Studio Ghibli is one of the most loved and acclaimed animation studios in the whole world. Founded in 1985, Studio Ghibli has produced over 20 anime feature films. Seven Ghibli films are among the top 15 anime films made in Japan, five of their films have received Academy Award nominations, and ‘Spirited Away’ won an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film in 2003. In addition to Spirited Away, some of their most well-known and loved films include My Neighbour Totoro and Kiki’s Delivery Service.

If you love the creations of Studio Ghibli or enjoy animation in general, a ticket to the Ghibli Museum in Tokyo should be one of your most sought-after tickets.  Make sure you book early to ensure you do not miss out, as Ghibli Museum tickets are very popular!

Ghibli Museum Tickets Sold Out

Because of Studio Ghibli’s critical and popular acclaim, the Studio Ghibli Museum is one of the most popular destinations for tourists visiting Tokyo. Unfortunately, the museum is quite small compared to many other museums, so entry numbers are strictly limited. You cannot purchase tickets directly at the museum. Therefore Ghibli Museum ticket availability can be a big problem.

Disclaimer:  This article contains affiliate links.  If you book after clicking on one of these links then we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Ghibli Museum tickets can be harder to get than tickets to the most popular live concerts and sporting events. This is partly because of the limited ticket numbers but also because the tickets only become available once a month through the direct website.

For example, if you want to purchase a ticket direct, you will have to be ready to purchase at exactly 10am Japan Time on the 10th of each month (when tickets go on sale for the following month). Even then, there is no guarantee to get the number of tickets you want at the time you want. In our Facebook group, Japan Travel Planning, it’s common to hear stories of people not being able to get through due to the sheer volume of traffic, and when you get through the tickets you want are often not available. Tickets for the entire month can often be sold out within 30 minutes to an hour.

If you are confronted with ‘Ghibli Museum tickets sold out’ all hope is not lost. If you are one of the many people wanting to obtain the prized Studio Ghibli museum tickets, I will be providing you with a wide range of different options to give you the best chance of securing Ghibli Museum tickets.

In this article, I will also help you with the following:

• Quick links for purchasing online Studio Ghibli Museum tickets
• Why you should visit Ghibli Museum
• My recommendations for purchasing tickets
• Which days the museum is open and which days it is closed
• Opening hours and specific admission times
• Where the Studio Ghibli Museum is in Tokyo including some of the attractions in the area surrounding the museum
• How to get to Studio Ghibli Museum
• Expanded detail on the different ways to purchase Ghibli Museum tickets.

How to Buy Studio Ghibli Museum Tickets – Online Quick Links

The number of Ghibli Museum tickets are limited due to the small size of the museum. As a result, only a certain number of people are allowed inside the museum every two hours to keep it from becoming too crowded. There are various options for how to buy Ghibli Museum tickets. In this article, we provide several methods to buy tickets as follows:

• Ghibli Museum Tickets go on sale at 10am Japan time on 10th of each month for the following month.  (eg. 10th August for visits in September). You can join the scrum and try to book your Ghibli tickets using this option.
• Get assistance from a personal shopper on Fiverr. Our recommended Fiverr personal shoppers are Sean, Daiki and K-in-Japan.
• Book a Ghibli Museum tour through either Klook, Viator or KKDay.

Why Visit Studio Ghibli Museum

The Ghibli Museum is full of fascinating details that will induce a sense of wonder. I have no intention of giving away all its surprises but, without revealing too much, here are just some of the experiences you can look forward to:

• A ticket booth staffed by Totoro.
• Exchange your reservation coupons for a special ticket made from pieces of film prints from Ghibli movies. This is a wonderful souvenir in it’s own right.
• Watch an original animated short film in the Saturn Theatre. At the moment, the short film is Boro the Caterpillar.
• Journey through rooms and spaces that are as whimsical as the buildings in Ghibli movies.
• Gain insights into how animated films are made by wandering through a room set up like a vintage animator’s studio room.
• Browse through a collection of books recommended by Miyazaki in the Reading Room called Tri Hawks. This is also a book shop.
• Touch and play with the Cat Bus (if you are 12 and under).
• Take the staircase to the rooftop garden and encounter the 5 metre (15 foot tall) Robot Soldier.

It’s a museum that encourages you to relax, take your time and go on a journey of discovery in search of all the wonderful and whimsical details both large and small. No photos or videos are allowed inside which in one sense may be disappointing but it encourages you to enjoy the museum through your own eyes rather than through a camera lens. I’d strongly recommend purchasing the book called “The Art Collection of the Ghibli Museum” from the Tri Hawks Reading Room and Bookshop particularly given the restrictions about taking photos or videos inside. The great news is you can take photos outside which is almost equally as wondrous as the inside, as the whole building and grounds looks like it came straight out of a Ghibli movie including the Robot.

When you visit be aware that while there are English brochures and staff can speak English, the displays are in Japanese. However, unlike many museums this is not a big deal. In fact, it encourages you to focus and let all the incredible visual details wash over you. Don’t feel rushed and you will feel like you are inside part of the Ghibli universe.

Ghibli Museum Shop

The Studio Ghibli Museum Gift Shop, is called ‘Mamma Aiuto’ named after the sky pirates from the Ghibli film ‘Porco Rosso’. The Ghibli Museum Gift shop is filled with collectibles and souvenirs, many of which are limited editions or items that are exclusive to Mamma Aiuto so it’s well worth a visit. Here’s a link to a recent article with some examples of the items that are exclusive to the Studio Ghibli gift shop. Be prepared for the Studio Ghibli gift shop to be busy just like other parts of the museum, so you may be forced to shuffle around a bit depending on the time you visit it.

If you have the time, I would suggest doing a bit of research by visiting a Donguri Republic shop before your visit to the museum (without necessarily buying unless you find items that are just too hard to resist). Donguri Republic is the official Ghibli gift shop and has over 30 locations throughout Japan. A visit to a Donguri shop will give you a better idea of the items exclusive to Mamma Aiuto when you visit Ghibli Museum. Read this article for more details about Donguri stores and their locations.

Ghibli Museum Café

The café at the Ghibli Museum is called the Straw Hat Café. The café is located in a bright yellow building which is accessible by a set of stairs from the first floor or by crossing a bridge on the second floor. If you have the time, a visit to the café should be an integral part of your visit to the museum. You can order food (including various snacks and ice creams) and drinks including beer from a counter and eat at an open area with tables.

The best experience though is by getting into the café itself. Studio Ghibli characters feature in both the décor and the dishes, so the café becomes an extension of the museum experience. The café gets full quickly and it’s not uncommon to have a wait of about an hour but for most people it’s well worth it. I would suggest lining up about 11ish, have something to eat and drink, and then see the rest of the museum afterwards. The wait itself is made as relaxing and pleasant as possible. You can sit on a nice patio shaded by tall trees overhead. Chairs are scattered around the patio which allows you to sit down. Staff provide menus (in English, Japanese and Chinese) so you can browse the menu while waiting. Sometimes books are even provided for you to read. Once you have entered the café, you will discover that the food is made of organic ingredients, is delicious, and is full of whimsy and wonder, just like the rest of the museum. Here’s a great review by Food Lover Girl which will give you a good insight into what Straw Hat Café has to offer.

Ghibli Museum Tickets – My Recommendations

Here are my recommendations regarding the various Ghibli Museum ticket purchase options.

Lower Cost Higher Risk Options

There are three main options available, but the downside is the risk of not getting the number of tickets you want for the days that you want, or in the worst-case scenario, not getting tickets at all. I’ve heard and read of many instances, where people who were desperate to go to the Ghibli Museum have missed out using these options. However, if getting the tickets at a cheap price is the primary requirement for you, try to get a friend or contact who is already in Japan to get a ticket for you through a Loppi machine at a Lawson store. Otherwise, if you have already booked your Tokyo accommodation, see if your hotel concierge service can organise some tickets for you.

The other main lower cost option is to try and get a ticket direct, but you will have to be extremely quick and extremely lucky to get the tickets you want.

Higher Cost Lower Risk Options

When trying to arrange tickets for my family to visit the Ghibli Museum I would choose to book a ticket through an online travel agency/reseller such as Klook, Get Your Guide or Viator.

Klook Studio Ghibli Museum Tours

I would recommend booking Ghibli Museum tours through Klook. This is also the booking option I would choose to use, and the reason for this opinion is maximum flexibility. 

Click here to book Ghibli Museum Tours through Klook

Klook Short Tour (including Inokashira Park Walking Tour and Ghibli Museum Tickets

A new option being offered by Klook is a short tour which includes a guided 30 minute walk through Inokashira Park, and then entry to the Ghibli Museum to explore at your own pace (unguided).

Click here to book the Inokashira Park Walking Tour and Ghibli Museum Tour through Klook

Viator Ticket Vouchers for the Ghibli Museum

Viator has several Ghibli Museum tour options which include a range of tour addons to visit other locations in Tokyo which have Ghibli related attractions..

Click here to book Ghibli Museum Tours through Viator

Ghibli Museum Calendar

The Ghibli Museum is open Wednesday to Monday but is closed on most Tuesdays. The Ghibli Museum will also be closed for maintenance from time to time, so ensure you check opening dates when booking.

Studio Ghibli Museum Hours and Specific Admission Times

Studio Ghibli Museum is open from 10am to 6pm. There are four official admission times. Official admission time for 10am tickets is 10:00-10:30. The official admission time for 12 pm tickets is 12:00-12:30, and the official admission time for 2 pm tickets is 14:00-14:30. Finally, the official admission time for 4 pm tickets is 16:00-16:30. You can stay until 6pm even if you enter at one of the earlier admission times.  It takes approximately 2 hours to see the museum.

Where is the Studio Ghibli Museum?

The Studio Ghibli Museum is in the western suburbs of Tokyo in Mataka City. It is located within Inokoshira Park, which is well worth visiting. If you have the time, I would recommend setting aside the better part of a day to explore the park, museum and the suburb of Kichijoji. If you exit at Kichijoji Station, the suburb has plenty of cafes, restaurants and fashion stores and many small interesting shops are leading to the park. Wandering through Inokoshira Park is like being in a Ghibli film. The park has abundant green space and plenty of recreational and sightseeing opportunities. Here are just of the activities you may wish to consider:

• Visit the Benzaiten shrine which is a vivid red colour that looks particularly spectacular during Sakura season.
• Admire the autumn colours and view the Spring Sakura blossoms thanks to the maple, cypress and cherry (Sakura) trees throughout the park. Many of the Sakura line the lake making for a spectacular sight in Spring.
• Watch street performers and listen to people who regularly play music including instruments such as cellos and harps.
• Hire paddle Swan boats or row boats
• Have some food and a drink from one of the many food stands and cafes. Otherwise, buy some provisions and have a picnic.
• Spot the brightly coloured Koi.
• Walk on the many trails throughout the park.
• Wander through the petting zoo where you can play with small animals like guinea pigs and squirrels. This zoo is probably best for families with young children. There is also a small aquarium in the park.
• Visit the Sunday craft market

How to get to the Ghibli Museum

The Ghibli Museum is easily accessible by train. Travellers coming from Shinjuku Station should take the Chuo Line and get off at either Kichijoji Station or Mitaka Station. The museum is about a 15-minute walk from both stations.

I recommend getting off at Kichijoji Station as this is a more interesting walk through Inokoshira Park. There are plenty of Ghibli-themed signs in Inokashira Park to direct you to the museum.

If you would prefer not to walk 15 minutes, the other option is to get off at Mitaka Station and use the Studio Ghibli bus to get to the museum. The bus journey takes about 5 minutes. The bus has a capacity of 36 people and can accommodate 2 wheelchairs. Adult fares are 210 Yen (US$1.85) for a one-way trip, or 320 Yen (US$2.83) for a round trip. Fares for children 12 and under are 110 Yen for a one-way trip or 160 Yen for a round trip.

How to Buy Ghibli Museum Tokyo Tickets in Japan

If you are already in Japan and are there for an extended period of time, try visiting a regular Lawson store (blue exterior) to purchase your Studio Ghibli tickets using their Loppi machine. This option will also work if you have a friend or contact living in Japan who can help you. If you have already booked your hotel accommodation, you could also ask the hotel concierge service to help you buy the tickets through a Lawson store (normally for a 5 to 10 percent surcharge).

The ticket prices are at cost and are available from the 10th of the month before, e.g. March tickets will be available from 10th February. You can buy tickets at any time during the day and can also be purchased after the 10^th of each month, but tickets can sell out quickly. A certain amount of Japanese language familiarity would be useful or you may be able to ask someone who works in the store to help you. This link (under the How to Buy Tickets section part way down the page) provides helpful information on how to use Loppi to purchase Ghibli Museum tickets.

How to Buy Ghibli Museum Tickets Outside Japan

These options also work if you are in Japan but are the only options available to you outside of Japan unless you can purchase your tickets through a Lawson store.

Direct Ticket Vouchers for the Studio Ghibli Museum

Starting from the 10th of the month at 10am Japan time, Ghibli Museum tickets become available for the following month using this link. Before you start, you will need to have the following information ready (your credit card, email address, telephone number, country of origin, passport number and address while in Japan). You will be asked to select the desired entry month, desired date, entry time and number of tickets (up to 6 tickets per person).

Tickets for the Studio Ghibli museum sell faster than concert tickets for any touring megastar (particularly for weekends and public holidays), but weekdays may be a little easier. My advice is to be flexible and have 2-3 days in mind that you can visit and different time slots so that if your preferred option is gone, you have a back-up plan. Using this option, you may have difficulty accessing the site when it’s getting smashed with heaps of people trying to buy tickets at the same time, and I have heard of tickets being totally sold out in 30 minutes to an hour.

If you successfully buy tickets direct, your entry voucher will be barcoded on your My Page at the URL listed in the email that arrives after you complete your booking. Make sure that the group leader (person with the passport used when purchasing) brings his or her passport, as it will be used to confirm the identity of the Group Leader when entering the Museum.

Don’t Forget to Book Your Ghibli Museum Tickets

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Disclaimer:  This article contains affiliate links.  If you book after clicking on one of these links then we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.