Experience the magic of Studio Ghibli during an enchanting tour to the Ghibli Museum, Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architecture Museum, and Hotel Gajoen Tokyo. Accompanied by a knowledgeable guide, gain insight into the history of the magical movies during the comfortable journey to Mitaka, and then set out to explore the Ghibli Museum independently. Convenient transportation from Tokyo is included on this tour, as well as entrance fees and lunch. On Mondays, your visit to Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architecture Museum will be substituted by a visit to Jindaiji Temple or Takahata Fudoson Temple.

Visit Ghibli Museum and learn about the anime works of the famous Studio Ghibli
Hear commentary about the museum from a guide aboard the bus
Visit Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architecture Museum
Enjoy lunch at Hotel Gajoen Tokyo
Watch an original short film by director Hayao Miyazaki, known for his Oscar-winning file Spirited Away

Why Travellers Choose This Tour

Learn about Japanese animation with round-trip transport, lunch, and entrance fees included.

What's Included

Professional guide (except during museum visits)
Round-trip transfer by air-conditioned coach
Lunch
Admission fee for Ghibli Museum
Admission fee for Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum

Guide in the museums
Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off

Meeting And Pickup

Meeting point

Keio Plaza Hotel
2-chōme-2-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-8330, Japan
3RD FLOOR INSIDE Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo (JTB Sunrise Tours Check in Counter) Please meet the guide there by 10:30AM. The tour will depart at 10:40AM.

Start time

10:30 am

End point

Shinjuku City
Shinjuku City, Tokyo, Japan
Near Shinjuku Station West Exit

What To Expect

Make your way to Shinjuku Keio Plaza Hotel and greet your guide and group. Climb aboard a comfortable, air-conditioned coach and listen as your guide sets the cultural scene of the famous studio along the way; hear of Oscar-winning works such as 'Spirited Away' and gain insight into the signature style of the production company. First stop is Hotel Gajoen Tokyo, where the architecture style has served as an inspiration for one of the Ghibli films. Enjoy the lunch at the hotel before heading to the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architecture Museum.

Please note that the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architecture Museum isn’t open Mondays, and Jindaiji Temple or Takahata Fudoson Temple will be a substitute stop in those cases

Next, visit the Ghibli Museum and take the time to wander through the exhibits at your leisure. .

Your guided tour ends with a return to the drop-off point in the Shinjuku area.

Hotel Gajoen Tokyo

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum

1 hour 15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Ghibli Museum Mitaka

2 hours 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
Children 3 and younger are free of charge; no seat or meal will be provided
Baby strollers cannot be taken into Ghibli Museum.
Not wheelchair accessible
If the tour cannot visit Hotel Gajoen Tokyo or Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum due to facility circumstances, an alternate destination will be visited and the tour will still be held. (Instead of the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum, the tour may visit Jindai-ji Temple or Takahata Fudoson Temple.) Refunds will not be issued in case of this itinerary change. Thank you for your understanding.
Participants may not go directly to the destination on their own, and may not join the tour midway. Leaving the tour midway at Ghibli Museum is allowed. In such cases, customers must head to their next destination on their own from Ghibli Museum, and no refunds will be provided.
Near public transportation

Arrival times may be delayed by traffic conditions.
The National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter does not provide guidance inside Ghibli Museum. After arriving at Ghibli Museum, participants will have time to walk freely through the museum once entrance procedures are finished.
Infants must sit on laps
The meal is served buffet style. Please understand that there is no vegetarian option available.
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 40 travellers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Traveller Photos

Traveller Tips

That said, its not essential for non fans, and probably best done without tour

I'm sure the hotel is worth it when the rooms are open, and it is very fancy.

Reviews

4.5

295 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travellers.

Showing 1-10 of 295 reviews

Good tour

Emily_F, Sept 2023

Good tour, but a few things could be better organized. People in the group were consistently late, cutting into the exhibit time. I felt like we spent too much time at the first location (wall art and lunch). The second location was cut short but I felt like I still got to see what I wanted at the site. The final stop was the Ghibli Museum. I was anxious to be on time so I could explore the museum fully. I wish a loose itinerary could be provided in advance. It was stressful discovering the timing for everything the morning of the tour because I had to rush to my dinner reservation (left the tour early to independently take the train). The sites were all interesting. The tour guide was very kind and informative. Pretty expensive for what it is, but guaranteed entry to Ghibli Museum.

We chose the trip because...

Jill_E, Sept 2023

We chose the trip because it was the only way we could get tickets for the Ghibli museum - and the Ghibli museum was just as wonderful as we expected - but we actually really enjoyed the other two places visited as well, especially the outdoor museum. Our guide for the day, Honda, was entertaining and helpful. Note to any vegetarians considering this tour: the tour description says that there is no vegetarian option, but the hotel buffet in fact offered plenty of vegetarian food.

An Animated Adventure

James_D, Sept 2023

Studio Ghibhli Museum was amazing! So scenic and so beautiful. I have a great respect for the staff and the architecture of this place. What a maze of adventure! I was able to see and touch most things which added to the experience. After this visit, I fell deeper in love with the animation and stories of Studio Ghibhli what a wonderful experience!

Worth every penny!

Tiwana_M, Aug 2023

I booked this excursion for my son who is an anime fan and went along for company and have to say it was so worth it. The meal was delicious and the hotel was simply beautiful, even the bathroom was gorgeous. Our guide was so knowledgeable and sparked my interest into seeing Studio ghiblis films eventhough this activity was not for me. This was really well done and I'm glad I got to enjoy this experience. Seeing and hearing how Mr. Mizuyaki was inspired to make his art was awesome and the ghibli museum was fantastic. My favorite section was the reading room and talk about beautiful watercolors, pai tings and sketches. Thank you for this experience.

Fun Times at Ghibli

Osvaldo_F, Aug 2023

Great time and great lunch. A lot to experience. Will definitely consider doing again. The guide and driver were amazing.

Great day out

Gavin_C, Aug 2023

Great day out. Hugely knowledgeable guide. Got to see some japenese culture along with the museum. Great linch. A good day out for fans and non fans.

Perfect tour!

isadora_t, July 2023

I love our guide, she was so nice and sweet and explained everything perfectly. For the tour itself..it was AMAZING, seriously one of the best tours I’ve been on. (And of course the Museum itself was amazing)

Great guide, lots of...

Vicki_H, July 2023

Great guide, lots of information, super lunch at the hotel The whole tour was linked to Ghibli films.

Worth every penny!

Gwen_V, July 2023

It’s a great experience for Ghibli fans of all ages to experience this tour! Our tour guide Miki gave us a very in-depth look at the history behind the Ghibli Museum and the inspiration behind the film Spirited Away. I would definitely go on this tour again with Miki as it’s clear she has an appreciation for these films and their history!

The tour of the museum...

Andrea_O, June 2023

The tour of the museum was the highlight of our Japan trip for my child. I personally do not know a lot about it. The tour guide was delightful. The lunch at the hotel was just ok, but the hotel was beautiful. The outdoor museum we did not have enough time to explore. A couple did not get back on the bus and we waited 15 minutes before going on. It took a lot of time to walk to the area of interest pertaining to Studio Ghibli, but that did not allow much time to look at the rest of the exhibits. But again, my kid loved taking pictures on the bus and in the bath house. The museum itself is actually quite small. I enjoyed the short film you can only see there, but the rest of the exhibit you really have to appreciate the creative process to enjoy it. The gift shop wasn't quite what we expected either and actually loved the Ghibli store in Ikebukuro a lot more. If you can get tickets directly and are not intimidated by using the trains, it is a lot cheaper for what you are getting. We were kicked out of the queue when it reached our number and by the time we got back in line they were sold out of tickets for when we were in Japan. Otherwise we would have gone that route.

Awful tourist trap. Avoid at all costs

Adam_S, June 2023

A total and complete waste of an entire day. The museum and anything Ghibli related is nothing but an afterthought on this tacky tourist trap trip. You are forced to sit through an entire day of nothing related to Studio Ghibli at all just so you can get into the museum as the very last activity of the tour. Seeing as how 100% of the people who sign up for this only want access to the museum it is insane that they force you to sit through an entire day of boring unrelated stops just to finally get an hour or two at the museum. If you think this is an easy way to get access to the museum, think again. They will waste your entire day on a cheesy tour before doing the one and only thing you actually want to do. Terrible!! Avoid at all costs.

Worth it!

Eleanor D, Jan 2020

This tour was really well balanced, the lunch was high quality buffet style with veg options, then you are taken to a temple, then the museum. Well worth it, would do it again!

A great day out

Jessica_W, Jan 2020

A really excellent day. Our guide Miki was very knowledgeable about all of the activities on the tour and lunch was really tasty.

Have day event!!!

Kristen_P, Dec 2019

It was great!!! Our tour guide was amazing. She had alots of information about Studio Ghibi and was very knowledgable about other locations we went to as well.

Could be more amazing...

Claudie_L, Nov 2019

This tour was 7-8 hours, and while it was super amazing in all the activities that were picked... the traveling portion between places could be better. We started the tour at 10am sharp. We had to travel an hour to the lunch place, ate for one hour, travel one hour to the Edo-Tokyo Open-Air Architectural Museum, given an hour to explore, and then we traveled for another hour to Studio Ghibli Museum... where we were only given two and half hours to explore the large museum filled with everything you had ever wanted to see about Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki. The museum closes at 6pm, and it felt like we wasted so much time in the beginning to only be given such a SHORT amount of time to view the thing we've been waiting for... it actually felt disappointing. We should be given at least three to four hours to explore such a great place. Not barely two and a half. Everything felt rushed at the end from purchasing in the gift shop to taking pictures of the outside (because photography is prohibited for the inside). Still, if we are not talking about time restrains, each individual places were gorgeous in its own ways and was worth the time to view. I appreciate the Edo-Tokyo Open-Air Architectural Museum because you can really see what inspired Miyazaki in which film, not to mention an inspiration to oneself if you're a writer/artist who wants to create a story of your own. Did this tour meet my expectations? Somewhat. If we didn't spend two hours pointlessly traveling to and from the lunch place, we would have been given a better time-frame with everything else. Yet, it was undeniable that the lunch place was gorgeous on its own (but not really worth it because it took so much time away from the main attraction). Still, it was a great day, had a great time, and the tour guide was wonderful. The bus driver gave us a smooth ride throughout the day~ Japan gives the best service.

Great day tour for Ghibli fans

Lisa C, Nov 2019

Really good Ghibli themed day tour. This is a must for any Ghibli fans. Aparr from visiting thr Ghibli museum itself, the tour included other places which inspired Hayao Miyazaki's work in Spirited Away. Our English speaking guide (Halle) was fantastic and she was very informative and knowlegable. Overall a really enjoyable day tour.

Studio Gibbley Tour

P8853AGcarols, Oct 2019

I highly recommend this tour. The guide was very knowledgeable, friendly and gave an amazing tour. The lunch was wonderful. I thoroughly enjoyed everything.

Brilliant Experience

Brandon L, Oct 2019

What a way to explore and experience the wonderful world of Studio Ghibli. You’re guided throughout the day on a wonderful tour of all the sites that inspired the films, and then it’s all topped off with a visit to the museum. The guided tours were enriching and everything was done at a good pace. Also... the lunch was brilliant and very high quality with a variety of choice.

Great day out Enjoyed every part of this tour the buffet lunch was fantastic and had a great day thank you

Jennifer D, Sept 2019

A visit to ghibli has been on my bucket list so I am very glad I made it the whole day was fantastic and our tour guide and bus driver were great

Great day!

Natasha T, June 2019

My favorite part of the day was actually the Edo open air museum and I expulsions have easily spent many more hours there. The lunch was a beautiful buffet at a once old but now modernized hotel that evokes the golden age. Studio Ghibli was definitely fun, the amount of creativity that oozes fromthat place is palpable. It was a bit crowded of course. Overall great guide, great day!

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