A Trip Around Ghibli Park and Local History - Aichi Exploration Course

The town of Arimatsu, located in the southeastern suburbs of Nagoya City, was constructed in 1608 by the former Owari Province. Arable land was scarce, so as a side job to what farming they could do, many residents took up tie-dyeing. This is the beginning of what is known as Arimatsu Shibori, or Arimatsu Tie-Dyeing.

Atsuta Shrine is Japan's second most revered Shinto shrine after the Great Shrine of Ise, and dates back over 1900 years. The shrine is home to the sacred Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi sword, likened to the legendary Excalibur, it is one of the Three Imperial Regalia of Japan.

One of Nagoya City’s leading landmarks, Osu Kannon Temple was originally built in nearby Hashima-City in 1333 and was moved to its present site in 1612 on the orders of the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu during the construction of Nagoya Castle. Now surrounded by tall buildings and rows of shopping arcades, the Osu Kannon Temple remains a connection to Nagoya’s illustrious past, being one of the famed 33 Kannon Temples of Owari (Owari being the old name of western Aichi Prefecture).

Osu once flourished as Nagoya's No. 1 entertainment quarter, and is a place where you will find extensive shopping arcades. The area developed after the war as a place of electrical and second-hand clothing stores, and now the district is a proud center for nerd, idol and other sub-cultures, securing its enduring popularity. Besides anime merchandise, shoppers can also pick up all manner of other interesting items that individual storekeepers have in stock. It's a fun place to go even if you just stroll around.

The Oasis21 shopping complex was born in Nagoya City's Sakae district in 2002. Its glass rooftop "Spaceship-Aqua" structure floating in the sky may at first glance look like the Starship Enterprise from Star Trek has landed in Nagoya's bustling Sakae area! However, this symbol of the city is equipped with a pond of beautiful rippling water and offers an incredible view of the cityscape. A nearly 200-meter long railing encircles the rooftop, giving you an idea of its massive size as if its position 14 meters in the sky weren't enough.

People may not know about Buddhist practices with much detail, but most of the world certainly heard about Buddha. Historians agree that he really existed, and that the burial ashes accidentally found in 1898 are really his. Enter Kakuozan Nittaiji Temple, a holy repository of part of the Buddha sacred remains that were given as gift to Japan from King Chulalongkorn of Siam, the country now named Thailand.

Packed with recreations of the worlds within the Studio Ghibli films cherished by so many around the world, Ghibli Park came to life on November 1, 2022 in Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park (Moricoro Park).
The park consists of five areas in total. On November 1, 2022, Ghibli's Grand Warehouse, Hill of Youth, and Dondoko Forest opened in the first phase. Mononoke Village next opened on November 1, 2023 with the Valley of Witches opening in March 2024, completing the second phase.
Experience the worldview of Studio Ghibli productions using your own two feet to stroll through its characteristic forests and along its picturesque pathways.