Ghibli Park is not a place you step off a bullet train and walk straight into. It sits about an hour east of central Nagoya, tucked inside a large public park in Nagakute, Aichi — and unlike Tokyo Disney Resort or Universal Studios Japan, there is no giant terminal built onto its front gate. The good news is that getting there is genuinely simple once you know the one route locals actually use. I grew up in Nagoya and have ridden the Higashiyama subway line my whole life, so let me walk you through every way in — from Nagoya, Tokyo, Osaka, and Chubu Centrair Airport — with the fares that apply now, including the Linimo increase that took effect on September 1, 2026.
The short answer.
- From Nagoya Station, take the Higashiyama Line subway to Fujigaoka, then transfer to the Linimo maglev to Aichi Expo Memorial Park Station. About 50-60 minutes door to door, just one transfer, and the park entrance is right outside the station.
- Fare (adult, one way): about ¥710. The Linimo raised its fare for the first time ever on September 1, 2026.
- A direct Meitetsu bus from Nagoya Station takes about 40 minutes for ¥1,200 — but seats are limited and it can sell out on the spot, so the train is the reliable choice.
- From Tokyo or Osaka, ride the Shinkansen to Nagoya, then take the same subway + Linimo route.
- Ghibli Park is fully reservation-based with no walk-up tickets — sort out your Ghibli Park tickets before you plan the trip.
Last updated: July 2026 | Author: Yuu (Nagoya-born, 35-year resident)
Table of Contents
- Where Is Ghibli Park (and Why the Journey Matters)
- Ghibli Park Access at a Glance
- How to Get to Ghibli Park from Nagoya Station
- The Direct Meitetsu Bus (No Transfers from Nagoya)
- How to Get to Ghibli Park from Tokyo
- How to Get to Ghibli Park from Osaka and Kyoto
- How to Get to Ghibli Park from Chubu Centrair Airport
- Can You Drive to Ghibli Park? (Parking Explained)
- Getting Around Ghibli Park Once You Arrive
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Thoughts
- About the Author
- Related Guides
Where Is Ghibli Park (and Why the Journey Matters)
Ghibli Park is built inside Aichi Earth Expo Memorial Park — nicknamed “Moricoro Park” — in the city of Nagakute, immediately east of Nagoya. The grounds are the former site of the 2005 World Expo (Expo 2005 Aichi), and the park’s address is 1533-1 Ibaragahazama-otsu, Nagakute, Aichi. Because the park is a green, spread-out expo site rather than a purpose-built resort, three facts shape how you plan the trip:
- The nearest station is Aichi Expo Memorial Park Station on the Linimo — signed in romaji as “Ai-Chikyuhaku Kinen Koen” on Linimo platform boards and timetables. The official access page describes it as a short step from the station exit to the park — you do not face a long walk from a distant train line.
- There is no dedicated Ghibli Park parking. Ghibli Park’s official site states this plainly and recommends public transport. Drivers use the general parking lots of Moricoro Park instead (covered below).
- It is fully reservation-based. This is not a place you can wander into on the day. Lock in your tickets first, then work out how you will get there.
Opening hours are 10:00-17:00 on weekdays and 9:00-17:00 on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays. The park is closed on Tuesdays (or the next weekday when a Tuesday falls on a holiday), plus the year-end/New Year period and designated maintenance days — and the operator notes hours can change without notice. Plan your transport by working backward from your entry time.
Sources: Ghibli Park official access page; Ghibli Park official calendar (hours & closures); Aichi Earth Expo Memorial Park (Aichi Prefecture).
Because the park runs on advance, name-printed tickets with no gate sales, the sensible order is tickets first, transport second. If you have not booked yet, start with our Ghibli Park ticket guide for international visitors, which walks through Klook and the other overseas-friendly channels.
Related reading: things to do in Nagoya.
Ghibli Park Access at a Glance
Here is every realistic route in one table, so you can pick your approach before reading the details. Costs are per adult, one way.
| Starting point | Route | Time (approx.) | Adult cost (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nagoya Station | Subway + Linimo | 50-60 min | ¥710 |
| Nagoya Station | Direct Meitetsu bus | ~40 min | ¥1,200 |
| Tokyo | Shinkansen + subway + Linimo | ~3 hours | ~¥12,000 |
| Shin-Osaka | Shinkansen + subway + Linimo | ~2 hours | ~¥7,400 |
| Kyoto | Shinkansen + subway + Linimo | ~1 hr 45 min | ~¥6,600 |
| Centrair Airport (NGO) | μ-SKY + subway + Linimo | ~1 hr 40 min | ~¥2,140 |
| Centrair Airport (NGO) | Meitetsu airport bus | See timetable | ¥2,000 |
| By car | Nagakute IC + Moricoro Park lots | Varies | ¥500-1,000 (parking) |
Approximate figures. Shinkansen fares and times come from journey-planner services and are marked “about” in the route sections below (see source notes). The local leg assumes the standard subway + Linimo route at current fares.
How to Get to Ghibli Park from Nagoya Station
This is the most basic and most foolproof route, and the one I would give any friend visiting for the first time. There is exactly one transfer: ride the subway to the eastern end of the line, then switch to the Linimo.
The step-by-step route
- Board the Higashiyama Line subway (the yellow line) and ride to its eastern terminus, Fujigaoka Station. You can start from Nagoya Station, or from Sakae, Fushimi, or any other Higashiyama Line stop. Roughly 26-28 minutes from Nagoya Station.
- At Fujigaoka, transfer to the Linimo — Japan’s only commercial maglev (magnetic-levitation) line.
- Ride the Linimo to Aichi Expo Memorial Park Station — about 13 minutes, six stops. On weekdays trains run roughly every 8 minutes, so you rarely wait long.
- Step off, and the park entrance is right there.
The Linimo is a small attraction in itself: a smooth, almost silent, floating ride on an elevated track. Sit in the front car for the best forward view.
Fares
| Segment | Adult (one way) | Child (one way) |
|---|---|---|
| Subway Higashiyama Line: Nagoya → Fujigaoka | ¥310 | ¥150 |
| Linimo: Fujigaoka → Expo Memorial Park | ¥400 | ¥200 |
| Total | ¥710 | ¥350 |
Fare note: The Linimo raised its fares on September 1, 2026 — the first increase since the line opened, at a flat ¥40 across every section. The Fujigaoka–Expo Memorial Park leg is now ¥400 for adults and ¥200 for children, and the base fare is ¥210 (Linimo official fare table).
A local’s practical tips
- An IC card is the easy way to pay. manaca, Suica, ICOCA, PASMO and the rest of Japan’s ten mutually compatible transit IC cards all work on the subway, the Linimo, and Meitetsu buses. Tap in and out — no need to buy a paper ticket for each leg.
- The Linimo is a different company from the city subway. Nagoya’s subway day passes (such as the Donichi Eco Kippu) do not cover the Linimo. Use an IC card, or buy a separate Linimo ticket.
- The Linimo 1-Day Free Pass (adult ¥900 / child ¥450) gives unlimited Linimo rides for a day. For a simple round trip to Ghibli Park, ordinary fares are cheaper — but if you also plan to stop somewhere along the line (the Toyota Automobile Museum, for instance), it can be worth it.
- Weekend and holiday mornings get crowded, especially during Japanese school holidays. For a morning entry slot, leave Nagoya Station early — ideally before 8:30.
Sources: Nagoya City Transportation Bureau — subway fares; Linimo official fare table; Linimo official notice of the September 1, 2026 fare revision; Linimo 1-Day Free Pass.
For a fuller picture of IC cards, day passes, and moving around the city, see our complete guide to getting around Nagoya.
We cover hotels near Nagoya Station in a separate guide.
The Direct Meitetsu Bus (No Transfers from Nagoya)
If you would rather sit in one seat the whole way with no transfer, there is a direct Meitetsu bus. It leaves from the Meitetsu Bus Center — on the 4th floor of the Meitetsu Department Store Men’s Building at Nagoya Station — from platform 24.
- Fare: adult ¥1,200 / child ¥600, one way.
- Time: about 40 minutes on a direct service (roughly 59 minutes on services that make stops). It can beat the train.
- Frequency: 9 services on weekdays (7 of them direct) and 10 on weekends and holidays (all direct).
- No reservation, seat-capacity limited. This is the crucial catch: when the bus is full, you cannot board, and there is no standing room. With only a handful of departures a day, the train wins on certainty. If you are aiming for a specific morning entry slot, make the train your first choice and treat the bus as a bonus if a seat is free.
Source: Meitetsu Bus — Ghibli Park (Aichi Expo Memorial Park) direct service.
Worth a look: an IC card for the bus and train.
How to Get to Ghibli Park from Tokyo
From Tokyo, the plan is straightforward: take the Tokaido Shinkansen to Nagoya, then join the subway + Linimo route above.
- Nozomi (Tokyo → Nagoya): reserved seat, regular season about ¥11,300; roughly 1 hour 34-40 minutes.
- At Nagoya, transfer to the Higashiyama Line and Linimo (about 1 hour, about ¥710).
- Total to allow: from leaving Tokyo Station to reaching the park entrance, plan on about 3 hours including transfer time.
A same-day round trip from Tokyo is not impossible, but once you factor in the park’s hours and the last Shinkansen home, staying overnight in Nagoya is the realistic option. For where to base yourself, see our guide to where to stay near Ghibli Park. For a deeper comparison of the Shinkansen, highway bus, and flying, see getting from Tokyo to Nagoya.
Source note: Shinkansen fares and times here are drawn from journey-planner services (Ekitan and similar); we could not verify them directly against JR Central’s official fare page at the time of writing, so they are given as approximate (“about”) figures. Confirm on the day of booking.
For the detail, see rail passes for Central Japan.
How to Get to Ghibli Park from Osaka and Kyoto
From the Kansai region the idea is identical — Shinkansen to Nagoya, then the subway + Linimo. Nagoya sits right on the Tokaido Shinkansen, so access from Osaka and Kyoto is actually very easy.
- Nozomi (Shin-Osaka → Nagoya): reserved seat, regular season about ¥6,680; roughly 47-50 minutes.
- Nozomi (Kyoto → Nagoya): reserved seat, regular season about ¥5,910; roughly 33-35 minutes.
- From Nagoya, the standard route (about 1 hour, about ¥710).
Kyoto to Nagoya is barely half an hour by Shinkansen, so a day trip from Kansai is comfortably within reach. That said, if you have an early-morning entry slot, spending the night before in Nagoya takes the pressure off.
Source note: as above, Kansai Shinkansen fares and times are from journey-planner services and are given as approximate figures pending official confirmation.
How to Get to Ghibli Park from Chubu Centrair Airport
If you are arriving at Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO), you have two sensible options.
Option 1: μ-SKY, then transfer at Nagoya (fastest)
- Take the μ-SKY Limited Express (Meitetsu) from Centrair to Meitetsu Nagoya Station — about 28 minutes. The cost is a ¥980 base fare plus a ¥450 μ-ticket (the reserved limited-express surcharge) = ¥1,430 total. Every seat is reserved.
- Meitetsu Nagoya sits in essentially the same place as the subway’s Nagoya Station. From there, pick up the Higashiyama Line + Linimo route described above.
Option 2: Meitetsu airport bus (fewer transfers)
- Meitetsu also runs an airport bus from Centrair, via Fujigaoka, to Aichi Expo Memorial Park (Ghibli Park). It costs ¥2,000 for an adult / ¥1,000 for a child, one way.
Use the μ-SKY-plus-transfer combination if you want speed; take the bus if you are loaded with luggage and would rather avoid changing trains. For everything about moving between the airport and the city — last trains, luggage tips, and more — see our Centrair Airport to Nagoya guide.
Sources: Meitetsu — Centrair airport access (μ-SKY); Meitetsu Bus — airport service. (μ-SKY fare and time confirmed against Meitetsu information and journey-planner services.)
Can You Drive to Ghibli Park? (Parking Explained)
First, the important caveat: Ghibli Park has no parking lot of its own — the official site says so directly. If you drive, you use the parking lots of the surrounding Aichi Earth Expo Memorial Park (Moricoro Park).
- Nearest interchange: Nagakute IC on the Nagoya-Seto Road — the park is about a 5-minute drive east of the interchange (or roughly 20 minutes east of Nagoya IC on the Tomei Expressway), per the park’s official access page.
- Parking fee (Moricoro Park), regular car: ¥500 in normal periods, and ¥1,000 in peak periods (Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, Golden Week, and Obon).
- The park has plenty of spaces — more than 3,000 across several lots — but on weekends, holidays, and event days there is a real risk of full lots and congestion. If you want to avoid that gamble, the train is once again the sure thing.
Source: Aichi Earth Expo Memorial Park — parking fees.
You can read more about sending luggage ahead instead.
Getting Around Ghibli Park Once You Arrive
Step off at Aichi Expo Memorial Park Station and you are already at the park entrance. But here is the thing to understand before you go: Ghibli Park is not one building — it is five separate areas scattered across a large park, and each area is entered on its own area ticket. Knowing the layout in advance saves a lot of walking and confusion on the day.
The five areas are:
- Grand Warehouse — the big indoor hall, comfortable in any weather, and the single biggest highlight.
- Hill of Youth — the world of Whisper of the Heart and The Cat Returns.
- Dondoko Forest — home to Satsuki and Mei’s house from My Neighbor Totoro.
- Mononoke Village — themed on Princess Mononoke.
- Valley of Witches — the world of Howl’s Moving Castle and Kiki’s Delivery Service.
You move between areas on foot, and it is a genuine walk from one end of the park to the other. Wear comfortable shoes and give yourself plenty of time. Because your route on the day depends on which areas you booked, the smart move is to understand the area layout while you are still choosing tickets.
To plan that part, use these:
- Ghibli Park ticket guide — which areas to book, and how to buy from overseas (including the Klook route).
- Ghibli Park complete guide — a walk through all five areas and how to plan your day inside the park.
- Where to stay near Ghibli Park — for an early entry slot or a car-free trip, basing yourself well makes a real difference.
- Family-friendly hotels in Nagoya — if you are traveling with kids.
See what to buy before you leave.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get from Nagoya to Ghibli Park?
By train (Higashiyama Line + Linimo) with one transfer, it is about 50-60 minutes from Nagoya Station to the park entrance. The direct Meitetsu bus takes about 40 minutes, but remember it can fill up and leave you behind.
What is the cheapest way to get to Ghibli Park?
The train is the cheapest, at about ¥710 one way for an adult. If you plan to ride the Linimo several times in a day, the Linimo 1-Day Free Pass (adult ¥900) can also make sense.
Can I buy tickets on the day at the gate?
No. Ghibli Park is fully reservation-based, and you generally cannot simply turn up and walk in. Securing tickets in advance is essential — see our ticket guide for how to buy from overseas.
Can I drive to Ghibli Park?
You can, but Ghibli Park has no parking of its own. You use the Moricoro Park lots (regular car ¥500-1,000 depending on the season). On weekends and holidays there is a real risk of full lots and traffic, and public transport is the officially recommended way in.
Can I go straight from the airport to Ghibli Park?
From Chubu Centrair, you can take the Meitetsu airport bus (adult ¥2,000) toward Aichi Expo Memorial Park, or ride the μ-SKY Limited Express to Nagoya (¥1,430) and transfer to the subway + Linimo route.
Is Ghibli Park worth visiting on a rainy day?
Yes — the Grand Warehouse is indoors, so it stays comfortable in the rain. The outdoor areas (Dondoko Forest and the like) are more exposed, so pack rain gear. The walk from the station to the park entrance is not fully covered either, so a folding umbrella is worth carrying.
Final Thoughts
Ghibli Park may not have a bullet-train station on its doorstep, but the route in is simpler than first-time visitors expect. For almost everyone, the answer is the same: ride the Higashiyama Line to Fujigaoka, hop on the Linimo, and get off at Aichi Expo Memorial Park Station — one transfer, under an hour from Nagoya, and about ¥710. Coming from Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, or the airport, you are simply adding a leg to Nagoya first.
The one number to keep current is the Linimo fare, now ¥400 for the Fujigaoka–park leg. Sort your tickets, pick your route from the table above, and the getting-there part will be the easy part of your Ghibli day.
We also cover 3-day Nagoya itinerary.
About the Author
Yuu was born and raised in Nagoya and has lived here for 35 years, riding the Higashiyama subway line as an everyday commuter. He spent a month backpacking around New York during university and has since traveled to more than 15 countries. This guide is written from a local’s practical, been-there perspective — the route he would actually give a friend flying in — rather than from a brochure.
Related Guides
- Ghibli Park Tickets for International Visitors — how to buy from overseas, and which pass to choose
- Ghibli Park Complete Guide: All 5 Areas Reviewed — plan your day inside the park
- Where to Stay Near Ghibli Park — hotels in Nagakute and central Nagoya
- Getting Around Nagoya: Transport Guide — subway, Linimo, IC cards, and day passes
- Centrair Airport to Nagoya — μ-SKY, trains, buses, and taxis from NGO
- Tokyo to Nagoya Transport Guide — Shinkansen vs bus vs plane
— Yuu
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