Information checked: November 11, 2026.
November 2026 schedule: The museum is closed for maintenance from November 4 through 18, with reopening scheduled for November 19.
See the museum’s maintenance notice.
Book your Ghibli Museum tickets before you build a family day around Mitaka.
The museum uses timed reservations and has no ticket sales at the entrance.
With a reservation, spend about two hours on the galleries, the short film, and the Catbus if your child is eligible.
If your dates sell out, keep the morning for Inokashira Park in fair weather or choose an indoor outing closer to your hotel.
- Ghibli Museum with Kids at a Glance
- Is the Ghibli Museum a Good Fit for Your Child?
- How to Book Ghibli Museum Tickets from Overseas
- Ticket Prices and Family Totals
- Entry Time, Ticket Changes, and Re-entry
- What to See Inside the Museum
- Stroller Parking, Nursing, and Meals
- Getting There from Shinjuku and Mitaka Station
- A Half-Day Plan with Tickets or without Tickets
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Official Sources
Ghibli Museum with Kids at a Glance
| Question | Planning answer |
|---|---|
| Where is it? | Mitaka, western Tokyo, in the west section of Inokashira Park |
| How do we enter? | Advance reservation for a specific date and entry time |
| When does regular overseas booking open? | 10 a.m. Japan time on the 10th of the previous month |
| Do children aged three and under need tickets? | Free museum admission with no reservation required for the child |
| Can children play on the Catbus? | Elementary-school children and younger under museum rules |
| Can we use a stroller inside? | Leave it in the designated stroller area |
| How long should we allow? | About two hours as a starting point, with extra time for queues or the café |
Check the museum calendar for closures before you settle on a date.
Choose the Mitaka museum when booking this Tokyo itinerary, since Ghibli Park is a separate destination in Aichi.
Sources: Museum tickets and calendar and Japanese admission details.
Is the Ghibli Museum a Good Fit for Your Child?
Preschoolers who enjoy My Neighbor Totoro may be most excited about the Catbus and the characters hidden in the building.
School-age children can look for sketches and models that show how an animated scene develops.
With a baby, plan around feeding, carrying, and a shorter visit.
If your child needs space to run for most of the outing, make the park or an indoor playground the main activity.
One permanent exhibit uses flashes of strobe light.
If your child is sensitive to flashing lights, ask staff which area to avoid before entering the gallery.
Sources: Museum highlights and Accessibility and visitor policies.
How to Book Ghibli Museum Tickets from Overseas
- Pick a preferred date and two alternatives from the museum calendar.
- Convert the release time from Japan Standard Time to your local time.
- Open the English Lawson Ticket link from the official museum ticket page.
- Select a date, entry time, and the ticket category for each paying visitor.
- Check the seller’s delivery, identification, and cancellation terms before paying.
- Save the confirmation and follow the seller’s instructions for presenting each ticket.
For example, the regular February release is January 10 at 10 a.m. JST.
Double-check the local calendar date if the release falls on the previous evening where you live.
If your preferred slot is unavailable, check your backup dates before rearranging the rest of your trip.
The museum also lists an English-language Sunrise Tours JTB bus tour that includes a visit.
Compare the full tour schedule and total family price before choosing it.
Start with the official overseas ticket options.
After Booking: Prepare Your Tickets and Enter Together
Save your confirmation and check the date, entry time, ticket count, and name on the booking.
For an overseas booking, use your confirmation to check where to open the ticket, which ID to bring, and whether the group must enter together.
Have the named traveler bring their passport and plan to arrive together as a family.
If your confirmation calls for a live QR ticket, open it on a charged phone with internet access before you reach the entrance.
Keep the ticket link handy and follow your seller’s instructions for displaying the family’s tickets.
For the Japanese Lawson electronic ticket route, open the ticket in the MOALA browser page and verify it by SMS using the phone number registered at purchase.
For that route, keep the tickets with the named visitor because Lawson does not allow electronic ticket sharing for this booking.
Show the live ticket at the entrance and have the named visitor’s ID ready in case staff ask for it.
If you chose Japanese Lawson paper tickets, collect them at a Lawson store before visiting and bring them to the entrance.
For a tour booking, follow the operator’s meeting and admission instructions.
Check the Japanese Lawson ticket and entry instructions or the museum’s overseas booking page for your purchase route.
Ticket Prices and Family Totals
| Age | Admission |
|---|---|
| 19 and over | ¥1,000 |
| 13–18 | ¥700 |
| 7–12 | ¥400 |
| 4–6 | ¥100 |
| 3 and under | Free |
Two adults and children aged three and eight would pay ¥2,400 in museum admission using the English age categories.
Two adults and children aged five and nine would pay ¥2,500.
These examples cover museum admission only.
For visits from November 2026, the museum’s Japanese booking notice lists a ¥110 system fee per ticket with the new QR system.
For overseas purchases, use the final total displayed by your seller.
See the museum’s ticket system update.
The Japanese booking page labels some categories by school level, so check the category shown by your seller if your child’s age falls on a boundary.
Sources: English admission categories and Japanese ticket categories.
Entry Time, Ticket Changes, and Re-entry
Aim to reach the entrance by the time on your booking.
Allow extra time for the train, stroller parking, and a toilet stop.
Check the arrival window and late-entry instructions in your confirmation before the visit.
The Japanese ticket guide gives visitors one hour from their scheduled entry time, so check the instructions on your own booking before relying on that window.
Check your seller’s terms before counting on a date change or a refund.
Once you leave, you cannot re-enter the museum.
Decide whether to eat before entry, use the café, or have lunch after your visit.
Source: Museum visitor rules.
What to See Inside the Museum
Catbus playroom
The second-floor Catbus is a play area for children of elementary-school age and younger.
Ask staff how the play area is operating when you arrive.
For siblings who cannot all join, choose the short film or animation galleries as a shared priority.
Saturn Theater and animation galleries
The basement Saturn Theater screens original Ghibli shorts.
Each visitor can attend one screening during their visit.
Check the current program and ask about language or accessibility support if it matters to your child.
In the animation galleries, look for sketches, models, and the details of a filmmaker’s workspace.
Rooftop and photos
The rooftop Robot Soldier is an optional stop if the garden is open and your family can manage the narrow stairs.
Photography and video are prohibited inside the museum.
Follow posted instructions before taking photos in outdoor areas.
Sources: Museum highlights, Film program, and Visitor rules.
Visiting the Museum in English
| What you need | What to plan |
|---|---|
| English visitor guide | The museum has produced a multilingual visitor guide that includes English. Ask at reception whether copies are available. |
| Short film | Check the English online program for the film title and running time. English subtitles and dubbing are unconfirmed. Selected screenings offer Japanese captions, and the assistive listening service currently provides Japanese audio. |
| Exhibition explanations | Read the English highlights online before you go. English coverage of individual gallery labels is unconfirmed. |
Read the film description with your child beforehand so they can follow the story through the animation.
See the museum annual report on the visitor guide, Saturn Theater caption information, and assistive listening information.
Stroller Parking, Nursing, and Meals
| Family need | What to plan |
|---|---|
| Stroller | Use it for the journey and park it in the designated area before exploring indoors |
| Nursing | Ask staff for the nursing room |
| Diaper changes | Changing tables are available in museum restrooms |
| Step-free access | Ask staff about the accessible route through the building and plan around stairs to the rooftop |
| Food and drinks | Use available seating in the café or on its deck, subject to conditions on the day |
Pack a small bag you can manage while holding your child’s hand.
If your child depends on a carrier, ask the museum about any restrictions that affect your planned visit.
The Straw Hat Café can be a convenient break if seating is available.
If your child needs lunch at a fixed time, plan a meal before entry or after leaving.
Sources: Accessibility and food policies and Family facilities.
Getting There from Shinjuku and Mitaka Station
Take the JR Chuo Line from Shinjuku to Mitaka.
The museum estimates about 20 minutes by train from Shinjuku.
From Mitaka Station’s south exit, follow the signed walking route along the Tamagawa Josui canal for about 15 minutes.
The museum also lists a community bus from the south exit.
Compare the bus wait with the walk and allow a buffer before your booked slot.
Check service and fares if you plan to use the bus.
Source: Museum hours and directions.
A Half-Day Plan with Tickets or without Tickets
| Situation | Family plan |
|---|---|
| Morning ticket | Arrive through Mitaka, check the film schedule, choose one more priority, then eat and walk in Inokashira Park if the weather suits |
| Afternoon ticket | Eat lunch first and keep park time optional so your entry time stays easy to reach |
| Tickets sold out and fair weather | Make Inokashira Park and lunch around Kichijoji your outing |
| Tickets sold out and rain | Choose a museum, aquarium, or play space based on location, age, and current ticket availability |
Use the park as a flexible extra when your child still has energy after the museum.
Check the official Inokashira Park guide before planning specific park activities.
For an indoor backup, compare wooden toy play, dinosaurs, and aquarium exhibits in our Tokyo indoor activities guide for families.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a three-year-old need a museum ticket?
Children aged three and under enter free without a museum reservation for the child.
Check separate passenger rules if you book a tour package.
Can we buy tickets when we get there?
The museum requires an advance reservation and does not sell tickets at its entrance.
Can older siblings play on the Catbus?
The play area is limited to elementary-school children and younger.
How much time should we allow?
Start with about two hours in the museum and add travel, meal, and park time separately.
Is the museum suitable on a rainy day?
Most of the visit takes place indoors, but the approach includes outdoor travel and the rooftop can close in poor weather.
Official Sources
