Ghibli Park Updates Its Step Into Anime Photo Spots

Ghibli Park is preparing its very first update to one of its most popular attractions. Inside Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse, the Becoming Characters in Memorable Ghibli Scenes area lets visitors step into famous moments from the studio’s films, standing in for a character and seeing things from their point of view for a memorable photo.

Since the park opened in 2022, that lineup has stayed the same, but a refresh is now on the way, which means some beloved scenes will be retired.

December 1 will be the final day for the displays based on The Wind Rises, When Marnie Was There, and Ocean Waves. It will also be the last chance to pose with the iconic Castle in the Sky scene of Sheeta drifting down from the clouds, one of the most memorable images in all of anime.

In their place, four Ghibli films are getting their first scene displays. The standout is The Boy and the Heron, Hayao Miyazaki’s most recent film, which invites guests to take the place of its hero Mahito during a fateful encounter with the mysterious sorcerer Granduncle.

It is a bittersweet trade, retiring some classic moments to make room for newer ones, but it gives fans fresh reasons to visit.

My take: I will be a little sad to see the Laputa scene go, since that falling image is pure magic. Still, getting to step into The Boy and the Heron is a wonderful addition, and a refresh keeps the park feeling alive.