Our love of the Studio Ghibli film My Neighbor Totoro has truly blossomed during the month of May. Just when we thought things couldn’t get any better after we heard about Totoro’s Forest in Saitama Prefecture, complete with a house for black dust bunnies known as Kurosuke no Ie, it seems there’s even more reason to celebrate, with an exact replica of Mei and Satsuki’s house open to the public in Aichi Prefecture.
Located in Moricoro Park, the site of the 2005 World Expo, the enchanting replica was designed by Goro Miyazaki, son of Hayao Miyazaki, the acclaimed director of the Ghibli film My Neighbor Totoro. Involved in the construction project from start to finish, the house contains all the tiny details fans would come to expect, including the palm tree out the front and the rickety poles holding up the pagoda.
▼ Our dreams of visiting the magical world of Ghibli just got one step closer with this full-scale replica
Visitors are allowed to enter the house and explore the perfectly recreated rooms. From the cosy shambles of their father’s study to the girls’ study area by the entrance hall, it takes a while to take in all the tiny, thought-out details.
The kitchen is also lovingly recreated and outside you’ll find the fully functioning water pump.
The calendar, which looks to be the work of a young Mei, depicts the Japanese custom of throwing beans at imaginary devils to protect the family home during the festival of Setsubun, which is the day before spring, according to the traditional Japanese calendar.
Visitors are even allowed to take a look through the drawers of the young characters to catch a glimpse of their wardrobe. It’s almost like the family might return home shortly for a real-life meeting with visiting guests!
Visits to the house are by guided tour, with tickets available for pre-purchase from Lawson and MiniStop convenience stores or on-site on the day for 510 yen (US$4.27) for adults and children above junior high school age. Children under the age of four get in free.
Like the Ghibli Museum in Tokyo, entry times are staggered to limit the number of visitors per group as the house is not especially large, and it takes about 30-40 minutes to view.
If you’re going through Nagoya Airport or travelling from Tokyo to Osaka, this makes for an ideal stop-off on your way through. Just remember to keep an eye out for Totoro when you’re in the area; sources say the loveable character has left a few acorns for visitors to stumble upon on the way!
Satsuki and Mei’s House
Aichi Expo Memorial Park (Morikoro Park)
Address: Yubinbango 480-1342 Aichi Prefecture, Nagakute Shiibara Quai Hazama B 1533-1
Phone: 0561-64-1130
Opening Hours
Weekdays: 10:00 to 16:30 / Saturdays, Sundays and holidays: 9:30 to 16:30
(May change depending on the season)
Source: Satsuki and Mei’s House, H/T Kotaku USA