For most of its existence, Ghibli Park's on-site cinema has played host to short films borrowed from the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka — beloved, but borrowed. That changes on July 8, 2026, when Night of the Valley of Witches (Majo no Tani no Yoru) becomes the first animated short conceived and produced by Studio Ghibli specifically for the park itself. Directed by Goro Miyazaki and co-directed by veteran animator Akihiko Yamashita, the film is built around the park's own architecture — the half-timbered Okino House, the mechanical grandeur of Howl's Castle — and answers a question the daylight hours can't: what happens when the Valley of Witches falls dark?

This is also a practical guide. Whether you're targeting the 150-seat premiere event on July 8 or planning a regular visit from then onward, the ticketing reforms that take effect in July 2026 change how you access the park — for the better.

This isn't a borrowed film shown in a borrowed theater. It's the first story Ghibli Park has ever told about itself.

01 — The FilmNight of the Valley of Witches: Story, Setting & Why It Matters

The Valley of Witches area draws from two very different corners of the Ghibli universe — and the film holds both in deliberate tension. By day, the Valley belongs to Kiki's Delivery Service: warm bread, cobblestone charm, the everyday textures of a witch learning her trade. After dark, it becomes something else — the mechanical mystery of Howl's Moving Castle, eerie and moonlit, surfaces rising from the architecture you thought you knew.

Goro Miyazaki describes the film as a "conceptual lens" — something that trains visitors to see the park differently after they've watched it. The buildings they explored in daylight become charged with narrative possibility. The Okino House, the castle, the cobbled paths — all of them appear on screen, reimagined after dark. It's a film designed to make the park itself feel larger than it is.

02 — The DirectorsGoro Miyazaki & Akihiko Yamashita

This is Goro Miyazaki's first directorial work in six years, since Earwig and the Witch in 2020 — a return made possible by his co-directorship with Akihiko Yamashita, whose Ghibli credentials run deep. Yamashita initially hesitated to lead the project solo; the duo's partnership was the solution, bringing complementary strengths to a film that needed both architectural vision and animation mastery.

Miyazaki's broader philosophy is worth understanding as context: he views Ghibli Park not as a static exhibit but as a "living resident" — something that must grow and redecorate constantly to remain genuinely alive. Original films, rotating seasonal elements, evolving spaces: Night of the Valley of Witches is the first major expression of that principle.

03 — The CinemaCinema Orion (Orionza): Screening Schedule & Location

The film screens exclusively at Cinema Orion (known in Japanese as Orionza), located inside Ghibli's Grand Warehouse. A valid Grand Warehouse ticket is required for access. The cinema runs one film per period on a rotating basis — here's how the 2026 schedule lands:

04 — The PremiereJuly 8 Special Event: Stage Greeting with the Directors

The premiere screening on July 8 is a separate, ticketed event — not included with standard park entry. It's small by design: 150 seats, first-come first-served via advance booking, followed by a live stage dialogue with Goro Miyazaki and Akihiko Yamashita. For anyone who wants to hear the directors speak about the film before the general public sees it, this is the only opportunity.

05 — How to BookStep-by-Step: Reserving the Premiere & Planning Your Visit

1. Mark May 10, 2026 at 14:00 in your calendar

   General ticket sales for July admissions — including the 150-seat premiere event — open on May 10 at 2:00 PM Japan time. The premiere will sell out fast. Have your payment details ready before the clock hits 14:00.

2. Book the premiere ticket (if targeting July 8)

   Premiere tickets are priced at ¥2,000 adult / ¥1,000 child, plus system fees. These are sold separately from your park entry — you'll need both. Check the official Ghibli Park ticketing site for the booking portal.

3. Secure your park entry ticket

   To access Cinema Orion, you need a Ghibli's Grand Warehouse ticket or a Grand Walk (O-Sanpo) ticket covering all five areas. See Section 6 for the full updated ticket breakdown — the July 2026 pricing reform changes things significantly.

4. Arrive by 9:20 AM on July 8 for the premiere

   On-site registration runs from 9:20 to 9:40 AM. The screening begins at 9:45. Arriving after registration closes means losing your seat regardless of whether you hold a ticket.

5. For regular screenings (July 8 onward)

   No separate premiere ticket required — just a valid Grand Warehouse or Grand Walk ticket. Regular screenings of Night of the Valley of Witches run from July 8 onward with no announced end date. Walk-in access applies at Cinema Orion within normal park hours.

06 — Tickets & PricingGhibli Park's Updated Ticket Structure for July 2026

July 2026 brings a meaningful reform to how Ghibli Park tickets are structured. The biggest change: the interiors of the Valley of Witches' landmark buildings — the Okino House, Howl's Castle, and the House of Witches — are now included in the standard area ticket, removing a separate "Premium" paywall that previously locked out casual visitors.

07 — Critical DatesYour Planning Timeline at a Glance

• May 10
  14:00 JST — Booking opens. General ticket sales begin for all July admissions, including the 150-seat premiere event. Set an alarm.
• Jun 9–23
  Park closed for scheduled maintenance. No access to any area during this window. Plan around it.
• Jul 8
  Official premiere — Night of the Valley of Witches. 9:45 AM special screening with stage greeting (150 seats). Regular screenings begin the same day.
• Jul 8 →
  Ongoing regular screenings at Cinema Orion with no announced end date. Access with Grand Warehouse or Grand Walk ticket.

08 — The VerdictIs Night of the Valley of Witches Worth Planning a Trip Around?

1. It's genuinely new ground for Ghibli. The first original film made specifically for the park — not a museum loan, not an archive screening. If you've followed Ghibli Park's evolution, this is the moment it becomes a storytelling venue rather than a themed exhibit.
2. The premiere is a rare access point. 150 seats, a live director Q&A with Goro Miyazaki and Akihiko Yamashita, and a ticket price that's accessible. There are very few opportunities to be in the same room as Ghibli filmmakers for ¥2,000.
3. The ticket reform makes the Valley worth revisiting. If you've been before and skipped the landmark interiors, they're now included in the standard ticket. The film gives you a new reason to look at spaces you may have seen before.
4. The window for the premiere is fixed and short. May 10 at 14:00 JST is your one shot at the 150-seat event. Everything else — regular screenings, the updated ticketing — is ongoing. Prioritize accordingly.

The park has always made you want to stay until dark. Now, for the first time, it has a story ready for when you do.