Ghibli Museum

When I was young, not only was I raised watching Disney movies, but also the Studio Ghibli movies by Hayao Miyazaki. A few of my all-time favourites are Howl's Moving Castle, Spirited Away, and My Neighbour Totoro (obviously I genuinely loved all of Hayao Miyazaki's ghibli movies). So without a doubt, I HAD to visit the Studio Ghibli Museum in Tokyo. Failing to visit was not an option. 

First of all, let me warn you that you cannot buy the tickets at the museum on the day. All Studio Ghibli Museum tickets must be bought in advance through either their official website (http://www.ghibli-museum.jp/en/ticket_information/), or in Japan at their local convenient store, Lawson. My friends and I were unaware of this, so a month before we had to fly, we tried to buy the tickets online. However, it was all sold out. The 2 weeks of us in Japan, every single day was fully booked. We honestly had no clue that it would be fully booked so quickly. I was crying inside. Literally. 

However, I was not accepting this failure because as stated before, failing to go was not an option at all. I had to somehow visit the museum during my trip. If you think about it, just because the tickets are fully booked online, it does not mean the museum as a whole is fully booked. As it would mean customers living in Japan would not be able to go. With this thought in my head, I knew there was another way to get hold of the tickets. This resulted in me asking my friend if it was possible for her to help buy me the tickets at Lawson on a particular day. My friend said it was okay, and she actually managed to get me and my friends tickets (!!) Praise the kami-sama that I have super close friends who live in Japan. Yes, I could have bought the tickets at Lawson myself when landing in Japan but I did not want to risk it being fully booked as well. Seeing as we are only staying in Tokyo for 2 weeks, extremely risky to take that chance. So if you guys have any close friends in Japan, just ask them to help you because ideally it is less of a hassle that buying online.

It was fate. Fate just knew that I had to go to the Studio Ghibli Museum. The ticket you receive at the museum is super cute, don't really know how to explain but it's the ones where you hold it up against the light to see an image. Obviously in this case it is an image of one of the Ghibli movies.

The museum is located in Mitaka, it is in the outskirts of central Tokyo. Get off at Mitaka Station (JR Chuo Line), and you can either take the shuttle bus which is designed as the cat bus from Totoro, or alternatively you can just walk it. I will warn you though, that it is quite a walk, I'd say about 20-30 minutes but it is pretty easy and straightforward. I would not advice you to walk if it is scorching hot because you will be sweating buckets (speaking from experience). If you do choose to walk, along the way you will see a few hidden cute gems which makes your walk bearable. 

One of the hidden gems along the way.

Once you finally make it the museum, I swear you will break a little bit inside because of how beautiful the front of the entrance is. It is everything you would imagine seeing and relate to Studio Ghibli. By the way, you are not allowed to take pictures inside of the museum, only the outside areas. Which is ideally better because it makes you properly experience and take in what you see with your own eyes rather than photographing it. Moreover, it gives a better experience for other first timers to go into the museum and not having any expectations. So please, understand their reasoning and do not take any photographs inside the museum. 

I won't say what you will see inside the museum as it will be more fun for you to go and see it yourself without knowing. Trust me, it makes your visit so much better if you don't know. 

I cannot express how beautiful the museum is, it is so beautiful how the outside decor is mostly covered with tree branches. It reminds me so much of Laputa Castle in the Sky. It is just so calming and soothing to look at. Seriously just take your time appreciating the view because you will not get any view like this which will leave you feeling speechless and grateful at the same time.

If I can be slightly honest, my core reason in wanting to visit the museum was to take a photo with the robot soldier from Laputa. If you go to the museum and leave without taking a photo with the robot soldier..then you better go back and take one!! I have so much feels with the robot soldier. And can I say it took us so long to find him, we were walking around outside trying to find him but epically failed. Ended up asking a staff and he told us right at the top, had to go through a metal swirly staircase. 

We all look pretty bad but YAY MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

Oh also don't forget to visit the Straw Hat Cafe in the museum, and no it has no relation to One Piece duhhh. Obviously (ha) inspired by Kiki's Delivery Service. Unfortunately, it was fully packed by the time we felt nibbly. Sad face indeed but TIS OKAY at least we were able to browse around in their shop "MAMA AIUTO". Without a doubt, came out of the store with a bag because you just have to buy something in memories of visiting the museum right? 

I am so happy to say I have visited the Studio Ghibli Museum, and I hope everyone who share the same love for Ghibli as me will also have the chance to visit the museum too!

さようなら, またね.

ONE PIECE MUGIWARA STORE!

こんにちはみなさん!! It has been a while hasn't it :) sorry for being MIA I....have nothing in my defence ^^" but alas I am back regardless!! 

Last year in mid June I went to Japan with a few friends and guys..forreal the place I wanted to visit the most was the one and only Mugiwara Store. If you do not know already, but I am a hardcore otaku..moreover a hardcore One Piece fan. I watch the anime every week, read the manga every week, and drool over Zoro and Ace. You guys don't understand. I have a section in my bedroom wall dedicated to just Ace. I shit you not. So you all quite get the gist of my love for One Piece, hence can understand my inner otaku fangirl excitement when I saw the Mugiwara Store with my own eyes. 

Located in the heart of Shibuya, Parco 1 6th Floor. Has a lift dedicated for the Mugiwara Store; goes to all floors but the interior of the lift is plastered with the mugiwara members which is pretty epic if I'd say.



Just to clarify, the whole of 6th floor is not only Mugiwara Store, however, the store does pretty much take up half the floor. The rest of the floor is, otherwise, all anime related. You will also get the occasional pop-up store around the corner depending on current popular animes. When I went, there was a Kuroko no Basuke pop-up store, and I have also heard there has been a Nanatsu no Taizai pop-up store too. 

The Mugiwara Store itself is as beautiful as I have seen online, even better live. To be honest it was so surreal seeing the store right in front of my eyes. You don't often see such things exist in the UK, as anime is pretty rare in itself to even be seen anywhere in London. 
The whole atmosphere was amazing, the background music (one piece opening and ending songs), the interior decor, and the staffs as well. Everything about the store had such a happy, and joyful feel to it. Exactly how you'd imagine it to be if you were to be in the anime One Piece. 

I might have gone a bit crazy in terms of shopping with my first visit. Let's just say I didn't even bother looking at the prices, and literally chucked in everything into the basket which pleased my eyes. And I really do mean literally. When it was time to go to the counter and pay..hahaaaa it was a very outstanding amount. But on the bright side, I went through 3 loyalty cards in one transaction! Every 500yen you spend in-store, you get a stamp on the loyalty card starting off with Luffy. Making your way up in the order of the members joining in the crew. Once you collected all the stamps you receive a miniature size of the wanted poster. 

Of course you cannot leave the store without the obligatory photo with Going Merry and Laboon. The feels for both of them is real. Oh and this is before starting me shopping spree, hence why I am empty handed. Do not worry, I left the store with the largest carrier bag they had, and it was half the size of my body.