Tokyo, Day 2 continued

The Ghibli Museum!

To be honest, I really wasn't all that excited about going here. NOT.  Sorry, just had to joke about all the exclaimation points I've been using. (:

So if you don't know what Studio Ghibli is, you better find out!  Ghibli is probably the most famous animation studio in Japan, and they make AMAZING films. (:  You can go HERE and read about more of his stuff.  Recently they made a deal with Disney, so you may have seen some of the English-language versions of Ghibli works.  If not, go rent some today!!

Just off the bus.  To the left, the Totoro Entrance.  To the right, the REAL entrance! (:

Our bus from the station to the museum! It was sooooo cute!

A picture of the museum from the roof.  The entrance is the door on the right side of the shot.

There's also a 'fake entrance' with a big Totoro, waiting to take your tickets! (:  He's so cute.  But just for show.  The real entrance is around a different way.  So we got our pictures, then went on inside. (:  I snapped one picture of the painted ceiling inside before I was told that pictures weren't allowed!  She broke my heart, that woman did!  I tired to enjoy the museum nonetheless, knowing I would have fewer pictures to show you all! So we went inside and enjoyed all the beautiful goodness that is the Ghibli Museum... and I could not take pictures to share with you, my dear friends. ):

There are about five rooms in the museum dedicated to the head of Studio Ghibli, Hayao Miyazaki.  It was kind of like walking through the process of how they make movies; from conception to animation.  There were pages and pages and PAGES of sketches, notes and illustrations on the walls and desks.  There were photo albums of buildings and outdoor locations they used for ideas.  It was so amazing.  And to see this world-renowned artist's works lying right there in front of me. (:  It was so great.

There were also works by a Russian artist (Yuri Norstein) there, sort of a 'visiting artist' I think.  Miyazaki must ask different people to display stuff there every few months.  His work was really beautiful.  Dark, soft, and quiet...  Click the link above for some examples.  Two short animated films of his were playing in the small theater in the museum, but we didn't have time to watch them. And we don't speak Russian, or much Japanese. (:

These next pictures are from the rooftop of the museum.  The statues are from "Laputa: Castle in the Sky"-one of Ghibli's finest.  There were so many people up there for pictures

so I just took what I could and left!  Didn't bother posing with the robot and stuff.  And it was chilly out there anyway.  After this, we explore the museum a little more, visited the book- and giftshops, and then had some ice cream and cocoa in "The Straw Hat," the museum's cafe. (below)

That's about it.  We only had two hours there, unfortunately.  I could have spent all day there.  And I might soon!  Becca will be visiting in May and she wants to go. (:  I SUPPOSE I can stand another trip there! (: Hope you enjoyed my miniscule collection of photos from this lovely little museum!

Day 3