The Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Tokyo was easily one of the most enjoyable places we visited on our Trip Around the World. This sacred place, a celebration of all things that spring from the mind of Japanese director/animator Hayao Miyazaki, is a popular destination for film buffs the world over. And, because they don't sell tickets at the door, the only way you can visit is to buy tickets in advance.

We were very keen on checking out the museum, but we were having a little trouble obtaining tickets. After trying a few methods without success, we figured out how to buy tickets from the Loppi machines found in most Lawson stores and scored a set of four tickets good for a few days later. We felt very fortunate and very much enjoyed our visit.

In February 2020, the museum closed its doors to visitors due to concern over the spread of the coronavirus. It remained closed until July. But starting in April 2020, the museum launched a virtual tour of the entire Ghibli Forest compound on their YouTube Channel, offering the whole world a once-rare look inside the walls of this treasured museum. Quite remarkable, especially when you consider that the Ghibli Museum doesn't allow photos or video inside.

On our visit, we took a few photos of the exterior and up on the roof where the robot soldier from Castle in the Sky looks out over the courtyard below.

This virtual tour takes you on a trip through the museum's Central Hall, up the narrow cage-like spiral staircase and the small elevator to the museum's second floor. Along the way you'll get a glimpse of the intricate murals that cover the walls and ceiling, some exquisite stained glass work, and numerous wall-mounted shelves and cabinets filled with memorabilia related to Ghibli films including such beloved favorites as Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, and—of course—My Neighbor Totoro.

You'll get to see the inside of the Saturn Theater, where the museum shows a rotating slate of ten or so films shown only here to all in-person guests. They're not showing any videos on this virtual tour of course, but seeing the theater itself is still a thrill. When we visited I was hoping we'd get to see Mei and the Baby Cat Bus, but it wasn't meant to be. Instead we saw Mr. Dough and the Egg Princess, which was still an entertaining film full of Ghibli goodness (although the title gives away some of the plot).

One of the videos from the Ghibli Musuem Virtual Tour.

One of the online videos focuses on a showcase of original artwork that's part of "Sketch, Flash, Spark!", a special exhibition that looks at the planning that went into designing Ghibli Forest (the park where the museum is located) 20 years ago.

In another video, you get to spend some time in the room with the giant plush Catbus (the secret star of My Neighbor Totoro), which was a highlight for the kids on our tour. You'll even get to virtually visit the Straw Hat Café, which looks like it's gone through some changes since our visit. Alas, no virtual tasting of Kaze No Tani, the museum's signature beer.

In addition to the tour itself, the channel includes a few video journals, some of which focuses on a puppet performance for Aya and the Witch (renamed Earwig and the Witch for English speaking audiences), the studio's newest movie and its first CGI film, originally released December 30 on NHK and February 5 on HBO Max.

Although the first videos appeared in April 2020, the museum has been adding new videos every few weeks, with some of these detailing the staff cleaning the museum (the Robot Soldier gets a scrub-down), working toward a reopening, and even one video featuring Hayao Miyazaki and his son Gorō eating at the newly renovated Straw Hat Café.

Although the museum reopened in July 2020, ticket sales have been limited to residents of Japan. So if you're a fan of Studio Ghibli films (and really, who isn't?), then do yourself a favor and head over to the Ghibli Museum's YouTube Channel and settle in for a fun virtual tour.