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Japan’s Ghibli Park has confirmed the opening dates for Mononoke Village and Valley of Witches with the areas set to open in late 2023 and early 2024
Lauren Heath-Jones | Planet Attractions | 25 Jul 2023
The new lands are inspired by several Studio Ghibli animations Credit: Ghibli Park
Ghibli Park in Nagakute, Japan, has confirmed the opening dates of Mononoke Village and Valley of Witches, with the lands scheduled to open in November 2023 and March 2024 respectively.
Opening on November 1, 2023, Mononoke Village is inspired by the 1997 Studio Ghibli animation Princess Mononoke.
Immersing visitors in Japan’s Muromachi period, which took place between 1336 and 1573, the land will be themed to look like the film’s setting Iron Town and will feature sculptures of the boar god Lord Okkoto, a Tatarigami spirit monster and other mythical beasts.
Mononoke Village features sculptures of the bear god Lord Okkoto and other mythical creatures CREDIT: GHIBLI PARK
Valley of Witches, meanwhile, will open on March 16, 2024, and is inspired by both Howl’s Moving Castle and Kiki’s Delivery Service and will feature several amusements and dining venues.
Themed to look like the wastelands depicted in both movies, Valley of Witches will feature life-sized ecreations of several iconic locations from the films, including Howl’s Moving Castle, the Hattter Shop and the Guchoki Bakery, as well as Karikiya, the home Kiki shares with her parents in Kiki’s Delivery Service.
Valley of Witches will open in March 2024 CREDIT: GHIBLI PARK
First opened in November 2022, Ghibli Park is located inside Aichi Earth Expo Park, the site of the 2005 World Expo, in Japan’s Tōkai region.
It features few rides, aiming instead to immerse guests in nature, which has heavily influenced the studio’s rich animation style.
The park is divided into five areas: Dondoko Forest, Hill of Youth, Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse, Valley of Witches and Mononoke Village, with the first three having opened in 2022.
Once all lands are open the ¥34bn (US$323m, €267m, £235m) park is expected to welcome 1.8 million guests annually.
Mononoke Village will transport guests back to Japan’s Muromachi period CREDIT: GHIBLI PARK
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