Construction for Ghibli Theme Park in Aichi Prefecture Starts This July, Set for a Fall 2022 Opening

This is seriously a dream come true for all Studio Ghibli fans! A news report from Nagoya TV revealed this Monday that the long-awaited Ghibli Park is set to start construction this July, with three areas of the park set to open to the public in fall 2022. The news report also showed concept designs of the park as well as aerial video of the construction sites. Check out the video here!

The park’s construction will be handled by building contractor Kajima Corporation, with expenses estimated to be around 10,657,900,000 yen (USD 98,323,700). The developers also stated that despite the COVID-19 pandemic, they expect no delays to the construction and the park’s first three areas will be finished in time for the scheduled July 2022 opening. Aichi prefecture, which will host the park, has already pledged 31 billion yen (about USD 280 million) for the construction and 3 billion yen (about USD 30 million) for the design and planning process.

Concept art as well as display items for the Ghibli Park were supposed to be exhibited in “The Great Ghibli Exhibit _{Two More Years Until the Ghibli Park’s Opening}” exhibit event which were originally slated to be held from June 25 to September 16.  While the exhibit has been moved, fortunately the organizers have released some concept art on what the Ghibli Park could look like. Check them out below!

The Ghibli no Daisouko (Giant Ghibli Storehouse), Seishun no Oka (Hill of Youth, which will feature the Chikyu-ya from Whisper of the Heart), and Dondoko Mori (Dondoko Forest, which will feature a recreation of the path and temple from My Neighbor Totoro) areas will be the first to open in the park in July 2022. By 2023, other areas such as Mononoke no Sato Area (Mononoke Village from Princess Mononoke) and Majo no Tani Area (Witch Valley from Kiki’s Delivery Service) are expected to open to the public as well.

Source: Anime News Network