Why build a bear when you could build a Totoro?

I don’t think it’s really going out on a limb to speculate that “people who want to visit Japan’s Studio Ghibli anime theme park” and “people who want to hug Totoro” are two groups with a whole lot of overlap. I’m not saying the Venn diagram of those two demographics is a single, perfect circle, but it’s got to be pretty close, right?

While we’re at it, we can probably say that a lot of people in those largely identical groups would also like to make their own Totoro plushie, and it just so happens that that’s something visitors to the Ghibli Park park in Aichi Prefecture will be able to do next month.

And no, “Ghibli Park park” isn’t a typo. Instead of being a single self-contained facility, Ghibli Park is made up of a number of detached sections which are all within Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park, in the town of Nagakute (near Nagoya). The upcoming Let’s Make a One-of-a-Kind Totoro Plushie workshop is being promoted by Ghibli Park, but is actually being held at the Chikyu Shimin Koryu Center community center, which is also located in Aichi Commemorative Park, just a little north of Ghibli Park’s Hill of Youth area and to the west of the Valley of Witches.

▼ Chikyu Shimin Koryu Center

In the 70-minute workshop, which is open to participants ages 6 and up, you’ll attach your Totoro plushie’s eyes, give him an accessory leaf, stuff him with cotton, sew up the seam along his back, and then be able to take him home to hug at your leisure (or, more likely, begin immediately hugging right there in the park).

Because the workshop isn’t being held within Ghibli Park itself, Ghibli Park tickets aren’t required. However, demand is sure to be high for the total of eight sessions held across two days (10 a.m. and 12:40, 2:20, and 4 p.m. on November 21 and 22), so reservations are being done via an online lottery system administered by Boo-Woo Ticket, the same ticketing service that handles tickets for Ghibli Park. Applications will be open from October 7 to 12, with winners to be notified on the evening of October 16. Up to two reservations can be made per applicant, with a per-person participation/materials fee of 7,000 yen (US$44).

Because the workshops are capped at 32 people, it’s going to take some luck to snag a spot. However, if you aren’t able to take part in the Aichi Commemorative Park sessions, you can take heart in knowing that they’re actually a special traveling itinerary of a regularly held make-your-own-Totoro-plushie event at the Izy Teddy Bear Museum in Shizuoka Prefecture and Nasu Teddy Bear Museum in Tochigi Prefecture.

▼ According to their website, the Izu teddy Bear Museum even lets you make Catbus plushies!

However, making your on Totoro plushie just after or before visiting Ghibli Park does sound like it’d make the experience extra special, and you can find the Aichi event’s reservation application page here.

Related: Chikyu Shimin Koryu Center, Izu Teddy Bear Museum, Nasu Teddy Bear Museum, Ghibli Park
Source: Ghibli Park
Top image: Studio Ghibli
Insert images: Ghibli Park, Izu Teddy Bear Museum
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