By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Team
Taiwan’s first-ever Studio Ghibli specialty store is set to officially open in Xinyi District on July 2. In addition to a wide range of adorable Studio Ghibli merchandise featuring Hayao Miyazaki’s creations, visitors will also be greeted by a giant Totoro and the iconic Totoro bus right inside the store. However, even before the massive Totoro from Studio Ghibli made its appearance, with the rise of painted village trends across Taiwan, numerous Totoro-themed bus stop art spots have already emerged, sparking a chasing craze. Below, we’ve rounded up four Totoro bus stops for everyone to go Totoro-spotting together!
Unlike typical Totoro bus stop paintings, the Dali Totoro is a three-dimensional creation. (Photo credit: JIM)
● Dali, Taichung
A three-meter-tall three-dimensional Totoro painting has appeared at the intersection entrance of Dazhi Road and Qiaocheng Road in Dali, Taichung. Created by artist Lin Hsiao-yi, who has a background in graphic design, the piece was made using recycled materials over the course of two months, attracting many visitors eager to take photos and check in. Next to it, there's also the faceless character No-Face from Miyazaki’s animated film Spirited Away — pretty fun!
There's also No-Face directing traffic next to it — very amusing. (Photo credit: JIM)
● 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 didn’t take long before passersby noticed it, and soon the Totoro bus stop at Zhongzheng Park became an overnight sensation.
Totoro bus stop graffiti at Zhongzheng Park, Keelung. (Photo credit: Lin Yilun)
The Totoro bus stop at Zhongzheng Park in Keelung attracts many visitors who come specifically for it. (Photo credit: Lin Yilun)
● Dahu Mural Village, Tainan
Dahu District’s Shilin Village is a newly emerging mural village in the Tainan area. The mural theme began with the well-known cartoon character “Totoro” holding an umbrella and waiting for the bus, and later expanded to include other famous 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 find the Totoro bus stop in Dahu Village can look for a small alley about 100 meters away from the “Shizilai” bus stop on the Tainan Bus Orange Lines 1 and 2. At the alley entrance, villagers have put up a sign that reads “Dahu Totoro Bus Stop.” Follow the sign to find it.
Totoro bus stop in Dahu, Tainan. (Image source: Dahu Totoro Bus Stop)
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