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Mitaka Forest at Inokashira Pond
Summer
In the shade of the tall green trees of Mitaka’s Inokashira Park, Totoro welcomes visitors at the entrance of a colorful building. Sitting on the southwest end of Inokashira Park is the Ghibli Museum, a popular destination dedicated to the animated productions of Studio Ghibli. Regarded to be located at a considerable distance from Edo, Inokashira Park is now part of the city of Mitaka in the western portion of Tokyo Metropolis,
Notes
Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki designed the museum himself, using storyboards similar to the ones he creates for his films. The design was influenced by European architecture. Miyazaki’s aim was to make the building itself part of the exhibit, and for the museum to be an uplifting and relaxing experience “that makes you feel more enriched when you leave than when you entered”.