u/Pretraveller

Before our very first trip to Japan, over a decade ago now, one of the planning principles we always used was to mix city stays with rural and regional locations. We still recommend it to everyone to this day!

So even on that first Japan trip, after Tokyo, Kyoto and a day at USJ, we headed somewhere most people had never heard of. The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, then Nagano, then Shibu Onsen, a tiny mountain town near the Jigokudani Monkey Park where snow monkeys sit in steaming hot springs (even in Fall!).

We also did the early morning thing in the popular spots. Up at 6am to see Arashiyama bamboo forest before the crowds arrived. That worked too. But I still recall how overwhelmed I felt walking down a street in Shibuya with one of the largest crowds of people I have ever experienced on a normal street!

But when we look back on that first trip, it's the second half we talk about. Not the famous shrines. Not Dotonbori. The Alpine Route. Matsumoto Castle - I was so relieved to visit it with only a few visitors around! The monkeys. The onsen town where we were the only tourists.

Tokyo and Kyoto were everything people said they would be. The rest of it felt like we'd actually found Japan.

The map says it all really.

If you want a starting point: the Izu Peninsula, Nagano, Takayama and the western side of Mt Fuji are all easy to add and completely different in feel.

Drop your current itinerary in the comments. We'll tell you where we'd add something unexpected!

Tickets for both the Ghibli Museum in Tokyo and the Ghibli Theme Park in Nagoya go on sale on the 10th of each month. This thread covers everything you need to know about buying tickets, what to do if you miss out, and what to expect on the day.

We update this thread each month with the latest release dates. Drop your questions, experiences and tips in the comments.

Upcoming ticket release dates

• Ghibli Museum (Tokyo) - tickets go on sale at 10am Japan time on the 10th of each month for the following month's visits.
• Ghibli Park (Nagoya) - tickets go on sale at 2pm Japan time on the 10th of each month for visits two months later.

The next ticket release date is 10 May 2026, for June 2026 visits to the Ghibli Museum, and July 2026 visits to Ghibli Park.

To work out what time 10am and 2pm Japan time is in your location, use the international time zone converter and add Tokyo as one of the locations and your home location.

GHIBLI MUSEUM TICKETS (TOKYO)

You cannot buy tickets on the day. All tickets must be booked in advance, and you need to provide your passport details when booking. Tickets are non-refundable, and the lead booker must have their passport with them at entry.

Important note on reseller tickets: Do not purchase tickets from resellers. Both the Ghibli Museum and Ghibli Park check your passport on entry and match it against the name on the ticket. Reseller tickets are issued in someone else's name and will not work at the door. This is different from using a personal shopper, who purchases the ticket in your name on your behalf.

Prices: Adults $US7 - ages 13-18 $US5 - ages 7-12 $US3 - ages 4-6 $US1 - under 3 free.

Option 1 - Buy direct (cheapest)

Click here to Buy Ghibli Museum tickets directly

Tickets go on sale at 10am Japan time on the 10th of each month. This is the cheapest option but the process is notoriously stressful. Thousands of people are trying to buy at the same time and the website regularly crashes.

Tips from people who have successfully got through:

• Log in at least 15-30 minutes before 10am Japan time to join the waiting room
• Use multiple devices simultaneously - PC, phone, tablet - each gets its own queue position
• Do not refresh your browser once in the queue. Stay in it.
• Some people have had success refreshing with 1-2 seconds left on the countdown timer, which can give a better queue position. Results vary but worth trying on one device while leaving others alone.
• Have multiple credit cards ready. Prepaid cards with foreign transaction fees can be rejected.
• Make sure cookies are enabled and turn off your VPN.
• Spell your name exactly as it appears on your passport.
• Even with good queue positions, getting through can take 1-2 hours. Be patient and don't give up.
• If you reach the ticket selection page, keep your other devices in the queue as backup in case something goes wrong.

Tickets usually sell out within the first hour.

Option 2 - Personal shopper (easiest, must plan ahead)

Click here to book your personal shopper. We recommend (aff) Seann on Fiverr and Neko Nyan on Fiverr

A personal shopper buys tickets on your behalf at face value plus a service fee. Much less stressful than going direct. You need to contact them at least one week before the release date as their capacity fills up quickly. Message them to get a quote for your group size before the 10th.

Option 3 - Guided tour with ticket included

(aff) Klook - GetYourGuide - KKDay

Tour packages include your ticket plus a guide who explains the history and exhibits. More expensive but a great option if you want context and a stress-free experience. Tours sometimes still have availability even after the official direct sale sells out.

First time using Klook? Use code PRETRAVELLER10 for 10% off your first booking.

Our full Ghibli Museum planning guide is at japantravelplanning.com if you want more details on getting there, what to expect and the best way to spend your day.

GHIBLI PARK TICKETS (NAGOYA)

Tickets go on sale at 2pm Japan time on the 10th of each month for visits two months later.

Important note on reseller tickets: Same as the Ghibli Museum, do not purchase Ghibli Park tickets from resellers. Passport details are checked on entry and must match the name on the ticket.

Ticket types

There are two main options.

• The Day Pass gives you access to all five outdoor areas of the park but not the interiors of key buildings like Howl's Castle or Satsuki and Mei's House.
• The Premium Pass includes everything in the Day Pass plus access to those interior spaces. Premium tickets are limited and sell out faster so be ready to book as soon as they go on sale.

Option 1 - Buy direct

Click here to Buy Ghibli Park tickets direct - or through (aff) Klook

Note Klook receives a limited allocation that goes on sale at the same time as the official site and can sell out quickly.

First time using Klook? Use code PRETRAVELLER10 for 10% off your first booking.

Option 2 - Personal shopper (easiest, must plan ahead)

Click here to book your personal shopper. We recommend (aff) Seann on Fiverr and Neko Nyan on Fiverr

A personal shopper buys tickets on your behalf at face value plus a service fee. You need to contact them at least one week before the release date as their capacity fills up quickly. Message them to get a quote for your group size before the 10th.

Option 3 - Guided tour with ticket included

Some packages also include accommodation and Shinkansen tickets, which can be a good value if you are travelling from Tokyo or Kyoto/Osaka.

(aff) Klook - Viator - KKDay

STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?

Drop them in the comments below. We check this thread regularly and are happy to help.

Mountains, volcanic steam vents, a pirate ship on a lake, a ropeway, hot springs, views of Mt Fuji on a clear day. All within two hours of Tokyo. We've been a few times and it still gets us every visit.

The trick is doing the loop in the right order so you're not backtracking.

Start at Hakone-Yumoto Station early, ideally by 9am. From there, take the Hakone Tozan Train up through the forest to Gora. It's a scenic 37 minute ride with three switchbacks as it climbs from 96m to 541m.

From Gora you take the cable car up to Sounzan, then the ropeway over Owakudani. It's a volcanic area that genuinely smells like sulphur and sells black eggs cooked in the volcanic water!

Then it's down to Togendai Port and across Lake Ashi on a pirate ship to Motohakone. Short walk to Hakone Shrine and the famous torii gate on the lake's edge, then the bus back.

The Hakone Free Pass covers almost all of this, including the return train from Shinjuku, buses, cable car, ropeway and pirate ship cruise. Buy it in advance.

One thing worth checking before you go. The ropeway occasionally closes due to volcanic activity at Owakudani. Alternatives are provided but it's good to know in advance. Full itinerary with onsen options, art galleries and overnight stays at japantravelplanning.com/tokyo-to-hakone-day-trip/

Have you done Hakone? What was your highlight?

There is nothing else on the Japanese rail network quite like the Hello Kitty Shinkansen. A full size bullet train, completely pink, with a floor-to-ceiling themed passenger car and a Hello Kitty merchandise store built into Car 1. It sounds completely over the top. In practice, it's one of the most fun train journeys we've done anywhere in Japan!

It makes its final run on May 17. Four weeks from now. :(

The good news is you don't need to go out of your way to ride it. It runs as a Kodama service on the main Sanyo Shinkansen line between Shin-Osaka and Fukuoka, stopping at Kobe, Himeji, Okayama and Hiroshima. Car 2, the Kawaii Room, is non-reserved, so you can just show up on the day, though it will be packed for the farewell period. If you want a reserved seat in the other cars, book in advance at any JR ticket office.

JR West is running special events and limited-edition commemorative merchandise until the end.

Full guide at japantravelplanning.com/hello-kitty-shinkansen/

Have you ridden it? What did you think?