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In Japan, You Can Visit The Totoro House. For Real.

Brian Ashcraft Avatar
Brian Ashcraft
In Japan, You Can Visit The Totoro House. For Real.

When Studio Ghibli fans visit Japan, they typically make a beeline for the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka. But there’s another spot that should be on any fan’s list. Make that every fan’s list.

Back in 2005, a full-scale replica of Satsuki and Mei’s house from My Neighbour Totoro was created for the World’s Fair held near Nagoya, Japan. Goro Miyazaki designed and oversaw the house’s construction.

In Japan, You Can Visit The Totoro House. For Real.

The house was created to look like after the movie takes place (thus, Satsuki and Mei’s mother has returned home).

In Japan, You Can Visit The Totoro House. For Real.
In Japan, You Can Visit The Totoro House. For Real.
In Japan, You Can Visit The Totoro House. For Real.
In Japan, You Can Visit The Totoro House. For Real.
In Japan, You Can Visit The Totoro House. For Real.

Illustrator Martin Hsu visited the house earlier this year and said that while there are rules about photography, visitors are allowed to touch everything in the house during the 45-minute tour. Writes Hsu, “This includes opening up all drawers, boxes, lids, doors, windows, hidden doors, clothes, shoes…you get the idea.”

In Japan, You Can Visit The Totoro House. For Real.
In Japan, You Can Visit The Totoro House. For Real.

Hsu described the experience as entering a real house that is inhabited by a distant relative or an old friend.

In Japan, You Can Visit The Totoro House. For Real.
In Japan, You Can Visit The Totoro House. For Real.

The house is filled with furniture and items of the era during which the movie takes place.

In Japan, You Can Visit The Totoro House. For Real.

This is Satsuki’s desk with her books, pencils, and school bag.

In Japan, You Can Visit The Totoro House. For Real.

A hallway. Nearby, there is even the staircase the girls climbed early in the film.

In Japan, You Can Visit The Totoro House. For Real.
In Japan, You Can Visit The Totoro House. For Real.

Here is the kitchen.

In Japan, You Can Visit The Totoro House. For Real.

Next to the kitchen, you can see the bath.

In Japan, You Can Visit The Totoro House. For Real.
In Japan, You Can Visit The Totoro House. For Real.
In Japan, You Can Visit The Totoro House. For Real.
In Japan, You Can Visit The Totoro House. For Real.

Their father’s study is filled with books and papers.

In Japan, You Can Visit The Totoro House. For Real.

The calendar, it seems, even changes from month to month. In the above photo, it’s February. The drawing shows an oni for Setsubun Festival.

In Japan, You Can Visit The Totoro House. For Real.

And there are all these lovely touches that evoke the film. Take the weathered wood, for example.

In Japan, You Can Visit The Totoro House. For Real.

Or the rotting posts.

In Japan, You Can Visit The Totoro House. For Real.

This is the family’s name plate for the house.

In Japan, You Can Visit The Totoro House. For Real.
In Japan, You Can Visit The Totoro House. For Real.

There are other things to discover outside, including acorns under the house. It’s all these little details that make this recreation so special and give this a strong sense of place.

In Japan, You Can Visit The Totoro House. For Real.

The Satsuki and Mei House is located at Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park in Nagakute, Japan. It’s necessary to purchase tickets before visiting, and there’s more information on the house’s official web site, which is unfortunately only in Japanese.

In Japan, You Can Visit The Totoro House. For Real.
サツキとメイの家 [Official Site]

Studio Ghibli’s Satsuki and Mei’s House from Totoro in Real Life! [Martin Hsu Illustrations]

Photos: Expo2005, えみさん, satouyuri, Fukkun, MediaCats, ほんまにほんま～大村歌奈のきまま帳, . 明日はいいことありますように, 村長の趣味発見日記, Travelogue, オレニュースウェブログ, Tetsuro, BeautyCity, MartinHsu

To contact the author of this post, write to bashcraftATkotaku.com or find him on Twitter @Brian_Ashcraft.

Kotaku East is your slice of Asian internet culture, bringing you the latest talking points from Japan, Korea, China and beyond. Tune in every morning from 4am to 8am.

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