Aichi Prefecture announces Ghibli Park expansion themed after Nausicaä

Aichi Prefecture has announced the third phase of development for Ghibli Park, which will feature a large indoor facility themed after ‘Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind’. The project aims to transform the West Entrance Plaza into a primary destination rather than a mere transit point for visitors.

Data analysis revealed that extreme summer heat significantly reduces visitor stay times in outdoor areas like ‘Valley of the Witches’. By introducing a large-scale indoor space, the prefecture intends to mitigate heat-related issues and encourage longer stays, increased consumption, and overnight accommodations. The plan includes integrating the new facility with existing landscapes, such as the ‘Koi Pond’.

Aichi Prefecture has allocated approximately 387 million yen in a supplementary budget for initial stages, including basic concepts, design, and geological surveys. While the total construction cost and completion date remain unannounced, the project seeks to leverage the park's estimated annual draw of 1.5 million visitors to boost the regional economic impact, which has already risen to an estimated 71 billion yen.