The Studio Ghibli Museum in Tokyo is a magical experience for fans of Hayao Miyazaki’s iconic films and anyone who loves Japan’s anime. But as amazing as the museum itself may be, securing tickets can feel like its own adventure.

With limited tickets released each month and enormous demand from both locals and international travellers, booking directly requires pre-planning and a bit of luck. It’s not uncommon for would-be visitors to find their chosen dates sold out before they’ve even had a chance to hit “reserve.”

For those who prefer a simpler path, personal shoppers and online travel agencies offer convenient alternatives. By purchasing tickets through these providers, you can secure your spot without dealing with the high-stakes booking process, making it easier to plan your visit and focus on enjoying the museum itself—from Totoro’s forest to the Cat Bus room—instead of worrying about ticket release dates.

This article will walk you through everything you need to know about buying Studio Ghibli Museum tickets, whether you choose to book directly or go through a personal shopper or online travel agency. We’ll cover the pros and cons of each option, key dates, and insider tips to help you secure your spot.

Ghibli Museum Tickets

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 and the tickets are not transferable. Therefore, the availability of Ghibli Museum tickets can be a big problem.

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 directly, 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 of getting 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.

Below are the options to book directly, as well as our recommended alternatives, which include using a personal shopper or booking a tour.

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.

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 range of different options to give you the best chance of securing Ghibli Museum tickets.

How to Buy Studio Ghibli Museum Tickets – Online Quick Links

The number of Ghibli Museum tickets are limited due to the museum’s small size. 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 and eJapanese.
• Book a Ghibli Museum tour through either Klook, Viator, KKDay or Trip.com.

Ghibli Park near Nagoya

If you are interested in visiting the Ghibli Theme Park near Nagoya (a totally separate attraction to the Ghibli Museum near Tokyo), be aware that International ticket sales for the Ghibli Theme Park near Nagoya also go on sale at 2pm Japan Time on the 10th of each month for visits two months later. Click here for the direct purchase website for Ghibli Theme Park tickets, or you can now also book Ghibli Theme Park tickets through Klook.

There are also several package options for you to book Ghibli Park Tickets through Klook, Viator and KKDay, so check them out as well to avoid the scrum.

Ghibli Park Ticket Options

Here is an overview of the two ticket options for the Ghibli Theme Park. Expect the Premium pass to sell out quickly.

Ghibli Park O-Sanpo Day Pass: Gets you into all five sections of Ghibli Park and you can spend money in shops, restaurants, rides etc. However you cannot go inside the following buildings – World Emporium, Satsuki and Mei’s House, The Okino Residence, Howl’s Castle or The House of Witches. Ticket costs for adults are 3,500/4,000 yen (weekdays/weekends) and for children 1,750/2,000 yen (weekdays/weekends).

Ghibli O-Sanpo Day Pass Premium: Provides access to all five areas, both outside and inside. Ticket costs for adults are 7,300/7,800 yen (weekdays/weekends) and for children 3,650/3,900 yen (weekdays/weekends).

Why Visit Studio Ghibli Museum

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 which have received Academy Award nominations. ‘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.

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 its 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 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 bookshop.
• 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 on 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 look like they 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. 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, 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 at 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.

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

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

A good 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

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 as detailed below. 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, plus allow additional time to visit the cafe.

• Official admission time for 10am tickets is 10:00-10:30am.
• The official admission time for 12 pm tickets is 12:00-12:30am.
• The official admission time for 2 pm tickets is 14:00-14:30am.
• The official admission time for 4 pm tickets is 16:00-16:30am.

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 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, fashion stores and many interesting small shops 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 rowboats
• 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 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 that will direct you to the museum.

If you 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 two 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.

Don’t Forget to Book Your Ghibli Museum Tickets

We hope this article helps you to easily purchase your Ghibli Museum tickets and that you have a lovely visit!

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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.