A sprawling 3,500-square-metre showcase featuring a life-sized Spirited Away bathhouse lands at Gardens by the Bay this December—with exclusive experiences you won’t find in Japan.
Fans of Hayao Miyazaki’s beloved animated classics, rejoice: the biggest Studio Ghibli exhibition ever staged is coming to Singapore. The Story of Studio Ghibli opens December 18, 2026, at Gardens by the Bay’s West Lawn, inviting visitors to walk through 12 life-sized environments drawn from over four decades of filmmaking. Spanning nearly 3,500 square metres, this expanded format surpasses every previous Ghibli showcase worldwide—including those held in Japan—making it a world-first for Southeast Asia.
The centrepiece is an eight-metre-tall, fully explorable recreation of the iconic bathhouse from Spirited Away. Guests can wander through the mysterious, lantern-lit streets of the film’s spirit world before stepping inside the towering structure. Elsewhere, visitors can stand beneath the rain beside Totoro at the bus stop while waiting for the Catbus, traverse the lush, mystical woodland of Princess Mononoke, and come face-to-face with a life-sized Ohmu from the Toxic Jungle of Nausicaä of the Wind—an ambitious and often underrated Ghibli gem.
The exhibition employs interactive multimedia and animatronic installations to bring these hand-drawn worlds into physical reality. Organisers describe the experience as immersive, allowing guests to not just view the sets but move through them, triggering sights and sounds that echo the films’ most memorable moments.
Beyond the spectacle, the showcase will include educational programmes designed for children, developed around themes of creativity, resilience, and environmental stewardship—values deeply embedded in Ghibli’s storytelling. Details are still under wraps, but organisers say content will be announced closer to the opening date.
Early bird tickets are on sale now through official partner Klook, with pricing structured for both locals and visitors. Singapore citizens and permanent residents pay $39 for adults and $29 for children aged 3–12 or seniors 65 and above. Standard off-peak tickets run $49 for adults and $43 for concessions, while peak pricing—applicable on weekends and public holidays—sits at $55 for adults and $49 for children and seniors. Every adult ticket purchased during the early bird window (through December 17) includes an exclusive limited-edition souvenir.
The exhibition runs until July 4, 2027, and is open daily from 10am to 7pm. Its location at West Lawn places it within the lush surroundings of Gardens by the Bay, making it an easy addition to a day out in Singapore’s garden district.
For devotees who have replayed Spirited Away countless times, the chance to stand inside its bathhouse is a dream made tangible. For newcomers, the exhibition offers a gateway into a cinematic universe defined by whimsy, sorrow, and a deep reverence for nature. Either way, it marks a cultural milestone for the region—and a rare chance to step directly into the frames of animation history.
Early bird tickets are available via Klook until December 17, 2026.