The Studio Ghibli Park will open in 2022, and feature attractions from My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Kiki's Delivery Service, and Howl's Moving Castle.

Fans of Japanese animation around the world were overjoyed last year when a joint announcement was made by Studio Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki and Aichi Governor Hideaki Omura that Aichi's EXPO Park would be transformed into an official Studio Ghibli in the early 2020's, and now new details should help give their anticipation some shape. The Asahi Shinbun is reporting that a followup announcement by Aichi prefecture and Studio Ghibli officials says that they are aiming to open the Ghibli Park in 2022.

Aichi prefecture also shared conceptual artwork of the planned entrance area for the park, which will reportedly feature an elevator equipped building modeled after the 19th century science fiction aesthetic of Howl's Moving Castle, and will be called the "Hill of Youth Area". Within close vicinity of the entrance will be recreation of the antique shop (Earth Emporium) from Whisper of the Heart, selling a variety of Studio Ghibli-related goods.

Local television also reported on concept art that features Kiki's home from Kiki's Delivery Service, a Cat-Bus building, a Princess Mononoke world featuring spider and boar spirits, and elaborate tree houses shopping areas.

Howl's Moving Castle Entrance Area

Ghibli "Warehouse Area"--with mysterious Cat Bus building

Princess Mononoke Village

Witch's Valley

The Big Ghibli Warehouse Area looks to contain film-themed areas for children to play in, as well as shops and even small viewing cinemas.

Satsuki and Mei's House

While other attractions within Ghibli Park have yet to be announced, the 200-hectare area Moricoro Park (officially called Love the Earth Memorial Park and site of the 2005 World's Fair) already has a replica of Satsuki and Mei's house from My Neighbor Totoro, and bringing the world of Totoro to life is expected to be a major theme of the park. The collaborative effort between Studio Ghibli and Aichi prefecture has put a priority on not cutting down any trees or disrupting the environment as the park is enhanced. Rather than create a full-blown roaring theme park, the concept seems to be taking advantage of the area's rich forest nature to act as a backdrop as guests can calmly traverse the worlds of the films.

Japan is already host to the official Studio Ghibli museum, but fans of the beloved animation studio may want to plan their next trip around 2022 should the planning proceed as scheduled.