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The Central Hall & Spiraling Staircases
Forget the sterile, velvet-rope museum vibe. The Ghibli Museum’s heart is a sunlit, multi-level atrium that feels like you’ve wandered into a Miyazaki daydream. There’s stained glass everywhere—Totoro peeking from a window, soot sprites in the corners—and staircases that twist and double back like something out of “Howl’s Moving Castle.” You’re not just allowed to touch; you’re encouraged to explore, duck through secret doors, and climb ladders. It’s a playground for the imagination, not a gallery for passive viewing.
The Saturn Theater (Short Film Screenings)
This is the only place on Earth you can watch exclusive Ghibli short films, and they’re not streaming anywhere. The Saturn Theater is a tiny, jewel-box cinema with plush red seats and a domed … read more 👉
Forget the sterile, velvet-rope museum vibe. The Ghibli Museum’s heart is a sunlit, multi-level atrium that feels like you’ve wandered into a Miyazaki daydream. There’s stained glass everywhere—Totoro peeking from a window, soot sprites in the corners—and staircases that twist and double back like something out of “Howl’s Moving Castle.” You’re not just allowed to touch; you’re encouraged to explore, duck through secret doors, and climb ladders. It’s a playground for the imagination, not a gallery for passive viewing.
The Saturn Theater (Short Film Screenings)
This is the only place on Earth you can watch exclusive Ghibli short films, and they’re not streaming anywhere. The Saturn Theater is a tiny, jewel-box cinema with plush red seats and a domed … read more 👉
The Central Hall & Spiraling Staircases
Forget the sterile, velvet-rope museum vibe. The Ghibli Museum’s heart is a sunlit, multi-level atrium that feels like you’ve wandered into a Miyazaki daydream. There’s stained glass everywhere—Totoro peeking from a window, soot sprites in the corners—and staircases that twist and double back like something out of “Howl’s Moving Castle.” You’re not just allowed to touch; you’re encouraged to explore, duck through secret doors, and climb ladders. It’s a playground for the imagination, not a gallery for passive viewing.
The Saturn Theater (Short Film Screenings)
This is the only place on Earth you can watch exclusive Ghibli short films, and they’re not streaming anywhere. The Saturn Theater is a tiny, jewel-box cinema with plush red seats and a domed ceiling painted with flying fish. The films rotate, but every single one is a love letter to the studio’s signature weirdness and warmth—think sentient eggs, magical kittens, or a wordless adventure with Totoro. It’s a rare, communal experience: you and a roomful of strangers, all grinning like kids.
“Where a Film is Born” Animation Rooms
This is the real backstage pass. The animation rooms are crammed with sketches, storyboards, paint-splattered desks, and half-finished cels. You’ll see the obsessive detail that goes into every frame—pencil marks, color swatches, even the reference books Miyazaki’s team used. It’s messy, intimate, and humbling. If you’ve ever wondered how a Ghibli film gets its soul, it’s all here, right down to the stacks of reference photos taped to the walls.
The Catbus Room (for Kids)
If you’re under 12, you get to clamber inside a life-sized, plush Catbus. Yes, it’s as soft and surreal as it sounds. For adults, it’s a vicarious thrill—watching kids lose their minds with joy, tumbling through the fur and windows. It’s the kind of tactile, unselfconscious play that most museums would never allow. (And yes, you’ll wish you were small enough to join.)
The Rooftop Garden & Robot Soldier
Up a spiral staircase, you’ll find a rooftop garden straight out of “Laputa: Castle in the Sky.” There’s a full-sized Robot Soldier standing guard, weathered and gentle, surrounded by wildflowers and vines. It’s quiet up here—just the wind, the city skyline, and the sense that you’ve stepped into a living scene. This is my personal favorite: the moment when the crowds and the gift shop fade away, and you’re left with a little slice of Ghibli’s melancholy wonder.
The Gift Shop (“Mamma Aiuto!”)
This isn’t your average exit-through-the-gift-shop trap. “Mamma Aiuto!” stocks exclusive merch you won’t find anywhere else—handmade jewelry, original prints, and toys that look like they wandered off the screen. Prices are steep, but if you’re going to splurge, do it here. Even the packaging feels like a collector’s item. It’s the rare shop that feels like a treasure hunt, not a cash grab.
Forget the sterile, velvet-rope museum vibe. The Ghibli Museum’s heart is a sunlit, multi-level atrium that feels like you’ve wandered into a Miyazaki daydream. There’s stained glass everywhere—Totoro peeking from a window, soot sprites in the corners—and staircases that twist and double back like something out of “Howl’s Moving Castle.” You’re not just allowed to touch; you’re encouraged to explore, duck through secret doors, and climb ladders. It’s a playground for the imagination, not a gallery for passive viewing.
The Saturn Theater (Short Film Screenings)
This is the only place on Earth you can watch exclusive Ghibli short films, and they’re not streaming anywhere. The Saturn Theater is a tiny, jewel-box cinema with plush red seats and a domed ceiling painted with flying fish. The films rotate, but every single one is a love letter to the studio’s signature weirdness and warmth—think sentient eggs, magical kittens, or a wordless adventure with Totoro. It’s a rare, communal experience: you and a roomful of strangers, all grinning like kids.
“Where a Film is Born” Animation Rooms
This is the real backstage pass. The animation rooms are crammed with sketches, storyboards, paint-splattered desks, and half-finished cels. You’ll see the obsessive detail that goes into every frame—pencil marks, color swatches, even the reference books Miyazaki’s team used. It’s messy, intimate, and humbling. If you’ve ever wondered how a Ghibli film gets its soul, it’s all here, right down to the stacks of reference photos taped to the walls.
The Catbus Room (for Kids)
If you’re under 12, you get to clamber inside a life-sized, plush Catbus. Yes, it’s as soft and surreal as it sounds. For adults, it’s a vicarious thrill—watching kids lose their minds with joy, tumbling through the fur and windows. It’s the kind of tactile, unselfconscious play that most museums would never allow. (And yes, you’ll wish you were small enough to join.)
The Rooftop Garden & Robot Soldier
Up a spiral staircase, you’ll find a rooftop garden straight out of “Laputa: Castle in the Sky.” There’s a full-sized Robot Soldier standing guard, weathered and gentle, surrounded by wildflowers and vines. It’s quiet up here—just the wind, the city skyline, and the sense that you’ve stepped into a living scene. This is my personal favorite: the moment when the crowds and the gift shop fade away, and you’re left with a little slice of Ghibli’s melancholy wonder.
The Gift Shop (“Mamma Aiuto!”)
This isn’t your average exit-through-the-gift-shop trap. “Mamma Aiuto!” stocks exclusive merch you won’t find anywhere else—handmade jewelry, original prints, and toys that look like they wandered off the screen. Prices are steep, but if you’re going to splurge, do it here. Even the packaging feels like a collector’s item. It’s the rare shop that feels like a treasure hunt, not a cash grab.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.