Japan's new Ghibli Park prepares for visitors
Beyond the gates, a whimsical world awaits, complete with a fluffy Cat Bus, the toothy grin of Totoro and a life-sized No-Face seated on a train: welcome to Ghibli Park. On Wednesday, media got a sneak peek at the highly anticipated new theme park from Studio Ghibli, creator of beloved titles like "My Neighbour Totoro" and Oscar-winning "Spirited Away". Ghibli Park will open its doors to visitors on November 1, though only three of the five sections of the site in central Japan's Aichi region will be accessible at first. Spread over 7.1 hectares of the 194-hectare park where Aichi hosted the 2005 International Expo, the attraction features large open-air areas in keeping with the importance of nature and the outdoors in Ghibli works. Unlike similar tourist draws such as Tokyo Disneyland, creators of the park have said it is designed to minimise fantasy and reflect the realism of Ghibli's works. Among the three areas that will open next month is the "Hill of Youth", the gateway to the park and featuring an elevator tower inspired by several Ghibli films, including "Castle in the Sky" and "Howl's Moving Castle". Elsewhere, "Dondoko Forest" evokes the retro peace of "My Neighbour Totoro", with bucolic walking paths, playground equipment, and an enormous Totoro figure. A major draw will be the Ghibli's Grand Warehouse, the hangar-like indoor portion of the park with various attractions, including 14 sets from 13 Ghibli classics. Visitors can stroll along an alley designed to look like the opening scene of "Spirited Away", or perch on the red velvet-covered train seat in a carriage next to the movie's instantly recognisable "No-Face" character. Built at a cost of 34 billion yen (US$232 million), the park is expected to become a major tourist draw for Aichi. The region forecasts an influx of 1.8 million visitors a year once all five areas of the park are open, from next year, with an annual economic impact of an estimated 48 billion yen. (AFP)