Blab Entertainment
Ghibli Park Unveils First Nighttime Screening of New Short A Night in the Valley of the Witches
On a crisp October evening in Nagakute, the glow of Ghibli Park’s newest attraction will illuminate the Valley of the Witches, a real‑world backdrop that inspired a brand‑new short film. The 14‑minute, 21‑second piece, A Night in the Valley of the Witches (Japanese: Majo no Tani no Yoru), debuted on July 8, 2026, in the park’s 170‑seat Orion cinema and will remain in rotation through September and October.
Directed by Goro Miyazaki, the son of Studio Ghibli founder Hayao Miyazaki and current park director, the short was co‑crafted by Akihiko Yamashita, whose work on Howl’s Moving Castle and other Ghibli titles helped shape its animation and character design. The story follows a new employee at Ghibli Park who stumbles into the Valley of the Witches and encounters unexplained phenomena, culminating in a nighttime encounter with a witch voiced by senior colleague Kikue.
Unlike the park’s usual practice of rotating a set of ten Ghibli shorts each month, A Night in the Valley of the Witches will be shown continuously during this period. Visitors who purchase a park ticket that includes access to the Grand Warehouse can view the short at any time while the park is open.
On October 31, Ghibli Park will host a one‑night outdoor screening in the Valley of the Witches area itself. The event is free, but visitors must apply between September 20 and 28 and pay a 110‑yen booking fee. Parents are required to accompany elementary‑school‑age participants, and the screening will be followed by a special after‑hours tour led by staff. The tour will feature darkened zones, loud noises, and light effects designed to extend the witch‑themed atmosphere.
The Valley of Witches recreates locations from several Ghibli films, including the Okino Residence from Kiki’s Delivery Service. The park’s official press release notes that the area will also begin its winter illuminations on October 30, the same night the Autumn Dondoko Festival opens.
The Autumn Dondoko Festival runs from October 30 to November 22 and includes a series of special events. On the festival’s opening night, the Valley of Witches and Mononoke Village stay open until 7 p.m., allowing visitors to experience the attractions after dark. Mononoke Village will also host a late‑night closure.
On November 1, the park will celebrate its anniversary with an outdoor screening of Porco Rosso at 5:30 p.m. A concert featuring Tokiko Kato, the singer who performed the theme song for Porco Rosso and voiced Gina in the film, will follow. Both the screening and concert are free, but advance applications are required and a lottery will be held if demand exceeds capacity.
Additional workshops are scheduled for November. On November 7–8, visitors can learn how to paint backgrounds in the style of a Ghibli anime. On November 14–15, a workshop will let participants create their own café tray using tiles from the Grand Warehouse’s central staircase. The final workshop, on November 21–22, will guide attendees in making a one‑of‑a‑kind Totoro plush toy. All workshops require advance reservations, but no separate park ticket is needed.
A Night in the Valley of the Witches is Studio Ghibli’s first original animated short made specifically for Ghibli Park since 2018. According to the park’s announcement, it is the only place in the world where the film can be seen. The park’s schedule and ticketing information are available online for both domestic and overseas visitors.
For fans planning a trip to Japan this autumn, Ghibli Park offers a range of experiences—from the new short’s nighttime screening to the festival’s late‑night attractions and anniversary events. The park’s combination of indoor cinema, outdoor screenings, and themed workshops provides a comprehensive look at Studio Ghibli’s legacy and its ongoing creative output.
The park’s official website lists the full schedule and ticketing details, and visitors are encouraged to apply early for the October 31 screening and the November workshops, as capacity limits apply.
Directed by Goro Miyazaki, the son of Studio Ghibli founder Hayao Miyazaki and current park director, the short was co‑crafted by Akihiko Yamashita, whose work on Howl’s Moving Castle and other Ghibli titles helped shape its animation and character design. The story follows a new employee at Ghibli Park who stumbles into the Valley of the Witches and encounters unexplained phenomena, culminating in a nighttime encounter with a witch voiced by senior colleague Kikue.
Unlike the park’s usual practice of rotating a set of ten Ghibli shorts each month, A Night in the Valley of the Witches will be shown continuously during this period. Visitors who purchase a park ticket that includes access to the Grand Warehouse can view the short at any time while the park is open.
On October 31, Ghibli Park will host a one‑night outdoor screening in the Valley of the Witches area itself. The event is free, but visitors must apply between September 20 and 28 and pay a 110‑yen booking fee. Parents are required to accompany elementary‑school‑age participants, and the screening will be followed by a special after‑hours tour led by staff. The tour will feature darkened zones, loud noises, and light effects designed to extend the witch‑themed atmosphere.
The Valley of Witches recreates locations from several Ghibli films, including the Okino Residence from Kiki’s Delivery Service. The park’s official press release notes that the area will also begin its winter illuminations on October 30, the same night the Autumn Dondoko Festival opens.
The Autumn Dondoko Festival runs from October 30 to November 22 and includes a series of special events. On the festival’s opening night, the Valley of Witches and Mononoke Village stay open until 7 p.m., allowing visitors to experience the attractions after dark. Mononoke Village will also host a late‑night closure.
On November 1, the park will celebrate its anniversary with an outdoor screening of Porco Rosso at 5:30 p.m. A concert featuring Tokiko Kato, the singer who performed the theme song for Porco Rosso and voiced Gina in the film, will follow. Both the screening and concert are free, but advance applications are required and a lottery will be held if demand exceeds capacity.
Additional workshops are scheduled for November. On November 7–8, visitors can learn how to paint backgrounds in the style of a Ghibli anime. On November 14–15, a workshop will let participants create their own café tray using tiles from the Grand Warehouse’s central staircase. The final workshop, on November 21–22, will guide attendees in making a one‑of‑a‑kind Totoro plush toy. All workshops require advance reservations, but no separate park ticket is needed.
A Night in the Valley of the Witches is Studio Ghibli’s first original animated short made specifically for Ghibli Park since 2018. According to the park’s announcement, it is the only place in the world where the film can be seen. The park’s schedule and ticketing information are available online for both domestic and overseas visitors.
For fans planning a trip to Japan this autumn, Ghibli Park offers a range of experiences—from the new short’s nighttime screening to the festival’s late‑night attractions and anniversary events. The park’s combination of indoor cinema, outdoor screenings, and themed workshops provides a comprehensive look at Studio Ghibli’s legacy and its ongoing creative output.
The park’s official website lists the full schedule and ticketing details, and visitors are encouraged to apply early for the October 31 screening and the November workshops, as capacity limits apply.
