As 2019 was my third trip to Japan, I was very happy to finally get the chance to visit the Studio Ghibli Museum in Mitaka (Tokyo area). 17 years earlier, I was certainly very aware of Ghibli films (especially Totoro, Laputa and Princess Mononoke had just broken through to European audiences a few years earlier), but at that time, I was never fully aware that the museum existed. Upon my second trip in 2010, I was indeed aware, but was told that tickets were difficult to get and... well I never really bothered pursuing it any further (and I really don't know why!). So in 2019 it was almost top of the list of things to see. I got my 1000 Yen ticket in advance, and added the Ghlbii museum to my itinerary.

After arriving at the Mitaka train station, you can get the colourful Ghibli bus directly to the Museum. But if it's a lovely Spring day, why not walk? It's not very far to Inokashira Park (where the museum is housed), and you'll see lots of nice flowers (well, if you go in Spring) along the way! Oh and look! Blossom!

And look who's waiting at the entrance... Somebody else's neighbour Totoro!

BELOW LEFT: Once inside you get a ticket in the style of a roll of film, which is indeed a lovely souvenir all by itself. Absolutely no pictures are allowed inside the museum! And no phones are allowed to be switched on, which is also fair I think. The in-house cinema shows only one short film per month, produced by Ghibli exclusively for the museum only. BELOW RIGHT: In April 2019 it was Koro's Big Day Out [Koro no Daisanpo] (2002), which was written & Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, shown in Japanese with, erm, Japanese subtitles. There are currently a roster of 10 short films in total, therefore, if you want to see all ten films, you have to go to the museum separate ten times! Eeeeeh I would if I could...

Which way now? After several hours inside the Ghibli compound, what next? You've seen the museum,had a bite to eat in the Café and fulfilled your material needs in the shop. Is it time to get the yellow bus back to Mitaka train station? Better I think, to walk through the park and admire the blossom.

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