Top 10 Secret Photo-Worthy Details at the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka!

Text & photos / －SanjiNoir－ Black Knight Reading －
 
Does this weathered iron giant remind you of the famous animation "Castle in the Sky"? Yes, indeed—that’s the legendary Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, a must-visit spot in Tokyo. If you're making a special trip here, chances are you won't want to miss any of the little details. That's why we've specially selected "10 details around the Ghibli Museum that are worth noticing and photographing," so every visitor who makes the trip won’t miss out!

But first, let’s talk about how to get there. Getting to the Ghibli Museum is quite simple. The most common route is to take the JR Chuo Line to Mitaka Station, then walk left down the bridge from the south exit of Mitaka Station to reach the shuttle bus pick-up point. Usually, there’s a very eye-catching Totoro shuttle bus waiting there, so it’s easy to find.

The JR Chuo Line is quite long, but as long as you’re on this rail line and head in the right direction, you’ll eventually arrive at Mitaka. If you’re using the more commonly taken JR Yamanote Line within Tokyo, you can transfer at Shinjuku or Akihabara to get there.
Route 1: Shinjuku or Akihabara → JR Chuo Line → Mitaka South Exit → Totoro Shuttle Bus → Ghibli Museum in Mitaka
(Of course, if you have time and want to stroll a bit, walking along the Windy Path from the Mitaka South Exit to the Ghibli Museum is also a nice option.)
Route 2: Kichijoji → Walk through Inokashira Park → Ghibli Museum in Mitaka
(That is, get off at Kichijoji Station, which is one stop before Mitaka Station, then walk through the legendary Inokashira Park. Just follow the right direction, and you’ll reach the Ghibli Museum at the other end of the park.)

But it’s right here!!!
Detail Worth Noticing 1: The Shuttle Bus Stop Sign!
This sign at the Mitaka Station shuttle stop features a smiling, slightly mischievous and super cute Totoro. We won’t post the photo here, but those who are interested can keep an eye out when they visit. Of course, you can also find images via Google search XD

Then, after getting off the bus, you can either go left right away or wait until you’ve finished visiting the whole museum and head left on your way out. That is,Detail Worth Noticing2: The Totoro Ticket Booth!