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Studio Ghibli is a cultural phenomenon, with its heartfelt, beautifully crafted anime amassing legions of fans around the world. In recent years, the Ghibli Universe has leapt off the screen into tangible experiences, much to the delight of fans.
There’s the sprawling Ghibli Park in Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park. At the same time, Japan has seen several travelling exhibitions offering deep dives into the studio's creative process and notable themes in the Ghibli Universe, as well as interactive ways for fans to engage with their favourite anime.
The good news is, there are two brand new Ghibli exhibitions coming to Osaka and Kyoto in the second half of the year. The Ghibli Park Exhibition in Osaka will bring some of the Aichi park’s most iconic attractions to the city. The Kyoto show, on the other hand, will be more contemplative in nature, as it explores the connection between Hayao Miyazaki’s 'The Boy and the Heron' and the philosophy of Zen. Tickets for Osaka are now available online.
Ghibli Park Exhibition, Osaka
July 18–September 26
A continuation of the hit ‘Ghibli Park and Ghibli Exhibition’ which toured ten venues across Japan, the new ‘Ghibli Park Exhibition’ will highlight the iconic park’s current state. This, too, will be a travelling show, kicking off in Osaka before moving to other cities in the country.
Ghibli Park Exhibition will be, for most parts, interactive and experiential. One key exhibit is the Mini Ghibli Park, where all five zones of the Aichi attraction are recreated as a board game experience.
Visitors also get to enjoy two of Ghibli Park's most popular features here in Osaka. One is the revised and expanded edition of the 'Delicious! Animating Memorable Meals' exhibition, which explores the important role of food in Ghibli films through sculptures as well as production materials. Of course, no Ghibli exhibition is complete without the awe-inspiring set pieces. This time around, visitors get to insert themselves into iconic scenes from 'When Marnie Was There' and 'Porco Rosso', among others, for immersive photo opportunities.
Fans of 'Spirited Away' will be extra pleased to know that Haku the dragon will appear as a majestic sculpture, serving as the symbolic centrepiece of the Ghibli Park Exhibition.
Zen and Ghibli, Kyoto
October 3–December 6
Beneath the fantastical surfaces of Studio Ghibli’s beloved anime films, there lie emotional nuance, moral ambiguity and contemplative pacing – features that resonate strikingly with the philosophical principles of Zen. This ‘Zen and Ghibli’ exhibition at the Kyoto City Kyocera Museum of Art is designed to explore this unexpected yet deeply rooted connection. Drawing inspiration from a dialogue between producer Toshio Suzuki and a Zen monk, it invites visitors to experience Ghibli’s universe through a ‘Zen gaze’.
Centred on Hayao Miyazaki’s most recent film, 'The Boy and the Heron', the exhibition unfolds through carefully constructed spaces featuring iconic scenes, memorable lines and Suzuki’s calligraphic works. Rather than offering definitive readings, it encourages visitors to dwell in uncertainty, reflecting Zen’s emphasis on presence and perception.
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