Where to stay in Nagoya for Ghibli Park: how to get there (Linimo and Meitetsu bus), how to buy tickets, opening hours, and staying west of Nagoya Station

For Ghibli Park, stay somewhere with easy access to Nagoya Station or the Higashiyama subway line. Ghibli Park is inside Aichi Expo Memorial Park in Nagakute, Aichi Prefecture, and the official site says it is right outside Aichi Expo Memorial Park Station on the Linimo line. Meitetsu buses, including direct services, also run from the Meitetsu Bus Center at Nagoya Station. All tickets must be reserved in advance and are not sold at the entrances. This article covers the access, tickets and opening hours we checked on the official site, and how to stay in Nakamura Ward, west of Nagoya Station, and go from there.

Where is Ghibli Park?

Ghibli Park is inside Aichi Expo Memorial Park in Nagakute, Aichi Prefecture; the official site refers to it as "Aichi Expo Memorial Park (Ghibli Park)". When TIME magazine chose Nagoya for its World's Greatest Places 2023, Ghibli Park was at the heart of the entry. Ghibli Park has no dedicated parking, so the official site recommends public transport.

How do you get there from Nagoya?

• By train: take the Higashiyama subway line to Fujigaoka, the end of the line, then change to the Linimo (Aichi Rapid Transit Tobu Kyuryo Line) and get off at Aichi Expo Memorial Park Station. The official site says the park is right outside the station
• By Meitetsu bus: buses for Ghibli Park leave from platform 24 on the 4th floor of the Meitetsu Bus Center at Nagoya Station. According to the official site, there are 9 departures on weekdays (7 direct) and 10 on weekends and holidays (all direct); returns to the Meitetsu Bus Center are 8 on weekdays (6 direct) and 9 on weekends and holidays (all direct)
• Buses also run from Chubu Centrair International Airport via Fujigaoka, and from Owari-Seto Station in Seto
• Some services are cashless-only trial runs and may change

The official access page does not give travel times, so we do not give them here; check each operator's timetable before you go.

How do you buy tickets?

All Ghibli Park tickets must be reserved, on weekdays, weekends and holidays alike. They are not sold at the area entrances, and there are no phone sales. According to the official site, you can buy them here:

• Online: Boo-Woo Ticket (membership registration required)
• Convenience stores: Lawson and MiniStop (Loppi)
• From overseas: the overseas purchase page linked from the official site

According to the official site, the one exception is same-day entry tickets for the special buildings — the Okino Residence, Howl's Castle and the Witch's House — which are sold in numbered order from a small hut inside the park. Only holders of certain passes need them.

What tickets are there, and how much are they?

Prices include tax; children are 4 to elementary school age, and children aged 3 and under are free. A system fee of 110 yen applies per ticket. There are also tickets for individual areas. Prices may change, so check the official site before buying.

What are the opening hours?

According to the official site, the park is open 10:00–17:00 on weekdays and 9:00–17:00 on weekends and holidays. Tickets for Ghibli's Grand Warehouse specify an entry time between 9:00 and 14:00, and the Hill of Youth and Dondoko Forest also have timed entry. Other areas have no set entry time, with last entry at 16:30. Check the calendar page for closing days.

Where should you stay in Nagoya for Ghibli Park?

If you go by train, stay near the Higashiyama subway line; if you go by bus, stay where Nagoya Station's Meitetsu Bus Center is easy to reach. Central Nagoya's House and Residence are near Nakamura Koen Station on the Higashiyama Line (House 7 minutes' walk, Residence 2 minutes), and because the line runs to Fujigaoka, you can ride from Nakamura Koen to Fujigaoka with no change. Nagoya Station is also 4 stops (about 7 minutes, 240 yen) away on the same line. Stays is 4 minutes' walk from Taiko-dori Station, 1 stop from Nagoya Station on the Sakura-dori Line.

• Families and friends of up to 9: Central Nagoya Residence (the whole top (8th) floor of an apartment building, 120㎡, 3 bedrooms, 5 double beds, lift in the building)
• Large groups and three generations of up to 16: Central Nagoya House (an entire 144㎡ traditional house, 5 bedrooms, 8 beds, toilets on both floors)
• 1–2 people: Central Nagoya Stays (27㎡ per apartment; 2 guests, up to 4)

All three have a kitchen, a washing machine (or washer-dryer), fast Wi-Fi and self check-in. Check-in is from 17:00 at House, 17:00–22:00 at Residence and 17:00–23:00 at Stays, so you can check in after a full day at Ghibli Park.

Where can you stop along the Higashiyama Line?

Along the Higashiyama Line from Nakamura Koen towards Fujigaoka, some places need no change. Visit them the day before Ghibli Park, or on the way back if you return early.

• Sakae (Oasis 21, Chubu Electric Power MIRAI TOWER, Hisaya-odori Park): about 12 minutes and 240 yen from Nakamura Koen
• Kakuozan Nittaiji: about 21 minutes and 270 yen, about 10 minutes' walk from Exit 1 of Kakuozan Station. A temple built in 1904 to house relics of the Buddha presented by the King of Siam (now Thailand), with a fair on the 21st of every month
• Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens: about 25 minutes and 310 yen, 3 minutes' walk from Exit 3 of Higashiyama Koen Station. Adults 800 yen, free for junior high school students and younger. Closed Mondays (or the next weekday after a holiday)

How to combine Nagoya and Ghibli Park over 2 nights

• Day 1: Arrive and eat Nagoya food at Nagoya Station (Nagoya Umaimon-dori, inside JR Nagoya Station, 17 shops). Check in
• Day 2: Ghibli Park. Go by Higashiyama Line and Linimo, or by Meitetsu bus, in time for your reserved ticket
• Day 3: Nagoya Castle (about 21 minutes from Nakamura Koen, changing to the Meijo Line at Sakae) or Osu (about 21 minutes, changing to the Tsurumai Line at Fushimi) before you leave

• Central Nagoya House →
• Central Nagoya Residence →
• Where to stay near Nagoya Station with a kitchen →
• Where to stay in Nagoya with a large group →

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