Showing posts with label Japan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Japan. Show all posts

TOKYO: Where to Find the World of Miyazaki's Spirited Away at the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Museum

January 8, 2020



TOKYO: Where to Find the World of Miyazaki's Spirited Away
at the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Museum

There are several places claiming to be the setting of Hayao Miyazaki's famous film Spirited Away. One of them is Jiufen in Taipei. But an interview with Hayao Miyazaki in May 2001 by Animage, a Japanese anime and entertainment magazine, finally confirmed from his own words that the world he sought to recreate in Spirited Away was a world depicted at the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Museum.


 The transcript of the interview is shown below:



Why did you set the story in the present time?



 M: It's a world like this Edo Tokyo Tatemonoen (Edo Tokyo Museum, Building Park*) rather than our modern world. I've always been interested in the pseudo-Western-style buildings** you can find here. I feel nostalgic here, especially when I stand here alone in the evening, near closing time, and the sun is setting--tears well up in my eyes. (laughs)



 *Edo Tokyo Tatemonoen: A park with Japanese houses and shops from the Meiji and Taisho era (about 120 to 70 years ago). Miyazaki-San loves the park and often visits there. The interview took place in the park.



 **Pseudo-Western style - A style of Japanese architecture in the early Meiji era. It's a mixture of traditional Japanese design and Western design.



 I think we have forgotten the life, the buildings, and the streets we used to have not so long ago. I feel that we weren't so weak...for example, a life in that house you see there (pointing at one of the buildings in the park) was a modest one. They ate a small amount of food, enough to fit on a small table in a tiny room. Everyone thinks our problems today are the big problems we have for the first time in the world. But I think we just aren't used to them, what with the recession and all. Well, it's enough since everyone is talking about these current problems. Rather, let's cheer up (laughs). I'm making a film with such a feeling.



WHERE TO FIND THE WORLD OF SPIRITED AWAY 
AT THE EDO-TOKYO OPEN AIR MUSEUM

Below is the Layout of the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Museum:

This is the layout of the Edo Tokyo Open Air Museum.

You can find it in the link below.

The areas I encircled are the areas/buildings that inspired the buildings in Spirited Away.
Make sure to click the photo to get the full view.



To follow the story of Spirited Away, you only need to visit the East Zone and the Center Zone:

East Zone



E3. Bar Kagiya (information) (virtual tour)


Bar Kagiya is the inspiration for the restaurant in this scene:





This is Bar Kagiya at the Museum







E6. Stationery store (information) (virtual tour)


The stationery store is the inspiration for workplace of Kamaji, the boiler-man:



This is inside of the stationery store at the Museum






E4. Public Bathhouse (information) (virtual tour)

The public bathhouse is the inspiration for this scene:


The front of the Public Bathhouse in the Museum




Inside the Bathhouse




Inside the Bathhouse at the Museum




Center Zone


C3. House of Korekiyo Takahashi (information) (virtual tour)


The House of Korekiyo Takahashi is the inspiration for this scene:









The House of Korekiyo Takahashi at the Museum


Check out the windows similar to the one in the film.






Outdoor exhibit


City train model 7500













Inside the train






OSAKA: HOW TO BOOK THE DOTON YOUTOURBUS

May 22, 2019

Photo from Doton bus Facebook page

OSAKA: HOW TO BOOK THE DOTON YOUTOURBUS


Going to Dotonbori and nearby Kuromon market from Kansai airport is now very easy. There's a new direct bus that can take you from Kansai airport to Doton Plaza, which is around 3 minute walk from the entrance of Dotonbori.

WHERE IS DOTON PLAZA LOCATED

Doton Plaza is 190 meters or about 3 minute walk to the entrance of Dotonbori.










This sumo wrestler statue is the landmark from the ground.
The entrance is at the back of the statue.

BUS SCHEDULE



RATES

Starting May 1, 2019, rates will be as follows:

Adult: 1500 yen per way

Child (more than 6 years old and less than 12 years old): 1000 yen per way

Toddler (more than 2 years old and less than 6 years old): 500 yen





Cancellation fees


HOW TO BUY TICKETS

Payment is not available at the airport and at Doton Plaza. So the only way to get a ticket is by making a reservation online and paying for it after receiving an invoice via email with payment instructions. 

1. Decide what time to board the bus. 

Doton bus recommends that you take the schedule 1 hour after your plane arrives. From my experience, it took us 1 hour to pass through immigration, claim our luggage and get to the bus stop. 

Take note: If you miss the bus, you forfeit your ticket. 

2. Reserve your ticket at www.dotonyoutourbus.com

3. After making a reservation online, wait for an email acknowledging receipt of your reservation. 

4. Next day, you will receive an invoice by email with instructions on how to pay for the ticket by credit card. Below is the invoice I received by email. Click "View Invoice" then click "Pay Invoice" .







MEETING PLACE AT THE AIRPORT


Terminal 1 Floor 1 South Exit Guide Meeting Place
  • A guide wearing a yellow uniform will be waiting with a meeting board labeled “DOTON YOUTOURBUS”.
※ Meeting time: 10 ~ 20 minutes before departure (source: dotonyoutourbus.com)






MEETING PLACE AT DOTON PLAZA

DOTON PLAZA boarding and exit lot
  • Doton Plaza Floor 1 Entrance, “DOTON YOUTOURBUS” Meeting place: The area where the bus is boarded and exited (source: doton youtour bus.com)






Baggage restrictions 

OSAKA: DIRECT BUS FROM KANSAI AIRPORT TO DOTONBORI

Photo from Doton bus Facebook page

OSAKA: DIRECT BUS FROM KANSAI AIRPORT TO DOTONBORI

Going to Dotonbori and nearby Kuromon market from Kansai airport is now very easy. There's a new direct bus that can take you from Kansai airport to Doton Plaza, which is around 3 minute walk from the entrance of Dotonbori.

WHERE IS DOTON PLAZA LOCATED

Doton Plaza is 190 meters or about 3 minute walk to the entrance of Dotonbori.










This sumo wrestler statue is the landmark from the ground.
The entrance is at the back of the statue.

BUS SCHEDULE



RATES

Starting May 1, 2019, rates will be as follows:

Adult: 1500 yen per way

Child (more than 6 years old and less than 12 years old): 1000 yen per way

Toddler (more than 2 years old and less than 6 years old): 500 yen





Cancellation fees


HOW TO BUY TICKETS

Payment is not available at the airport and at Doton Plaza. So the only way to get a ticket is by making a reservation online and paying for it after receiving an invoice via email with payment instructions. 

1. Decide what time to board the bus. 

Doton bus recommends that you take the schedule 1 hour after your plane arrives. From my experience, it took us 1 hour to pass through immigration, claim our luggage and get to the bus stop. 

Take note: If you miss the bus, you forfeit your ticket. 

2. Reserve your ticket at www.dotonyoutourbus.com

3. After making a reservation online, wait for an email acknowledging receipt of your reservation. 

4. Next day, you will receive an invoice by email with instructions on how to pay for the ticket by credit card. Below is the invoice I received by email. Click "View Invoice" then click "Pay Invoice" .







MEETING PLACE AT THE AIRPORT


Terminal 1 Floor 1 South Exit Guide Meeting Place
  • A guide wearing a yellow uniform will be waiting with a meeting board labeled “DOTON YOUTOURBUS”.
※ Meeting time: 10 ~ 20 minutes before departure (source: dotonyoutourbus.com)






MEETING PLACE AT DOTON PLAZA

DOTON PLAZA boarding and exit lot
  • Doton Plaza Floor 1 Entrance, “DOTON YOUTOURBUS” Meeting place: The area where the bus is boarded and exited (source: doton youtour bus.com)






Baggage restrictions