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Though there are obviously numerous anime studios in Japan, there is no doubt that Studio Ghibli is among–if not the most–legendary of them all. With tons of famed, beloved, and critically acclaimed films, there’s no doubt that the influence Ghibli has had on the world is massive. Even if you’re not a particularly big fan of their stories, who could deny that the worlds they create are simply stunning? Wouldn’t it be amazing to see those buildings brought to life and given physical form? We certainly wish we could at least get a ride inside the cat bus.

Though this new exhibition at the Edo-Tokyo Tatemono-en, or called the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum in English, does not quite provide full-size replicas of Ghibli architecture, it does give us an excellent concept of what some of our favorite buildings would like in the real world.

ghibli1Twitter – Edo-Tokyo Tatemono-en

Called, simply enough, the “Ghibli 3-D Building Exhibition,” the exhibition is open now and will run until mid-December, so you still have time to plan your trip to Tokyo. Located in Koganei Park, a visit to the museum makes for an excellent day-trip and it won’t break the bank either, with an entrance fee of only 400 yen (about US$4) for general admission.

With nearly 400 different pieces including full 3-D models, landscape paintings, and notes and other material about the anime buildings, the exhibition looks to be a great way for Ghibli fans to get a deeper view of what was happening behind the action. Explanations by Terunobu Fujimori, a famed architect and architectural historian, are also provided, helping to increase patrons’ understanding and enjoyment.

Perhaps the crown jewel of the exhibition is the three-meter-tall sculpture of the bathhouse Aburaya from Spirited Away, which you can see below.

aburaya (3)Twitter (@CinemaToday)

aburaya (1)Twitter (@CinemaToday)

In addition to the stunning sculpture, the museum is also home to one of the buildings that inspired Aburaya! Called Kodakarayu, it’s located in the East Zone of the museum, number E4 on this page.

ghibli1Twitter (@Ghiblimamire)

We haven’t made it over to Koganei Park for this exhibit yet, but it’s definitely high on our list of summer vacation destinations. Just as soon as we get back from our cross-country rail adventure!

Sources: Japaaan, Edo-Tokyo Tatemono-en
Images: Edo-Tokyo Tatemono-en, Twitter (@Ghiblimamire), Twitter (Edo-Tokyo Tatemono-en), Twitter (@CinemaToday), Twitter (@LiveDoorNews)