Ghibli Museum - the REAL reason I came to Japan

Today was the pinnacle for the anime otaku - which is yours truly. Entering Ghibli is entering a magical place. Everything is designed to enlighten, delight and amaze. Alas, no cameras allowed. The timing was perfect for my visit too. I arrived shortly after opening (planned to avoid rush hour on the subway), and stayed til after noon. The queue to get into the museum as I was leaving by the back exit into a wonderful park was growing by the minute with many groups of itty-bitty and amazingly adorable (loud) little school groups.

It's clear Miyazaki's favorite movie was My Friend Totoro. Totoro and other characters are everywhere...including the cat bus which had the kids laughing and giggling as they climbed in, up and on.

There was a tiny spiral staircase leading up to the roof where one was met by a giant metal robot from Laputa, Castle in the Sky. The buildings have stained glass windows and lanterns of characters from various movies, there is a wonderland of whirlygigs and other antique animation apparatus, and anime is playing on tiny screens everywhere.

The crowning touch was a short film Miyazaki creates just for Ghibli goers. He makes one for each year. This year was about a goblin-like woman who enslaves a little egg-shaped creature. S/he cooks, cleans and tucks the goblin into bed every night. One night, some bread dough was rising and takes shape. They decide to escape together. The bread dough becomes more humanoid with each step toward the nearest town. Goblin-lady does not take kindly to this and searches for her escapees. When she finds them, she throws bread man into the oven. Immensely distressed, little egg creature tries to rescue his new friend and (whew!) succeeds. Turns out, little egg is the lost son/daughter of the King and Queen of the town. Bread man and little egg decide to set off and see the world and the last we see of them bread man is striding toward the setting sun with little egg on his shoulder. This is all done with no dialogue, as it is an international audience and subtitles would certainly mar the art work.

Interesting side note: The ticket you get to enter the museum is three frames of film from one of Miyazaki's films. Mine is from Spirited Away, which is my all-time favorite. I couldn't be a happier otaku (means extreme fan).