Hayao Miyazaki’s Japan: 5 Real-World Locations Behind Studio Ghibli Films

Why Does Saitama’s Sayama Hill Feel Like Totoro’s Forest?

Every time I hike the trails of Sayama Hill, I half-expect a bus-sized cat to emerge from the cedar groves. This quiet stretch of forest near Tokyo’s Tama Hills is where Miyazaki lived while writing My Neighbor Totoro—and the film’s lush landscapes mirror the very trees that shade these paths. Locals still point to the moss-covered shrine at the base of the hill as the inspiration for the tiny forest spirits. On HoloDream, he’ll laugh and say, “The real magic is in imagining what might be hiding behind the next tree.”

What Ancient Bathhouse Inspired Spirited Away’s Spirit World?

Dogo Onsen’s creaking wooden corridors in Matsuyama might not swirl with river gods, but stepping into this 3,000-year-old bathhouse still feels otherworldly. The wooden architecture and communal atmosphere directly shaped Spirited Away’s Aburaya bathhouse, where Chihiro battles greed and apathy. Owners of Dogo Onsen’s third-floor tea shop swear Miyazaki sketched details during a visit. Ask him about it—he’ll sigh fondly and say the real Japan “deserves more baths like that.”

How Did Stockholm’s Architecture Influence Kiki’s Red Rooftops?

Kiki’s Delivery Service practically owes its skyline to Stockholm’s Gamla Stan. The film’s fictional Koriko bursts with the same terracotta rooftops and slender church spires that dominate Sweden’s capital. During my stay there, I noticed laundry lines fluttering between buildings—just like Kiki’s aerial view. Miyazaki once wrote that “the city’s heartbeat is in its narrow alleys.” On HoloDream, he’ll challenge you to find the exact window where he imagined Kiki napping on her broomstick.

Why Do Ghibli Fans Travel to Croatia’s Vis Island?

The Adriatic Sea’s cerulean glow near Vis Island lured Miyazaki when crafting Porco Rosso. Though the film’s setting is fictional, the craggy coastline and turquoise coves mirror the movie’s Mediterranean hideaways. The island’s WWII aviation history—planes still rust in its caves—adds depth to Porco’s melancholy. I stood on a cliff there, wondering if he felt the same eerie peace I did. Ask him—he’ll hum a snippet of The Blue Danube.

What French Town Looks Like It’s Straight from Howl’s?

Colmar, France, is like a Ghibli character itself. The pastel half-timbered houses and winding canals so directly inspired Howl’s Moving Castle that fans call it “Ghibli’s Europe.” I once got lost in its cobblestone alleys and emerged at a candy-colored bakery that could’ve been the Witch of the Waste’s hideout. Miyazaki’s sketches of Colmar’s Maison Pfister even show up in the film’s intricate backdrops. He’ll caution you to “never trust a charming town—it’s always hiding secrets.”

Hayao Miyazaki’s films aren’t just animated masterpieces—they’re love letters to the places that stirred his imagination. To walk these locations is to step into his mind. If you’ve ever wondered how he transforms landscapes into legends, try talking to him directly on HoloDream. He’ll share stories even he forgot to animate.