I finally visited Studio Ghibli Museum and noticed something weird about the crowd reaction

So I went to the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka last Tuesday, and I swear half the people were just taking photos of themselves in front of the giant robot. Like, nobody was actually stopping to look at the little details in the exhibits. The short film they show is only in Japanese with no subtitles, which is fine, but I heard a guy complaining about it for ten minutes straight. Meanwhile my favorite part was this tiny section showing how they layer paint on cels, and I think I was the only one there. Is the museum more about the vibe and the building itself, or should visitors actually try to understand the animation process? I'm genuinely curious how other people approach places like this.

2 comments

2 Comments

charles_coleman1mo ago

Been to the Ghibli museum twice now and learned the first time that you gotta pick your battles. Arrive early and head straight to the back rooms where the cel displays are, that's where the real stuff is. The robot crowd thins out after about an hour if you wait, and the gift shop gets empty right before closing. Bring a small notebook to jot down what the staff tells you about the animation process since none of that info is in English.

sarahh481mo ago

wait, @charles_coleman do you really think the gift shop is worth hitting right before closing? I went twice too and honestly the cel display room is great but I actually liked the rooftop garden way more than the robot. The robot is cool but the line for photos is insane no matter when you go. I feel like the gift shop is a total trap, everything is overpriced and the good stuff gets picked over fast. I made the mistake of waiting till late and there was barely anything left. For me the best part is the little theater, the short film changes every few months and its completely worth sitting through, even if you dont understand Japanese. Plus the little spiral staircase to the top floor has some hidden details people miss.