grin* Not only were most people in Tokyo good-looking, but they were also very sharp dressers. I was constantly looking at the people when I was there. Eye-candy galore.

Mr Broody in the train. Reminded me of Hua Ze Lei.

The hat! The scarf! Even the cuff length is perfect [it seems a little too thick/long here but that is because his elbow is bent] What not to like about his dressing??

/stalker mode.

Anyway.

Welcome to Studio Ghibli, home of Hayao Miyazaki!

I have never seen a museum like this before! It was a pity no photographs were allowed in the studio; the entire place was like Alice In Wonderland, with miniature entrances, indoor and outdoor spiral staircases, a huge dining table with huge chairs and cultery [Goldilocks and the Three Bears], and much much more!

There were showcases of Miyazaki’s [he is the guy who created Howl's Moving Castle and Spirited Away] drawings, recreations of his work-studio, as well as Idon’tknowwhattheyarecalled [for eg: there was this display of many Totoros and other characters in My Neighbour Totoro

 in different positions and when the entire display spins round, a moving 'picture' would appear before our eyes - Totoro would look like it was playing skipping with Satsuke, the bat looked like it was flying, etc.. + 1000 points for coolness!] Sister, Nick and I also watched a [new?] film which was only screened in the museum itself. No subtitles. -__-”

Studio Ghibli Tour

Water cooler on the top floor near the spiral staircase to the roof.

Let’s become lost children together!

The robot from Laputa: The Castle In the Sky. Sister took many shots with it because Nick kept spoiling her shots by walking in [as seen from the collage at the top of this entry]. Hur hur.

Secret garden to nowhere.

Then it was my turn.

And Nick simply disappeared without a care for photographs.

There was even a Ghibli flag.

We spent a looong time in the Ghibli shop deciding on what to buy! Sister went crazy purchasing about S$200 worth of stuff and Nick had to physically restrain her from buying more. Laughs.

It was off to Shinjuku thereafter since we did not manage to ‘conquer’ it on the first day, and sister and I shopped around for pressies for Tomoyuki and Maki before heading back home.

These are towels.

Tokyo roads.

Other Nihon Reads:

The Amazing Race [Nihon Version]

Meet The Katenas