Studio Ghibli Craze Hits Taiwan: Four Totoro Bus Stops You Need to Know

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Team
 

Taiwan’s first-ever Studio Ghibli flagship store is set to officially open in Xinyi District on July 2. In addition to purchasing a range of adorable Studio Ghibli merchandise, visitors will also be able to see a giant Totoro and the Catbus right inside the store welcoming everyone. However, even before the massive Totoro from Studio Ghibli made its debut in Taiwan, with the rise of painted village culture, several Totoro bus stop attractions had already emerged around the country, sparking a chasing trend. Below are four Totoro bus stops compiled for everyone to join in on the Totoro hunt.

● Dali, Taichung

A three-meter-tall three-dimensional Totoro painting has appeared at the intersection of Dazhi Road and Qiaocheng Road in Dali, Taichung. The creator, Lin Xiaoyi, who has a background in art and design, spent two months crafting it using discarded materials, attracting many tourists to come take photos and check in. Next to it is also the Faceless from Studio Ghibli’s animated film Spirited Away—pretty fun.

● Zhongzheng Park, Keelung

An anonymous graffiti artist, passing by Zhongzheng Park in Keelung, was struck with inspiration and painted a Totoro bus stop on the wall. It was quickly spotted by passersby, and soon the Totoro bus stop at Zhongzheng Park became an overnight sensation.

● Da Nei Painting Village, Tainan
Dashi Village in the Shilin neighborhood of Da Nei District is a newly emerging painted village in the Tainan area. The painting theme started with the famous cartoon character “Totoro” holding an umbrella and waiting for the bus, and was later joined by other well-known characters such as Yuan Yuan, Peter Rabbit, Hello Kitty, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Doraemon, as well as LINE’s Brown and Cony. Those wanting to visit Da Nei Village to find the Totoro bus stop can look for a small alley about 100 meters next to the “Shizilai” stop on the Tainan Bus Orange Line 1 and Orange Line 2 branches. The villagers have put up a sign for the “Da Nei Totoro Bus Stop” on the utility pole at the alley entrance—just follow the sign to find it.