This marks my second visit to the Ghibli Museum. I absolutely enjoyed my first visit, so I made sure that my sister didn’t miss out on the Hogwarts-like museum. The museum is designed for self-exploration, and we couldn’t help but feel that we’ve been turned into children.
Well, adult-sized children, anyway.
As we no longer have Malaysian friend in Tokyo to bribe with nasi lemak, we resorted to buying our Ghibli Museum tickets from a Japanese agent and had them shipped to me. The tickets were charged at a premium, but we had no other ways of obtaining them.
Be prepared to fork out from double to triple the original price of the tickets.
Don’t forget that you’ll need to book your tickets at least a week in advance (worked for my first visit), but seeing how Japan is receiving a surge of tourists, it’s best to get them a month earlier.
I remember seeing the miniature Bathhouse from ‘Spirited Away‘ nestled in a small flower pot at the main entrance of the museum, and imagine my surprise seeing it at the very same spot after two years!
We left our luggage with the staff (and also left our backpacks in their free lockers), and off we went to immerse ourselves in all things Ghibli.
Photography isn’t allowed indoors, but let’s just say that there is a playpen with a ginourmous Catbus filled with Soot Sprites where only children could dive in.
Guys, this is what heartbreak feels like.
We fell head over heels over those Jiji water taps/drinking fountain. The edge of the tap can be rotated upwards!
(Does Kiki ever regain her ability to talk to Jiji? That question haunts me until today!).
My sister and I fell into the realms of temptation and left with a Catbus and Jiji plushie each, and hoarded more souvenir for our Ghibli-loving friends.
We also found sakura in full blossom in Inokashira Park just outside the Ghibli Museum, and that was the perfect way to end the day before we took an(other) overnight bus to Kyoto.
