🌿 Step into the World of My Neighbor Totoro: A Ghibli Pilgrimage Across Japan

Have you ever dreamed of walking through the world of My Neighbor Totoro?

Good news — many of the film’s iconic settings were inspired by real-life places in Japan! From lush forests outside Tokyo to a life-sized replica of Satsuki and Mei’s home, here’s your guide to discovering the magical landscapes behind Studio Ghibli’s beloved classic.

🏞 Sayama Hills – The Real-Life Totoro Forest

Sayama Hills (狭山丘陵), located between Tokyo and Saitama, is widely believed to be the model for Totoro’s countryside.

Winding trails, gentle hills, and forest silence — it’s easy to picture Totoro among the trees.

📍 Tokorozawa City, Saitama & Higashimurayama City, Tokyo

🌳 Hachikokuyama Park – Model for “Mt. Shichikoku”

This tranquil forest park in Higashimurayama City is said to be the inspiration for Mt. Shichikoku, the hill near the hospital in the movie.

Stroll through the woods, and don’t be surprised if you feel like Totoro is watching from behind a tree…

📍 Hachikokuyama Park, Higashimurayama, Tokyo
🎫 Free entry
🗺️ Map – Hachikokuyama Park

🏡 Kurosuke’s House – A Totoro-Inspired Home

Kurosuke’s House (クロスケの家) in Tokorozawa is a preserved Japanese-style home that evokes the warmth of Satsuki and Mei’s house.

Step on the creaky floors, walk through the garden, and relive those Ghibli memories.

📍 3-1169-1 Mikajima, Tokorozawa, Saitama
🎫 Free (reservation required)
🗺️ Map – Kurosuke’s House

🚌 Totoro Pass in Hokkaido – The Real-Life Catbus!?

Yes, you read that right! In Biei, Hokkaido, you’ll find a whimsical Catbus sculpture at Totoro Pass (戸外炉峠). It’s unofficial but totally photogenic — and beloved by fans.

📍 Biei, Hokkaido
🗺️ Map – Totoro Pass

🏰 Ghibli Park – A Full-Scale Totoro World

Located in Aichi Prefecture, Ghibli Park’s Dondoko Forest area lets you explore a perfect recreation of Satsuki and Mei’s house — right down to the bath and the creaky staircase.

📍 Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park, Nagakute, Aichi
🎫 Advance ticket required
🗺️ Map – Ghibli Park

✨ Plan Your Totoro Pilgrimage

Whether you’re a longtime Ghibli fan or introducing your kids to Totoro for the first time, this journey is full of magic:

✅ Walk through real forests Totoro might call home
✅ Visit a traditional house straight out of the film
✅ Pose with a quirky Catbus in Hokkaido
✅ Step into the world of Ghibli at the official park

This isn’t just sightseeing — it’s a nostalgic, heartwarming adventure.