Ghibli's movie location

I am not a big Studio Ghibli fan. Actually, as Miyazaki's work, I love Lupin the third first and I watched Lupin's movie "The Castle of Cagliostro." But of course it is nice that other countries・people like Ghibli's animation; it is a good chance to tell more about this country. Today I found the site "Walk though Ghibli" where the site owner had visited the locales of each movie. If you saw the Ghibli's movie, you may see a similar place to it in this site.

Grave of the Fireflies (Hitaru no Haka): In August, this movie comes on TB every year. I tried to watch it again and again. But I have never succeeded. Too sad and too much. This is a real story that happened in the Kobe area in WW2. This is Kobe where he visited. That river was the river where the boy and girl ran away from an aerial attack (according to the site owner; you know I have never seen the entire film).

My Neighbor Totoro (Tonari no Totoro): Ah, to be honest with you, I have never watched this movie. (So what!?) They say it is a story in Tokorozawa city in Saitama pref in the 1960's. This is the place he visited. Here is another site.

Pom Poko (Heisei Tanuki Gassen Ponpoko): I know this movie because the locale is the "Tama center area" and it's very close to my parents・home. And it's very true, as recently as 5 years ago, there were tanuki and like I wrote the post, there are "Tanuku" traffic panels.

Princess Mononoke (Mononoke Hime): I wrote the locale of the movie is the world heritage property Yakushima. But not only that, another the world heritage property "Shirakami sanchi" was the locale of the movie too. He visited both. Here is another site. Hmm, deep forest heals me always.

Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi): This movie is fantasy, but that public bath "aburaya" has real models. "Edo tatemono museum" is one of those places. Actually it is very close to Studio Ghibli. Dogo Onsen Honkan, Shibu Onsen Kanaguya and Jioufen city in Taiwan are also models for "Sprited Away."

Here are other movies.
Only Yesterday (Omohide Poro Poro) : Yamagata prefecture.
Ocean Waves (Umi ga Kikoeru) : Kouchi Prefecture, anothre site.
Whisper of the Heart (Mimi wo Sumaseba) : Seiseki Sakuragaoka in Tokyo. Another site.

Comments

[Mari]

Hi there
wow people love Ghibli. I think to go that museum, you need to reserve the ticket first. Please check their site.

[Sera]

Martin F, I've been to the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka. I'd say it's definately worth it. Granted, there's A LOT of "kiddie stuff" there, but there's rooms full of cels and original artwork that you get to look at (really up close too!) which makes the trip MORE than worth it.

[Martin F]

Imagine, just for a minute, that Mr. Disney had decided to stay as low-key and obscure and interesting as Mr. Miyazaki... He would feel human, and he would not just be "the man who created Micky Mouse". He would be an artist, not "the man who wanted to entertain billions". He could even have been an inspiration.

[james]

Miyazaki's movies are hit-or-miss with me but since I draw and design a lot, I absolutely appreciate the artistic side of them. Thanks, Mari for all the links! I was hoping that you could give me some advice on whether or not I should visit the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka. I saw some photos from it and it looks interesting yet at the same time, it seems like it was made for kids. Is it worth my time and money? thanks!

[stuz]

For all Ghibli fans you should try and get the documentary "Ghibli - the Miyazaki Temple". French produced but English narrated. It lays background stories behind almost each film produced by Miyazaki. Even Takahata's contrasting style compared to Miyazaki's is being touched upon, and is being interviewed.

[Sera]

I love Shutdio Ghibli. Thank you so much for this post Mari, I enjoyed it a lot. :) I loved seeing the local places. I wish I lived in Japan now. :(

[snowfox]

Am a Studio Ghibli fan.

Never knew that the storyline was based so closely to actual venues. Thanx.

Bayside Shakedown. TV Series/Movie. Love the clean storyline.