Merry Christmas 2016

Merry Christmas 2016! 

May we always be young at heart! :)

(Source: Studio Ghibli https://www.facebook.com/TheGhibliFamily/?ref=br_rs)

Japan Trip 2016: Day 6 Part 3 7 Dec 2016 Wed - Mitaka Forest Ghibli Museum (三鷹の森ジブリ美術館)

From Temari no Ouchi Cat Cafe, we walked about 20 minutes and made it to Ghibli Museum before 4pm. I booked 4pm Ghibli Museum tickets. 
It was such a thrill to see only the outside of the museum - Totoro and the dust bunnies! I couldn't imagine how it would be when I am inside the museum!  

Totoro and the dust bunnies in the round window

I think I was more excited than my daughter! Haha

My ticket (a 35mm film print) was a scene from Spirited Away, my favourite while Juliane's was a scene from Ponyo, her favourite. We both got our wishes! :) As there is no photography allowed inside the museum, there would be no photos. We could only used our eyes and ears to experience the museum which was an amazing experience! I felt like a kid again. :) 
We watched the Ghibli original short animated feature, The Day I Bought A Star (星をかった日) at Saturn Theatre. Although it was entirely in Japanese, it was still a treat to watch it! 
We went to the Rooftop Garden first before it got too dark to see the Robot Soldier from Laputa Castle in the Sky. Ghibli Museum is celebrating its 15th year. There is a special exhibition from July 2016 to May 2017: All Aboard! The Cat Bus to the Ghibli Forest. This exhibition is a collage of items and images from all of their past exhibitions! We are really lucky to be here this year. :) After going through the exhibition, we spent some time at both shops: Tri Hawks and Mamma Aiuto. :) :)  
Before we left, Juliane had a hotdog from the Straw Hat Cafe. 

Robot Soldier from Laputa Castle in the Sky

View of entrance of Ghibli Museum from rooftop garden

Juliane tried her hand with the hand-pumped well

Straw Hat Cafe

Juliane's hot dog with pickled sauce. Really nice. 

Adorable "guard dog" at the exit

We took the 5:50pm commumity loop bus to Mitaka Station, from which we returned to Shinjuku Station via the JR Chuo Line rapid train. We bought our dinner from Takashimaya Food Hall and enjoyed eating it in front of the TV haha. 

Community loop bus

Our dinner

Our loot from Ghibli Museum!

A bonus poster from my purchase of the Ghibli Museum Information booklets

Goodies from Totoro Cafe, Cat Cafe and cat-themed shop, Hikosen Cara

We were really happy and relaxed today. I felt like a kid again which is a great feeling! :) 

Relaxing Piano: Studio Ghibli Complete Collection

Music from Studio Ghibli complete collection never fails to invoke smiles, serenity, fantasy and fond memories for me. :)  

Relaxing Piano: Studio Ghibli Complete Collection [uploaded by Cat Trumpet (Mediation Music/ Binaural Beats)]
  

Relaxing Piano - Hayao Miyazaki Collection:
0:00 Spirited Away - Itsumo Nando Demo
4:52 Kiki's Delivery Service - Umi no Mieru Machi
9:34 Princess Mononoke - Mononoke Hime
11:15 My Neighbor Totoro - Kaze no Toori Michi
16:42 Porco Rosso - Toki ni wa Mukashi no Hanashi wo
22:27 Kiki's Delivery Service - Yasashisa ni Tsutsumareta nara
27:49 My Neighbor Totoro - Tonari no Totoro
32:10 Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind - Kaze no Tani no Naushika
37:00 Laputa: Castle in the Sky - Kimi wo Nosete
42:28 Spirited Away - Inochi no Namae

Relaxing Piano - Ghibli Collection:
48:18 From Up on Poppy Hill - Sayonara no Natsu - Kokuriko-zaka kara
53:38 Whisper of the Heart - Take Me Home Country Road
59:20 Kiki's Delivery Service - Message By Rouge
1:04:08 My Neighbor Totoro - Stroll
1:08:51 Tales from Earthsea - Teru's Song
1:14:12 The Secret World of Arrietty - Arrietty's Song
1:19:03 Ponyo - Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea
1:22:50 Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind - Nausicaa Requiem
1:27:05 Howl's Moving Castle - The Promise of the World
1:32:34 Spirited Away - Reprise

Pianist: Makiko Hirohashi