On Tuesday, we got a day off from class and so a few of us decided to head over to Ghibli Museum near Kichijouji station. Actually, we planned way beforehand to come to this place. In order to gain entrance, we needed to book tickets in advance at any Lawson convenience store. As expected, the weekend tickets are sold out very quickly. For weekday tickets, booking one or two weeks in advance will be sufficient.
The entire train journey from Hongsanchome to Kichijouji station took us approximately an hour. When transferring at Shinjuku station, take note to take either the Rapid or Limited Express trains, which skip some stops and hence reach the destination in a shorter period of time. The Local train, on the other hand, stops at every station and hence consumes precious time.
The Ghibli Museum is a short walk away from the train station. It is situated right beside Inokashira Park, a quiet area quite unlike the busy streets in central Tokyo. The museum is not very big, but nonetheless, it never fails to surprise. Having watched more Ghibli movies before the museum trip will probably make the visit even more interesting, since you will then be encountering a familiar character or scenery at every turn. Considering there are a total of twenty-one Ghibli films up till present, starting early seems like a good idea.
Inside the museum, exhibits include a short movie, interactive displays on animation production techniques and drawings. It is indeed amazing to see how frames from the movies are hand-drawn and colored. The trip definitely made me a greater fan of Ghibli Studio.
There are numerous colorful and cute stained-glass decorations throughout the museum. However, taking photos inside the museum is prohibited, and we so have to content ourselves with pictures taken from outside the building and in the garden.
Don't forget to see the giant Totoro overlooking the museum entrance!
Besides the Ghibli museum, make the long trip to Kichijouji count by visiting the Inokashira Park on the way, shop near Kichijouji station, and eat the famous meatball at Satou (a small shop in the shopping area around the station). I heard from a friend that in a survey of the most habitable place in Tokyo, Kichijouji came up top. So definitely try this place out, especially if you like Ghbili movies!
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