Real-Life Studio Ghibli Locations You Can Visit in Japan

Hayao Miyazaki drew inspiration from real places across Japan, and visiting them feels like stepping into his films. The satoyama countryside of Sayama Hills in Saitama inspired My Neighbor Totoro. The old mining town of Yubara in Shimane inspired Spirited Away. Yakushima Island, with its ancient moss-covered forests, inspired Princess Mononoke. The seaside town of Tomonoura in Hiroshima inspired Ponyo. The bathhouse architecture of Dogo Onsen in Matsuyama is widely believed to have inspired the bathhouse in Spirited Away. The scenic town of Colmar in Alsace, France inspired Howl's Moving Castle, but the Japanese town of Shiroishi also has similar charm. Each location offers a deeper appreciation for the films and the landscapes that shaped them.