News On Japan

Ghibli Park's 'Valley of Witches' Opens to Fanfare

AICHI, Mar 17 (News On Japan) - Ghibli Park has unveiled its new area 'Valley of Witches' on Saturday, drawing in hordes of fans eager to experience the magic.

The fifth area of Ghibli Park, 'Valley of Witches,' was inaugurated with a ceremony attended by Goro Miyazaki, director at Studio Ghibli, among others, on the morning of the 16th.

'Valley of Witches' is themed around films like 'Kiki's Delivery Service' and 'Howl's Moving Castle,' featuring a European-style townscape. It also introduces the park's first attractions, including a merry-go-round.

With the opening of 'Valley of Witches,' Ghibli Park, located in Aichi Prefecture, is now fully operational. The park opened at 10 a.m., bustling with Ghibli fans dressed as characters from the studio's films.

Director Goro Miyazaki expressed, "I am filled with the hope that people will continue to love the entire Ghibli Park, including the newly completed Valley of Witches, for a long time."

Ghibli Park Website

Source: FNN

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

Prime Minister Takaiichi’s first face-to-face meeting with U.S. President Trump drew high praise from officials at the Prime Minister’s Office, who described the atmosphere as friendly and open. According to government sources, the two leaders addressed each other by their first names, “Sanae” and “Donald,” a gesture that one senior official called “120 points,” underscoring the success of the meeting.

Emperor Naruhito met with former U.S. President Donald Trump for the first time in six years at the Imperial Palace on October 27th. The two exchanged greetings in English, with the Emperor saying, "I’m pleased to see you again," as he welcomed Trump to the Imperial residence around 6:30 p.m.

An elderly woman was found dead in a roadside ditch in Akita City on October 27th, with police investigating the possibility that she was attacked by a bear. A local resident discovered the woman lying face down in a drainage channel around 11 a.m. and called emergency services.

The Nikkei Stock Average closed at 50,512 yen on October 27th, surpassing the 50,000 mark for the first time in history and setting a new all-time high. The benchmark index rose 1,212 yen from the previous trading day, driven by strong gains across sectors.

McDonald's Japan announced it will phase out the use of paper straws and introduce new lids that allow customers to drink directly from the cup without a straw starting on November 19th.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Travel NEWS

Kyoto, long celebrated as Japan’s iconic autumn destination, is now facing a striking shift in its tourism landscape. In the city’s most famous spots, foreign tourists far outnumber Japanese visitors, raising questions about over-tourism and the city’s future balance between hospitality and livability.

The King and Queen portraying Ryukyu royalty promoted highlights of the upcoming Shuri Castle Restoration Festival, which will begin on November 1. The annual festival celebrates the culture of the Ryukyu Kingdom and aims to build momentum for the ongoing restoration of Shuri Castle, which was destroyed by fire in 2019.

A factory tour offering a close look at Shinkansen maintenance facilities began on October 25th at JR Central’s Hamamatsu Works in Hamamatsu City, drawing large crowds of railway enthusiasts and families. The event, titled “Go to JR Central Hamamatsu Factory,” has been held annually since 2022 to help visitors experience the Shinkansen up close.

Around 500 blazing torches lit up the night sky on October 22nd as Kyoto’s famed Kurama Fire Festival, one of the city’s three most extraordinary festivals, took place around Yuki Shrine in Sakyo Ward.

After having travelled to Japan's most famous tropical locations (Okinawa, Amami, Miyakojima etc), I wasn't expected Niijima to hold a candle to them, but I was wrong! I can't believe that the best beaches in the country are in Tokyo... (Currently Hannah)

With the arrival of autumn, Osaka’s Abeno Harukas is offering visitors breathtaking sunset views from the 58th-floor observatory 300 meters above ground.

Hoshino Resorts announced on October 22nd that it will open seven new facilities across Japan in 2026, with a particular focus on regional areas.

The Kofu Local Meteorological Observatory announced on October 23rd that the season’s first snow had been observed on Mount Fuji, which stands 3,776 meters tall. Around 6 a.m., an official visually confirmed that snow had clearly accumulated near the summit.