※This link leads to an external site (YouTube).

  • 2025.9.16

    Takahata Isao exhibition
    has now closed.
    Thank you very much for visiting.

  • 2025.7.31

    Notice Regarding Typhoon No. 9
    Azabudai Hills Gallery is scheduled to open and
    all events will proceed as planned on August 1
    (Fri), August 2 (Sat), and August 3 (Sun).
    Please note that temporary closure or changes
    to opening hours may occur depending on
    weather conditions.
    For the latest updates, check
    the official Azabudai Hills Gallery X account
    If you cannot access social media, please contact
    us by email:azabudaihillsgallery@mori.co.jp

  • 2025.5.23

    Tickets for the special night tour
    featuring commentary from
    Studio Ghibli's curatorial staff are
    sold out.

  • Dates

    Friday, June 27, 2025 to Monday,
    September 15

  • Organizers

    Azabudai Hills Gallery, NHK,
    NHK Promotions, Inc.

  • Special
    Cooperation

    Studio Ghibli

  • Cooperation

    The Tokuma Memorial Cultural
    Foundation for Animation,
    SHINCHOSHA Publishing Co., Ltd.

  • Sponsor

    A Factory Inc.

  • Supporters

    Let’s ENJOY TOKYO, Inc., TOKYO MX,
    Embassy of Switzerland in Japan

  • Venue

    Azabudai Hills Gallery
    MB Floor, Azabudai Hills Garden Plaza A,
    5-8-1 Toranomon, Tokyo

  • Exhibition
    Hours

    10:00-20:00 (last entry: 19:30)
    *10:00-17:00 (last entry: 16:30)
    　on Tuesdays and Friday
    　from June 27 to July 18

  • Inquiries

    azabudaihillsgallery@mori.co.jp

Media Resources

Press Releases

Media Resources

Press Releases

Download leaflet

(PDF)

Download leaflet

(PDF)
The Japanese language audio guide features commentary by Hikaru Ijuin, a commentator famed for his wide-ranging knowledge and outstanding verbal communication skills. Ijuin voiced the historical court noble Abe no Udaijin in The Tale of the Princess Kaguya. Narration is by legendary voice actor Sakiko Tamagawa, familiar for her extensive work in animated films. Together, they provide a guide that helps you experience the exhibition on a deeper level.
Audio guide listeners can also enjoy an official playlist curated by film director Shunji Iwai, renowned for his close association with Isao Takahata and Studio Ghibli, featuring music selected to complement the exhibition's artworks. The playlist is included with the audio guide and is expected to feature five tracks.
Price: Additional 700 yen per ticket (tax included)
| Japanese only
*Available for purchase as an add-on to your exhibition ticket.
For more information, please refer to the ticketing details.
Born in Tokyo in 1967, Hikaru Ijuin began his career as an apprentice to Sanyutei Enraku VI, performing rakugo under the name Sanyutei Rakudai. In 1988, he made his radio debut as Hikaru Ijuin.
Known for his sharp wit and intellectual depth, he hosts popular radio programs such as Ijuin Hikaru no Shinya no Baka Chikara on TBS Radio and Ijuin Hikaru no Tane on Nippon Broadcasting System. He also frequently appears on television programs such as NHK’s 100 Minutes de Meicho, and is recognized for his wide-ranging contributions to Japanese media.
for her work across a wide range of television and anime productions.
Notable works include Crayon Shin-chan, Psalms of Planets Eureka Seven, and TV Asahi’s Super J Channel.
Shunji Iwai made his feature film directorial debut in 1995 with Love Letter. His best-known films include Swallowtail, All About Lily Chou-Chou, The Case of Hana & Alice, Last Letter, and Kyrie’s Song. In 2012, he penned the lyrics to Hana wa Saku, a song written to support recovery efforts following the Great East Japan Earthquake. In April 2025, Love Letter [4K Remaster] was released in theaters to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the film’s original release. He continues to work across diverse genres, transcending boundaries, both in Japan and overseas.

Isao Takahata (1935-2018) was a pioneering animation director whose career began in the 1960s and spanned over half a century, helping to shape the world of Japanese animation. Born in Mie Prefecture and raised in Okayama Prefecture, Takahata joined Toei Doga (now Toei Animation) in 1959 after graduating from the University of Tokyo with a degree in French literature. At Toei, Takahata directed The Great Adventure of Horus, Prince of the Sun (1968), expressing a grand and ambitious worldview. This marked the beginning of a creative journey that continued into the 1970s, during which he released numerous works including Panda! Go Panda! (1972), Heidi, Girl of the Alps (1974), and Anne of Green Gables (1979), and pioneered new forms of expression in animation. In 1985, Takahata co-founded Studio Ghibli. From the 1980s onward, he focused on depicting the everyday lives of ordinary people and the natural landscapes of Japan. His major works from this period include Jarinko Chie (1981), The Story of Yanagawa’s Canals (1987), Grave of the Fireflies (1988), and Pom Poko (1994). In the 1990s, he released My Neighbors the Yamadas (1999). Takahata refined a technique that was unprecedented at the time —digitally coloring hand-drawn sketches instead of using traditional cels. In the 2000s, this innovation culminated in The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013).
2025 marks 80 years since the end of the Pacific War. To commemorate, the exhibition will feature newly discovered materials related to Grave of the Fireflies. While preparing for the exhibition, a harmony cel was discovered by chance. The cel depicts the heavy cruiser Maya, from a scene in Grave of the Fireflies, which was overseen by Hideaki Anno, president of Studio Khara. This cel will be unveiled to the public for the first time. Don’t miss it!
Layout: Hideaki Anno
Harmony cel*: Noriko Higuchi
*A cel rendered with a painter’s touch, resembling fine art. Whereas traditional cels are painted with solid colors, the harmony technique allows for a more nuanced and realistic expression.

In addition to discounted advance tickets, special night tour tickets featuring commentary from Studio Ghibli’s curatorial staff are also available. Choose the ticket option that best suits your interests.

Even if tickets appear sold out online, they may still be available at the gallery’s ticket counter.
Please note that purchasing tickets at the gallery may involve a wait.
Sales Period: From 00:00, Friday, June 27, 2025
General

Admission College/
University/
High School Students

 4 to Junior High
School
2,000yen 1,700yen 1,400yen

Sold Out

Sales Period: Friday, June 27 to Monday,
September 15, 2025
General

Admission College/
University/
High School Students

 4 to Junior High
School
2,000yen 1,700yen 1,400yen

*Tickets can be purchased at the ticket counter inside the gallery.

To celebrate the exhibition’s opening, Kazuyoshi Tanaka of Studio Ghibli’s curatorial office will lead special guided tours.
Dates: 1st session: Tuesday, July 1, 2025
2nd session: Tuesday, July 8, 2025
Time: 18:00-19:00
(Ticket holders should arrive at the gallery by 17:50)
Venue: Azabudai Hills Gallery
Fee: Additional 600 yen per ticket (tax included)
Ticket sales: From 11:30, Friday, May 23, 2025 Reserve your spot by clicking
How to join: “Purchase Tickets” below. *First-come, first-served. Availability is limited.

Kazuyoshi Tanaka

Born in 1963 in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Kazuyoshi Tanaka first joined Studio Ghibli as a production manager for Grave of the Fireflies. He went on to serve as a production coordinator for many of the studio’s works and also worked as assistant director on My Neighbors the Yamadas. He was subsequently involved in curating and producing exhibitions at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, including the Disney Art Exhibition and the Studio Ghibli Layout Exhibition. He was also responsible for planning and curating the Isao Takahata Exhibition held at the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo. He currently serves as a supervisor in the Curatorial Office at Studio Ghibli.

Sold Out

Sales Period: From 11:30, Friday, May 23
to 23:59, Thursday, June 26, 2025
Validity: Friday, June 27 to Thursday, July 31
General

Admission College/
University/
High School Students

 4 to Junior High
School
1,800yen 1,500yen 1,200yen

Sold Out

Weekday visitors will receive a special paper case designed exclusively for the exhibition.
There are five different designs, and a different design will be given out each weekday. The paper case is versatile—it can be used to hold mints, matches, or anything else you like. Open the box to find an illustration of Isao Takahata drawn by Hisaichi Ishii.
(Made of paper/card, dimensions: 50mm x 70mm x 15mm)
Available from Friday, June 27, 2025, while stock lasts.

Enjoy a special discount with your ticket stub!

Bring your ticket stub from the Ghibli 3D Sculpture Exhibition held in Tennozu to receive 200 yen off same-day tickets purchased at the ticket counter.
Ticket Prices:
200 yen discount from the ticket counter price for same-day tickets (tax included)
Sales Period: Friday, June 27 to Monday, September 15, 2025

*Please note that this discount cannot be used in conjunction with other discounts.
*To receive the discount, please purchase your ticket at the counter on the day of your visit—no advance reservation required.
*Applies only to purchases of “General Admission” tickets. Not applicable to other ticket categories (college/university/senior high school, or ages 4 to junior high school).

Important
Information

Important Information Regarding Tickets

  • Visitors with a disability certificate are entitled to a 50% discount off the online advance ticket price (valid for the certificate holder only). Please show your disability certificate and purchase your ticket at the counter on the day of your visit—no advance reservation required.
  • There is an audio guide available for this exhibition (700 yen | Japanese only).
  • The audio guide can be purchased online or at the gallery.
  • Students may be asked to show their student ID card along with their ticket when entering the gallery.
  • Each ticket admits one person, one time only, on the date printed on the ticket.
  • Tickets are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged, reissued, or changed after purchase. Tickets may be rescheduled up to three times, as long as changes are made before date printed on the ticket (excludes Lawson Tickets). *Changes cannot be made to dates that are sold out.
  • Please be aware that your entry may be delayed when the gallery is busy.
  • Reselling tickets is prohibited. The gallery accepts no responsibility for issues related to tickets purchased through unofficial or unauthorized channels.
  • All prices include tax.
  • Group discounts are available for parties of 15 or more. Please contact Azabudai Hills Gallery before your visit (azabudaihillsgallery@mori.co.jp).

Important Information Regarding the Venue

  • Exhibition dates and opening hours are subject to change. Please check our official social media accounts and the exhibition website for the latest information.
  • To preserve the exhibits, the temperature in the gallery is kept constant. We recommend wearing layers or bringing clothing suitable for temperature regulation.
  • Large bags and backpacks should be stored in lockers to protect the exhibits.
  • While there is no time limit on your visit, we kindly ask visitors to be considerate and share the space so everyone can enjoy the exhibition.
  • Do not touch the exhibits or display cases.
  • Photography is not permitted inside the gallery.
  • Re-entry is not permitted.
  • The gallery follows a one-way route. Please follow the designated route.
  • Show your ticket purchase screen at the Azabudai Hills Gallery Information Counter on the day of your visit to receive a parking discount.
  • Please follow staff instructions during your visit. Disruptive behavior that disturbs other visitors is strictly prohibited and may result in denied entry or being asked to leave.
  • The gallery is not responsible for disputes or problems that arise between visitors.
  • Lockers and umbrella stands are available for use during gallery hours only.

MB Floor, Azabudai Hills Garden Plaza A,
5-8-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0001

Direct access from Exit 5 of Kamiyacho Station on the Hibiya Line
8-minute walk from Exit 4 of Roppongi-itchome Station on the Namboku Line