21 Mar 09

For Studio Ghibli Fans

Sister and I were in Studio Ghibli heaven when we visited Japan – the stuff was everywhere! You just have to keep out a keen eye for them.

1) If you are a fan of Studio Ghibli/Hayao Miyazaki, and are planning a trip to Japan, a visit to the Ghibli Museum at Mitaka, Toyko is a must! Tickets are not available in Spore though; I got sis and my tickets from Melbourne, and sis got another ticket for a friend from Hong Kong. Apparently there are limited entries per day for the museum.

[For the uninitiated, Hayao Miyazaki is the filmmaker of the famed Spirited Away [Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi], Howl’s Moving Castle [Hauru no Ugoku Shiro] and the very recent Ponyo on a Cliff [Gake no ue no Ponyo].]

Directions to the Museum: In Tokyo, take the JR Chuo Line to Mitaka station. It takes approximately 20 minutes from Shinjuku station. From the Mitaka South Exit, it is a 15 minutes walk along the Tamagawa Josui “Waterworks” to the museum. A community bus is in operation from Mitaka Station to the Museum.

Sister snapped this of the Ghibli bus.

My Neighbour, Totoro!! Kawaii Totoro!

For those who followed my Japan travelogues, I have written an entry about the Ghibli Museum here where Nick, sister and I had lots of fun exploring the place like lost children.

Let’s play!

2) In Asakusa, Tokyo, I chanced upon a small shop selling Ghibli stuff when sister and I happened to stop by the street to discuss our plan for the rest of the day. The shop is situated along the main street between Asakusa station and Sensoji Temple.

Spin the display and you will see Totoro doing its cute dance ala the show!

I really want the brolly. *chants* I want the brolly I want the brolly I want the umbrella ella ella eh eh eh..

3) In Osaka, Haru, our err. chaperone, brought us to a 7- storey building by the river and I spotted a glass display of Ghibli clocks and figurines. I’d [secretly] wanted to get a figurine but they were all so costly.. =(

It turned out Haru went back to the place to get me Kiki from Kiki’s Delivery Service! Woah!

4) Also in Osaka at Universal Citywalk [where the famed Universal Studios is], there is a shop tucked away in a corner opposite a pasta restaurant.

Look at the different Totoros!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ahem. Sorry, got excited there for a bit.

Totoro overload.

What do you know, sister and I wanted to get E-VE-RY-THIN-G here. We spent the longest time in the shop and sister forked out almost $200 for various Ghibli stuff. I was more prudent with my $ though.

5) At Kansai airport, I spotted another shop [sister was going, how come you keep spotting Ghibli shops?!??] while waiting for our flight back to Spore. Sister went crazy in there and I was somewhat close to a madness Ghibli spree as well.

Totoro seems more popular that Spirited Away or Howl’s Moving Castle in Japan. I could hardly find anything on the latter two, but Totoro was in my face almost everywhere. There was a reason for that though, guess what…….