Took the free shuttle into town and headed straight to the Kobe City Museum for the Studio Ghibli exhibition that ran in 2023. Stepping inside felt like crossing into the whimsical worlds of films like My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away, with life-sized models of iconic elements—Totoro's fluffy form, the towering castle from Howl's Moving Castle—in detailed scene recreations you could walk around and admire from every angle. The exhibit revealed intricate details on how scenes were crafted, from hand-painted cels layered for depth and stop-motion puppets with movable joints to miniature sets built to precise scales that brought 2D drawings to vivid life.

Interactive stations let you inspect these tools up close, showcasing animators' blend of traditional artistry and innovative rigging techniques. Picked up a cool shirt with subtle Ghibli motifs from the gift shop, stocked with exclusive merch like art books and replicas. The atmosphere hummed with fellow fans' quiet awe, transforming the visit into a nostalgic, inspiring journey through animation history.