Despite previously declaring the film off-limits, Studio Ghibli is bringing a Nausicaä-themed attraction to its official theme park.
Japan’s Aichi Prefecture is home to Ghibli Park, the official immersive destination dedicated to the beloved works of Studio Ghibli. From its inception, the park’s rollout was planned across multiple phases. The first phase debuted in autumn 2022 with the Dondoko Forest (inspired by My Neighbor Totoro), the Hill of Youth (from Whisper of the Heart), and Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse—an expansive indoor museum housing artwork, exhibits, and a theater for exclusive short films. The second phase rolled out sequentially, introducing the Princess Mononoke-inspired Mononoke Village in late 2023, followed by the Valley of Witches in spring 2024 for fans of Howl’s Moving Castle, Kiki’s Delivery Service, and Earwig and the Witch.
While those zones covered several major titles, many classic films remained unrepresented. That is set to change with a newly announced expansion dedicated entirely to Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind—a property management had long insisted would not be adapted for the park.
Released theatrically in Japan in 1984 and based on the manga written and illustrated by co-founder Hayao Miyazaki, Nausicaä is widely regarded as the studio’s foundational masterpiece. Although its production technically preceded the official establishment of Studio Ghibli, the core creative team behind the film became the backbone of the company, marking the first time Miyazaki was granted the full artistic freedom and budget to realize his grand vision.
During a press briefing detailing the new expansion, Aichi Governor Hideaki Omura revealed that local officials had previously pitched incorporating Nausicaä into the park, only to be told by the studio that the film was strictly off-limits. In a delightful twist, it was actually Studio Ghibli itself that recently proposed the Nausicaä theme during planning sessions for this latest round of development.
The new attraction will find its home within the Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park in Nagakute, roughly a 45-minute commute from central Nagoya. Specifically, planners have selected a flat plot of land in the West Gate Plaza, situated near the Koi no Ike pond and directly across from Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse. Because the chosen site is already level, development will not require major topographical alterations or the removal of significant greenery.
▼ Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park’s West Gate Plaza
▼ An early concept sketch indicates that the existing tusk-shaped clock will remain part of the exterior design.
▼ Park map highlighting the new Nausicaä zone circled in red, alongside Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse (1), Hill of Youth (2), Dondoko Forest (3), Mononoke Village (4), and Valley of Witches (5)
Following the Grand Warehouse, the Nausicaä attraction will become the park’s second fully indoor space. This format was chosen partly to counter Japan’s intense summers, which make prolonged outdoor sightseeing uncomfortable and potentially hazardous due to heatstroke risks. While open-air areas enhance the immersion of other park zones, much of Nausicaä takes place across sprawling desert landscapes that would be difficult to recreate authentically in Aichi. An indoor setting instead allows designers to craft intricate, detailed interiors from the film or employ clever visual effects to simulate the feeling of flight.
Eagle-eyed fans may also note that official press materials featured promotional imagery of Nausicaä encountering an Ohmu, hinting that visitors might soon come face-to-face with the iconic giant invertebrate.
An official opening date has not yet been announced, though the readiness of the site suggests construction could begin swiftly once designs are finalized. In the meantime, visitors have plenty of incentive to make the trip, as Ghibli Park remains the exclusive global destination to experience the studio’s newest animated releases.
Source: Aichi Prefecture (1, 2), Chunichi Shimbun via Golden Times
Top image: Aichi Prefecture
Insert images: Aichi Prefecture, Studio Ghibli
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