‘Spirited Away’: Ghibli theme park prepares for visitors

Beyond the gates, a whimsical world awaits, complete with a fluffy Cat Bus, the toothy grin of Totoro and a life-sized No-Face seated on a train: welcome to Ghibli Park.

On Wednesday, media got a sneak peek at the highly anticipated new theme park from Studio Ghibli, creator of beloved titles like My Neighbour Totoro and the Oscar-winning Spirited Away.

It will open its doors to visitors on November 1, though initially only three of the five sections of the site in central Japan’s Aichi region will be accessible.

Some local residents got early access through a lottery, including Yuki Asahi, a confessed Ghibli fanatic.

The Ghibli character ‘Totoro’ at Dondoko Forest.

“It’s the park everyone was waiting for,” he told AFP.

Spread over 7.1 hectares of the 194-hectare park where Aichi hosted the 2005 International Expo, it features large open-air areas in keeping with the importance of nature in Ghibli works.

Among the three areas that will open next month is the Hill of Youth, the gateway to the park that features an elevator tower inspired by several Ghibli films including Castle in the Sky and Howl’s Moving Castle.

Elsewhere, “Dondoko Forest” evokes the retro peace of My Neighbour...