Ghibli Park, located in the Aichi Expo Memorial Park in Nagakute, Aichi Prefecture, has expanded since its opening in November 2022, now boasting five distinct areas including the recent additions of Mononoke Village and Witch Valley. The theme park have been announced for the summer season running from July through September. This summer, visitors can look forward to a range of new food offerings, and it's also been revealed that the short film "Whale Hunt" will be featured in September.
Among the new culinary additions, Witch Valley's Scissors, Paper, Rock Bakery will begin serving a Rice Curry Croquette starting July 17. The nearby Flying Oven restaurant is also launching an English Breakfast menu on weekends and holidays beginning this July.
At the Continental Café in the Ghibli Warehouse, a special Sand Pâté sandwich will be available until the end of September, along with four new gelato flavors: cassata, lemon, mango, and chocolate. The gelato selection will rotate daily, always featuring one of these exciting new flavors among the six varieties offered each day.
Additionally, at the Rotunda Windy Hill located at the park's north entrance plaza, a seasonal menu using natural ice will include delicacies like Natural Ice Tea Rice with shrimp tempura and Natural Ice Shaved Ice with walnut mochi, available from July 17 to the end of September.
The Orion Theater at the Ghibli Warehouse, which monthly showcases Studio Ghibli-produced short animations, will present "Whale Hunt" in September. This story, originally from Rieko Nakagawa's children's book "Reluctant Kindergarten" and illustrated by Yuriko Omura, was eagerly anticipated by director Hayao Miyazaki to be brought to life in animation. It follows previous shorts "Water Spider Monmon" in July and "Boro the Caterpillar" in August. Continue to explore the unique Ghibli shorts this season.
Tickets for Ghibli Park are available by reservation only. Tickets for September entry go on sale on July 10 through Boo-Woo Tickets, Lawson and Ministop's Loppi machines, and the Law Ticket website. Visit the official website for more details.
"Whale Hunt" Story:
Shigeru, a boy from Tulip Kindergarten, watches enviously as the older boys from the Star Group build a ship out of building blocks. Desperate to join, Shigeru finally gets his chance when the ship, named "Elephant and Lion Maru," launches on a whale-catching adventure.
Screening Duration: About 16 minutes
Original Work: "Reluctant Kindergarten" by Rieko Nakagawa, illustrated by Yuriko Omura
Script & Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Music: Yuji Nomi
Ghibli Park Facility Details:
Location: 1533-1 Ibaragabasama, Nagakute, Aichi Prefecture, inside Aichi Expo Memorial Park
Operating Hours: Weekdays 10:00 – 17:00, Weekends & Holidays 9:00 – 17:00
Closed: Tuesdays (or the next weekday if Tuesday is a holiday), and other designated days
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© 2001 Rieko Nakagawa, Yuriko Omura, Studio Ghibli
