Japan Tokyo Ghibli Museum Entry Tickets
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Ghibli Museum Entry Tickets Overview
Set within the grounds of Inokashira Park in Mitaka, a quiet residential city in the western suburbs of Tokyo, the Ghibli Museum opened in October 2001 and was designed by Hayao Miyazaki, co-founder and the creative soul of Studio Ghibli, not as a conventional museum but as a place to be lost in and to discover through wandering without a set route. The museum's motto, which Miyazaki wrote himself, is Let's lose our way together, and every element of the building and its contents reflects this philosophy of joyful, childlike discovery.
The museum is small, intimate, and deliberately unlike any other cultural institution in Japan. The building itself is an architectural delight, with curved walls, stained glass, cat buses to climb into, spiral staircases, and the aesthetic of a lovingly maintained European villa overlaid with the visual language of Miyazaki's films. Original hand-drawn cells, background paintings, and concept sketches from Ghibli's productions are displayed throughout, offering a rare direct encounter with the actual physical material of the studio's creative process. The Catbus room allows children under 12 to climb and play inside a full-scale replica of the beloved creature from My Neighbour Totoro.
The Saturn Theatre shows an exclusive short film available only at the Ghibli Museum, changing periodically, which cannot be seen anywhere else in the world. The rooftop features a life-size Robot Soldier from Castle in the Sky standing guard above Inokashira Park. The Straw Hat Café serves Ghibli-themed food and drinks in a charming yellow building. A new exhibition begins 1 July 2026.
All admission is by advance reservation only. No walk-up tickets are ever available. Tickets are released on the 10th of each month at 10:00 Japan time for visits in the following month and sell out within hours.
Know Before You Go
Tickets for the Ghibli Museum are released exclusively on the 10th of each month at 10:00 Japan time for visits in the following month and sell out within minutes, so setting a reminder and being ready to book the moment tickets become available is essential
No tickets are ever sold at the museum entrance under any circumstances and arriving without a pre-booked ticket means you cannot enter regardless of circumstances
Photography is strictly prohibited inside the museum including in all galleries, the Saturn Theatre, and all interior spaces, though photography is freely permitted on the rooftop, in the Straw Hat Café courtyard, and on the museum exterior
The museum is not connected to Ghibli Park in Nagoya, which is a completely separate attraction, and tickets for one are not valid at the other
The museum is closed most Tuesdays throughout the year as well as during the year-end holiday period and periodically for maintenance so always check the official museum calendar before booking
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Yes, the Ghibli Museum is one of the most magical family experiences in Japan, though entry time slots and the prohibition on photography require careful planning. The full-scale Catbus replica for children under 12 to climb is a highlight for younger visitors. The Saturn Theatre short film is engaging for all ages. Parents should note that some exhibitions contain references to themes from Ghibli films that may be unfamiliar to very young children who have not seen the films.
Ghibli Museum tickets are released on the 10th of each month at 10:00 Japan time for visits in the following month. Tickets become available simultaneously through the official Lawson Ticket website for purchases within Japan and through authorised international platforms. Tickets sell out within minutes on the release date so being prepared and logged in before 10:00 Japan time on the 10th is essential. No tickets are ever sold at the museum itself.
The Ghibli Museum offers four official timed entry slots per day: 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, and 16:00. Visitors must arrive within 30 minutes of their chosen entry time. Once inside, visitors can remain until the museum closes at 18:00 regardless of their entry time, with no time limit on how long they spend inside after admission.
No, under no circumstances. The Ghibli Museum operates on an advance reservation only basis and never sells tickets at the entrance. Arriving at the museum without a valid pre-booked ticket for your specific entry date and time will result in being unable to enter. This policy is strictly enforced at all times. Tickets must be purchased through official channels before your visit.
The Ghibli Museum is located at 1-1-83 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka City, Tokyo 181-0013. From JR Mitaka Station on the Chuo Line, approximately 20 minutes from Shinjuku, it is a 15-minute walk through Inokashira Park to the museum. A community bus also runs from the south exit of Mitaka Station to the museum every 15 minutes during operating hours. The journey from central Tokyo takes approximately 30 to 40 minutes.
Photography is strictly prohibited inside the Ghibli Museum, including all gallery spaces, the Saturn Theatre, the Catbus room, and all interior exhibition areas. This policy reflects Miyazaki's philosophy that the museum should be experienced directly rather than through a camera. Photography is freely permitted on the building's exterior, on the rooftop with the Robot Soldier, and in the Straw Hat Café courtyard.
The Saturn Theatre is a small cinema inside the Ghibli Museum that screens an exclusive short film created specifically for the museum and available nowhere else in the world. Every admission ticket includes entry to one screening. The short film changes periodically and its content is kept secret in advance as part of the museum's spirit of discovery. The theatre seats approximately 80 people and screenings take place at regular intervals throughout the day.
The Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Tokyo, is a small intimate museum designed by Hayao Miyazaki with original artwork, animation exhibits, a short film theatre, and a Catbus room. Ghibli Park is a large theme park in Expo Commemorative Park near Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture featuring five full-scale themed areas inspired by Ghibli films. They are completely separate attractions with separate tickets, located approximately 360 kilometres apart. Tickets purchased for one cannot be used at the other.
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