Ghibli Exploring
Be CAREFUL! This tour is available from January.
Ghibli Museum at Mitaka includes “Ghibli Short Movie Theater”, “Exhibition Room”, along with my explanation of 40-year-long Ghibli history. You can expand your knowledge and insight to Ghibli. Taking photos in front of Robot Soldier at the roof top will be a good memory. I pick you up at your hotel and take you to the museum by train. The tour is 4 hours. The tour is limited to up to 4 people.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Your hotel
- Hotel lobby
Shinjuku Station
The busiest station in Japan.
Mitaka Station
You can ride Ghibli bus in front of the station.
Inokashira Park
A big and famous park, a popular spot for cherry blossoms. I here explain the history of Ghibli and details of animation making. Inokashira originally means origin of spring water, but has another hidden meaning.
Ghibli Museum
It opened in 2001. You can learn history of Ghibli and process and details of animation. You can enjoy a short movie and also enjoy purchasing many kinds of Ghibli goods. Robot Soldier is standing at the roof top. He’s a guardian of the museum. You can take a photo in front of him, which will be a good memory.
Lunch at the cafe in the museum
Mitaka Station
Ending Point
Shinjuku Station
Want to personalize this tour?
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This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Guide’s fee, hotel pick-up fee.
Ticket fee is not included. I purchase them in advance, ¥1,000 per person, ¥700 per junior. Could you pay me the ticket fee at the end of the tour?
Attention: I can purchase the tickets from the 10th of the previous month. After that tickets may be gradually sold out.
Lunch fee is not included.
You might want to use IC card for transportation.
Tour Important Information
The museum is closed on Tuesdays.
The tour is only available once a month.
Tickets are sold from the 10th of the previous month.
This tour is not available until January, 2026. From 10:00 on the 10th of every month, tickets for next month's admission will be sold all at once.
The museum is closed on Tuesday.
The tour is only available ONCE a month.
Important message from the supplier
You take a taxi when I think it’s better, if you’re Ok.
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
About Tour Guide Akira S.
Hello. I'm Akira.S. I've just finished working as a mentor for new young teachers of public junior high schools after long time career as a teacher. I’m so interested in guiding popular sightseeing spots and also hidden areas in and around Tokyo to you. I love this job because I have a lot of chances to meet nice people from various countries. I'm really looking forward to meeting persons interested in Japanese culture and history like YOU. I really hope you touch Japanese cultures, including Japanese cuisines. I’m coming up with a tour plan based on your interest.
Reviews
Laurel F.
“I Highly Recommend a Tour with Akira-san!”
My Mom and I had the pleasure of a customized tour with Akira-san. He thoughtfully created an outing that took us to the bustling Senso-ji Temple, tranquil Nezu Shrine and a charming commoners shopping street. Before our trip to Japan, Akira-san sent informative messages explaining the history of the Senso-ji Temple and the significance of the architecture and Buddhist figures we’d see when there. Throughout our tour he shared his considerable knowledge of the places we visited and was consistently patient and kind. We enjoyed a delicious lunch of soba noddles and stopped for tea along the way. My mom and I had a lovely day and visited places and parts of Tokyo that we otherwise wouldn’t have. I highly recommend booking a tour with Akira-san.
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Akira S.
Hi, Laurel-san, Charlotte-san. Thank you so much for the wonderful review that makes my job rewarding again! I said many times that I love this job because I have a good chance to meet many nice people like you. And this time I had another good experience thanks to your personality. Thank you again! Furthermore I had a good experience to take Uber taxi for the first time. Unfortunately, honestly I still feel dizzy, but I’m sure, I hope the smoke will heal it little by little. Of course it must cure Charlotte’s arm injury. Tomorrow you’re leaving Japan. I hope you have a safe, nice, and long flight. Thank you for everything again and again! I’d like to keep in touch. Best regards, Akira
Dana H.
“We highly recommend taking a tour with Akira-san!”
Akira-san was our guide for the Ghibli Museum at Mitaka. We were unable to secure Ghibli Museum tickets on our own and we were so grateful that he was able to obtain them for us! Before we left our home country for Japan, Akira-san kindly emailed us with recommendations for a couple of Ghibli movies to watch--each depicting important aspects of Japanese culture and history. He also shared interesting historical information about our hotel and the surrounding area. What we learned from Akira-san enhanced our time at the museum and during the rest of our stay in Japan. Akira-san met us at our hotel and helped us navigate the train and bus to get to the museum stress-free. During the travel time, each of our family members took turns walking with or sitting next to Akira-san and asking him questions about Japanese culture and history and Ghibli. Akira-san is very kind, friendly, and knowledgeable about all of these topics! He speaks English very well and it was easy to understand his thoughtful explanations. Outside the museum, he gave a short, interesting Ghibli presentation. We mostly moved through the museum on our own, although he was nearby to be sure we did not miss certain things. The Ghibli Museum fairly small but it is magical and amazing! We loved the short movie, and my sons, who are artists, were especially captivated by the many original drawings in the museum. We took our time moving very slowly through the museum because we wanted to appreciate every detail! Because of this, we needed much more time in the museum than the average visitor. Akira-san had kindly arranged lunch for all of us after the tour, but we decided to cancel lunch because we wanted more time in the museum. Akira-san was very understanding! Whether you are new to Ghibli, a fan of Ghibli or animation, or someone who is interested in Japanese culture and history, we highly recommend Akira-san! Your visit to Japan will be enhanced by spending interesting and enjoyable time with him!
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Akira S.
Hi, Dana-san. Thank you so much for your wonderful review. It’s one of the most encouraging words. And also your family is one of the nicest families I’ve ever met. I’m sure that this tour has become my fruitful and rewarding one. I had a good chance to talk with Jay-san on the train. Sam-san was taking a very careful look at many works inside the museum, and Zack-san was asking about Shinto and local ghost or something in the bus. And you talked about environmental problems and the current situation in the US. Each one was very exciting time for me. I’m very much looking forward to telling me your address. I really want to send you something for your birthday. I’d like to keep in touch. Please say heartfelt “Hi” to everyone. Thank you again. Best regards, Akira
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Judy C.
“3 Day Tour With Akira!”
Akira-san was our guide for my family of four including a teenager and my 90 year old mother for the three days we were in Tokyo. He was very communicative right from the start spending a lot of time and effort planning our itinerary according to our interests. We spent two days touring Tokyo and the last day in Hakone to see Mt Fuji. He took us to must see spots like the Outer Tsukiji Fish Market where my husband had the best sushi, Hamarikyu Gardens, cruising on the Sumida River, Asakusa to see the Senso-ji Temple and the National Museum of Tokyo to name a few. Throughout the three days Akira-san was very friendly, solicitous, always asking about our well being and especially the well being of my elderly mother. We appreciated he made sure she always had a seat on the subways and trains we took. He was always willing to adjust our itinerary and requests as needed. We appreciated all he did for us during the three days. In short, if you are looking for someone who is friendly, responsive, knowledgeable about Tokyo and Japanese culture and who truly cares look up Akira-san!
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Akira S.
Dear Judy’s family, Judy-san, Boyle-san, Lee-san and Jonathan. I’m most grateful to you for such an encouraging review! That’s too bad that the weather wasn’t good, on the first day drizzling, on the second day pouring. We had to stand in line in the rain outside of the museum. Furthermore, in Hakone, unbelievably crowded. I really hope everyone is fine after you got back after you had all those conditions and also after long flight. However, I’m very happy to see very nice people like your family. I’m very impressed by the way that you take good care of your mom. I also had a good time while we were talking about small things at Tsukiji sushi restaurant. As you also told me, if you have a chance to visit Japan some day again, I suggest you have more relaxed time and schedule. Thank you again. Regards, Akira
$115/ per group
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