studio ghibli director hayao miyazaki designed the museum himself, using storyboards similar to the ones he creates for his films. the design was influenced by european architecture such as the hilltop village of calcata in italy. the museum features internal and external spiral staircases built from iron, interior bridges, and balconies stretching throughout the building's height. these stairways lead to exhibits, dead ends, and across bridges. these characteristics are meant to reflect miyazaki's building designs displayed in his film work. miyazaki's aim was to make the building itself part of the exhibit, and for the museum to be an uplifting and relaxing experience "that makes you feel more enriched when you leave than when you entered".