After a devestating blow on our first trip to Japan, I want to help you get Studio Ghibli Museum tickets in Tokyo so you don’t miss out like me! You see, just after the turn of the millennium I stumbled across a new anime movie called Spirited Away and became a little obsessed with the films of Studio Ghibli deciding quite quickly that one day, yes one day I would visit the studio myself. Sadly on our first trip to Japan, we were unable to get tickets to Tokyo’s Studio Ghibli Museum as I had no idea that they were so hard to procure and soon discovered they were sold out. We headed back a year later and I was prepared, sourcing tickets months in advance ready for our trip.
Studio Ghibli Museum Tickets in Tokyo
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Why Studio Ghibli Museum?
For fans of anime, visiting Studio Ghibli is a must when staying in Tokyo. It is the studio best known for bringing at least half of the best anime movies made in Japan to life and has both won and been nominated for Academy Awards. Students studying in Sydney and the broader New South Wales will find one these movies on in the Engish curriculum (Spirited Away) and it’s also the very studio that created My Neighbour Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, and Princess Mononoke.
Not into anime? You don’t need to be a fan to enjoy the Studio Ghibli museum. Wandering its floors you will soon find yourself under its spell and will no doubt enjoy the experience.
Marvels to See
As you explore Studio Ghibli Museum you will come across a number of exciting spaces and marvels. I will leave a few of these out of our write up so there are a number of surprises awaiting you but will reveal some to build the excitement.
Life-sized Laputa Robot
If you love the Miyazaki-directed film, Laputa: Castle In The Sky made back in 1986 you will need to head to the rooftop garden to discover the life-sized Laputa Robot. Being outside you are free to take photos but there may be a line!
The Cat Bus
It was only last year that I watched the 1988 classic My Neighbor Totoro with my children. I remember Sunshine sighing and saying “wouldn’t it be fun if we could take a ride on a cat bus!”. While she seemed to be just a little too old to actually climb inside and on top of the cat bus at Studio Ghibli Museum, her eyes were as wide as saucers when she spotted it and realised that you could indeed take a ride!
Spiral Staircase and a Glass Elevator
There is no fixed route to explore Studio Ghibli Museum, leaving you and your children the choice to explore each room at your leisure. You will find a giant spiral staircase as soon as you enter the main space begging you to climb up or you can take the glass elevator up and down. Striker loved the elevator, liking himself to Charlie Bucket when Willy Wonka took him for an adventure on the glass elevator.
The Studio Ghibli Gift Store
One of the busiest and most crowded areas within the Studio Ghibli Museum when we visited was the gift store! I think every single visitor converged on the store at the same time making it a tight squeeze. Within the gift store you can procure small token gifts like magnets and keyrings through to more expensive collectors items.
Eating at the Studio Ghibli Museum
I was excited about eating at the Studio Ghibli Museum cafe as I had viewed a number of Instagram images showing the delights. On approaching the cafe I knew that Tee’s preparation of a packed lunch and drinks was a great idea as there was a huge line running from within the cafe and out, winding through the outdoor dining options.
Unfortunately whist I can inform you that there is a cafe on-site, I am unable to review it properly as we forgo this treat to provide us more time exploring and feasted on our own prepared food items.
Studio Ghibli Museum Tickets
Studio Ghibli Museum tickets are one of the most sought after admission bookings in all of Japan. They sell out super quick months in advance, often quicker than some of the big concerts!
The museum itself is quite small and ticket numbers are strictly capped to ensure that each visitor is able to enjoy the space. Whilst it is still crowded at times, the reduction in entrants to the museum means you can move around without needing to wait in line for each exhibit. It feels intimate and special, although overwhelming at times if you are a fan.
Buying Your Tickets
Sourcing tickets to the Studio Ghibli Museum is not something that can be done on the spur of the moment, You will need to prepare well in advance to ensure that you are ready when the tickets are released.
For Australians I only recommend two different ways of procuring tickets as they are low risk, are verified by Studio Ghibli Museum and worked for us. Other sites are likely to also list other methods and businesses but be warned, they are higher risk.
When you exchange your online tickets at the gates you will receive a collectors ticket with an embedded film!
JTB Group
We used JTB Group for our tickets. You can buy yours here. They only have 200 tickets available for each day that the museum is open so you can imagine how competitive the buying process is! Tickets go on sale on the 1st of each month, three months in advance! Set your alarm so you can pounce!
Ticket prices through the JTB Group are fairly reasonable too! If buying through JTB Group you will need to nominate your date of the visit but unlike many of the other ticketing options, you will be able to choose the time you visit!
| Ages 19 and older | JPY 1,000 |
| Ages 13 to 18 | JPY 700 |
| Ages 7 to 12 | JPY 400 |
| Ages 4 to 6 | JPY 100 |
Lawson Online
Studio Ghibli Museum is now also offering tickets through Lawson online. Whilst we haven’t used this method, they are recommended by the museum which is reassuring.
Tickets go on sale from the tenth of each month for the following month (for example, tickets for July 1 through July 31 go on sale on June 10). Tickets are good only for the specified date and time of entry.
Head to Lawson Online for details.
No Inside Photography!
Whilst you are free to take as many photos as you wish outside Studio Ghibli Museum including the rooftop garden, there is a strict no photography rule inside. This is an absolutely brilliant idea as it ensures that there is a sense of surprise as you explore each room – you simply won’t find spoilers online to tell you what to expect other than a few written descriptions.
Getting to Studio Ghibli Museum
We found getting to Studio Ghibli Museum relatively straightforward thanks to great Japanese signage. From Shinjuku, we caught a train to Mitaka station where we then walked to the “community” bus that does a loop to the museum every 10 minutes. You will easily find the bus as it is richly decorated with characters from the studio.
I strongly suggest using Google maps to help you move around Japan however, when trying to get to Studio Ghibli make sure it is via Mitaka Station as this offers the easiest transit to the museum.
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Planning a Trip to Japan?
Japan is one our favourite travel destinations with kids. It is full of wonders and never ceases to amaze us. Are you planning a trip to Japan? You may find some of our other articles helpful. They include:
Planning your trip to Japan with kids
Things to do in Hiroshima with kids
Visiting Japan during Cherry Blossom season
10 things you need to know about Tokyo before you visit with kids
Things to do in Osaka with kids
or head to our Japan archives for an array of tips and tricks to make the most out of your trip