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Tokyo Weekender

8 hours ago

• Tokyo Weekender

Everything You Need To Know About the New Studio Ghibli Sculpture Exhibition in Tokyo

Securing tickets for Ghibli Park in Aichi Prefecture is notoriously difficult. Eager fans and tourists are often left on an extensive digital waiting line, competing over the limited reservations. Not to mention that the park is located about a 3-hour train ride from the center of Tokyo. If you couldn't get your hands on the coveted theme park tickets, don't fret. Though there's plenty of Ghibli magic to be experienced throughout Tokyo, the newest attraction on the block stands out, as it invites guests to directly step inside Hayao Miyazaki's fantastical worlds. The Tokyo-exclusive Ghibli 3D Sculpture Exhibition (website in Japanese only) lifts our favorite characters off the screen and into an interactive space, with three-dimension recreations of some of the most iconic Studio Ghibli scenes. The exhibit runs from May 27 to September 23, 2025. Here's everything to know — getting tickets, how to get there and what to expect once you arrive. List of Contents: About the Exhibit Watch An Exclusive Short Film Exhibition Merchandise How to Buy Tickets Related Posts About the Ghibli 3D Sculpture Exhibition The Ghibli 3D Sculpture Exhibition is being hosted inside Warehouse Terrada's B&C Hall . The venue is located in the Tennozu Isle, situated between Shinagawa and Odaiba, which is accessible by either the Tokyo Monorail or Rinkai Haneda Airport line. The isle is often nicknamed as the 'art and design island' — a little artsy hub where you can enjoy cutting-edge galleries, stock up on art supplies and grab a bite complimented by peaceful seaside dining. The surrounding area, with its steady waves and full docks, pairs well with the serenity and tranquil moments that Studio Ghibli has come to masterfully interject and be renowned for. At the entrance of the exhibit, you'll find Ponyo sprinting atop a tower of fish to greet you in. The exhibit originally debuted in 2003 and now, after 22 long years, it's making its much-anticipated comeback. Running until September 23, the gallery features several large models recreating famous movie moments, including scenes from My Neighbor Totoro , Spirited Away , Howl's Moving Castle and Pom Poko . The models use various visual elements and techniques to add a sense of wonder to the figures. Dancing strips of paper placed on top of the light fixtures give the illusion of komorebi blanketing Totoro and Mei as they nap in the forest. Intricately arranged food scraps and garbage in the Spirited Away model subtly cast the ominous monstrous shadow of No Face following the banquet at Yubaba's bath house. Creaky and slightly unsteady mechanisms bring out the charming choreography of Howl's expressive moving castle. Various interactive photo spots can also be found through the exhibition. Interactive spots include areas where you can pet Moon the cat on a train, just as Shizuku did in Whisper of the Heart , or to confront the humanoid shapeshifting heron from Ghibli's most recent release, The Boy and the Heron . Coming to the gallery alone or need a helping hand for a group photo? Staff members are available at each interactive photo spot to snap your perfect shot. On top of the impressive 3D models, the exhibit also covers extensive history on how Studio Ghibli's films reached the hearts of millions of people across the globe. A significant portion of the attraction is dedicated to explaining international distribution plans and the translation/dubbing process. International theatrical posters adorn the walls of the gallery, showing the global enthusiasm of fans. Conclude your visit to the exhibit at the Porco Rosso Piccolo-inspired warehouse, where you'll find a recreation of the Savoia S-21 flying boat. Watch An Exclusive Short Film The exhibit is running a special screening of the short animated film Kuso no Sora Tobu Kikaitachi ( Imaginary Flying Machines ). Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, and accompanied by the ever-beautiful music of Joe Hisaishi, the short film was created in 2002 for the Ghibli Museum in Mikata. Exhibition Merchandise There are some exclusive goods available at the exhibit's gift shop, along with other merchandise from the Ghibli Museum and Donguri Republic. Exhibit-exclusive items include t-shirts inspired by Porco Rosso, bookmarks depicting all of the featured characters and an official catalogue book with 112 pages full of photos from the exhibit and interviews from Studio Ghibli's history. How to Buy Tickets Tickets for the Ghibli 3D Model Exhibition cost ¥1900 for adults, ¥1600 for junior and senior high school students and ¥1200 for elementary school students. You must have an advance reservation with a specific date and time selected prior to your visit; there is no same-day entry. The venue is open from 9:30 to 20:00, with last admission at 19:00. The first reservation time slot starts at 9:30 and the last slot is at 18:00. You can purchase through L-Ticket and pick up your ticket at a Lawson convenience store. A special limited-quantity ticket will be sold starting on June 27. Presented in collaboration with Nippon Television, the ticket includes a ham ramen meal as seen in Ponyo . This special ticket costs ¥2900 for adults, ¥2600 for junior and senior high school students and ¥2200 for elementary school students. Ramen vouchers can be exchanged up to three hours after the admission time written on the ticket. To purchase the special ticket, select the 'tickets with benefits' option when ordering on L-Ticket. Related Posts The Fairy Tales That Inspired Ghibli Films How To Get Ghibli Park Tickets: Everything You Need To Know 'An Insult to Life Itself': Ghibli-Style AI Images Raise Ethical Concerns

Tokyo Weekender

8 hours ago

• Tokyo Weekender

The World's 50 Best Restaurants List 2025 Features Four From Japan

Tokyo is well known as one of the world's culinary capitals. It has the most Michelin stars across the globe, beating cities like New York City and Paris. From modest, hole-in-the-wall izakaya to elegant omakase sushi establishments and innovative fusion cuisine, Japan's capital holds endless intrigue for gastronomes everywhere. Eateries in Tokyo regularly feature on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list. One of the most respected and influential scales in the culinary world, the list is produced by the UK media company William Reed. With a panel of over 1,000 experts made up of food writers, critics, chefs and well-travelled gourmets, the organization releases it every year to celebrate historic and unique culinary experiences. This year, four restaurants in Japan — three from Tokyo and one from Osaka — made the World's 50 Best Restaurants list. Read on to learn about each establishment's specialty. List of Contents: Sézanne (No. 7) Narisawa (No. 21) Florilège (No. 36) La Cime (No. 44) Related Posts courtesy of four seasons hotel tokyo at marunouchi courtesy of four seasons hotel tokyo at marunouchi courtesy of four seasons hotel tokyo at marunouchi Sézanne (No. 7) Two-Michelin-starred Sézanne opened in July 2021, on the seventh floor of the Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi. With British chef Daniel Calvert at the helm, the modern French restaurant quickly generated buzz for its incredible 12-course tasting menu that pays tribute to Asia's deep culinary cultures. Calvert previously led the acclaimed neo-Parisian bistro Belon in Hong Kong, after honing his skills at New York's Per Se and Epicure in Paris. At Sézanne, he curates each dining experience to reflect Japan's finest seasonal ingredients, highlighting elements such as bouillabaisse with saffron from Saga Prefecture and fugu (puffer fish) from Yamanashi Prefecture. Narisawa Dish "Satoyama Scenery and Essence of the Forest" Narisawa Dessert dish "Camellia and Koji" Narisawa (No. 21) Most gastronomes around the world would have heard of satoyama cuisine, and chef Yoshihiro Narisawa's vanguard cooking style. Traditionally, satoyama refers to rural landscapes where humans live in harmony with nature; in recent years, it has come to symbolize sustainability, a deep respect for the earth and the integration of humans and the natural world. Established in 2003 in Tokyo's elegant neighborhood of Aoyama, Narisawa has an omakase-style menu that fuses a variety of culinary techniques with the concept of satoyama. The two-Michelin-starred restaurant has earned international recognition for its quality, innovation and commitment to environmentally conscious gourmet dining — securing a Michelin Green Star, 14 consecutive years on the World's Best Restaurants list and numerous other accolades. You can learn more about Narisawa from our conversation with Chef Narisawa . courtesy of florilège courtesy of florilège Florilège (No. 36) Situated in the stylish Azabudai Hills, the two-Michelin-starred Florilège is a creative French-Japanese restaurant led by chef Hiroyasu Kawate, who comes from a family of chefs. He trained at Le Jardin des Sens in Montpellier, France, before working as a sous-chef at Quintessence in Tokyo. Kawate has a strong focus on sustainability when it comes to curating his menu, highlighting locally sourced ingredients and experimenting with plant-forward tasting menus. The restaurant promises to portray 'a new side of vegetables that everyone knows,' reducing the amount of meat, fish and dairy products used. courtesy of la cime courtesy of la cime La Cime (No. 44) Modern French restaurant La Cime is located in the business district of Honmachi, which is considered the heart of Osaka. Established in 2010, the restaurant is headed by chef Yusuke Takada, who trained in Lyon and worked at renowned Parisian establishments such as Le Taillevent and Le Meurice. Takada gained global recognition after receiving the Inedit Damm Chefs' Choice Award in 2020. La Cime's menu spotlights seafood and produce from the Kansai region, as well as citrus and other ingredients from the subtropical island of Amami Oshima. The menu's signature dish is the Boudin Dog, a batter-fried boudin noir (blood sausage) colored with edible bamboo and charcoal. Related Posts Narisawa: Where Foraged Flavors Become Culinary Art Osaka's Best Restaurant and Bar Openings: Spring 2025 Michelin Guide Introduces New Restaurants in Kyoto and Osaka for 2025

Japan Times

9 hours ago

• Japan Times

Four restaurants from Japan earn spots on World's 50 Best list

Japan walked away with four restaurants among the top 50 spots at The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025 awards ceremony held at Lingotto Fiere exhibition center in Turin, Italy, on Thursday night. In Tokyo,French restaurant Sezanne earned the No, 7 spot, climbing eight places from its previous position of No. 15 in 2024, while Narisawa returned to the top 50 club at No. 21 after being ranked at 56 last year. Florilege , which previously ranked No. 21, fell to No. 36 Modern French eatery La Cime in Osaka also fared well, jumping from No. 66 to No. 44 in this year's rankings. This year's top honor went to Maido , a Lima-based restaurant run by chef-owner Mitsuharu Tsumura. The eatery, which specializes in Nikkei cuisine, was ranked No.5 on the 2024 list. In a press statement, William Drew, director of content for The World's 50 Best Restaurants, said Tsumara 'demonstrated remarkable dedication, seamlessly incorporating Japanese techniques with traditional Peruvian ingredients to create dishes that captivate and surprise diners.' Lima-based Maido, run by chef Mitsuharu Tsumura, is the winner of this year's best restaurant accolade. | WORLD'S 50 BEST RESTAURANTS 2025 With six restaurants cited on the list, Bangkok emerged as the city with the most entries, underscoring the Thai capital's growing influence in the culinary world: Gaggan , which was crowned this year's top restaurant at the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants awards, was ranked No. 6. Thai fine diner Sorn captured the No. 17 position, while Thai-Chinese fine dining restaurant Potong earned the Highest New Entry award, debuting at an impressive 13th place. German restaurant Suhring landed itself at No. 22, while modern Thai eateries Le Du and Nusara claimed 30th and 35th spots respectively. Other notable entries from Asia on the top 50 list include Hong Kong's Wing (No. 11) and The Chairman (No. 19), Singapore's Odette (No. 25) and Seoul's Mingles (No. 29). Meanwhile, South America's restaurants continue to demonstrate their rising clout, with four of the top 10 entries comprising restaurants from the region: Mexico City's Quintonil and Lima's Kjolle improved on their previous rankings, climbing from No. 7 to No. 3, and No. 16 to No. 9, respectively. Buenos Aires' Don Julio kept its No. 10 position. 'This year's list celebrates culinary excellence across 22 territories, with 10 new entries making the 1-to-50 rankings,' Drew added, 'underscoring the growing global appreciation for diversity, creativity and excellence in hospitality.'