Toho Town
By DashHaber, JokersWild, Imagineer Brandon, Solaris Knight, and Pix
Music
Disney purchases Toho
In 2005 Disney made an unprecedented move to break into the Japanese film industry with the outright purchase of Toho, one of Japan’s largest production and distribution companies. With this purchase, Disney gained ownership of some of Japan’s most famous franchises such as Godzilla, Akira, and a large portion of the works of Akira Kurosawa.
This purchase also gave Disney distribution rights to most of Studio Ghibli’s films in both Japan and the US. Now owning the majority of Ghibli’s distribution market, Disney was able to finally convince the normally stubborn studio to grant the theme park rights to some of its films.
With both of these deals finalized, Toho Town was announced in 2006, along with its sister land Surf Swell Beach, with ground being broken by the end of the year. In Summer 2008, Toho Town and Surf Swell Beach opened to the general public, further expanding Disney Studios Park and helping it to become the premiere destination at Walt Disney World Resort.
Area description
Toho Town aims to mix the magic and awe of both studio Ghibli and Toho with real-life settings found all around Japan. Melding both urban and rural, we hope to give Toho Town the feel of actually hopping on a plane and travelling to Japan.
Entering from Muppet Studios, guests will first pass under a large unpainted torii gate, signifying the passage from the hustle and bustle of The Disney Studios to the scenic Japanese landscapes of Toho Town. Surrounding the torii gate and its entrance area is a small, but dense,dense forest of Japanese Red Pine. Nestled in the forest to the left is the Catbus Cafe, the land’s main table service restaurant, and to the right is Ghibli Garden, a delightful celebration of some of Studio Ghibli’s most iconic characters and settings.
Past the forest, tan pebbled ground fades into cracked asphalt as the land opens up into the urban area of Toho Town, which takes up most of the lower level of the land. Here, sleek buildings dot the area. The sleek, modern-looking 812 skyscraper certainly sticks out the most. This department store sells all of your Japanese needs from anime statues to shirts.
Right around the corner is The Capsule Club. This seedy food stand has become a popular haunt for some of Neo-Tokyo’s most prominent gangs and bosozoku. At the back of the land, right off the coast, is Toho Station, home to Godzilla: Terror in Transit. Though Toho Station normally offers round trip shinkansen service to Tokyo, it may not be wise with reported Godzilla sightings near the city.
Between Ghibli Garden and Toho Station is a large wooden bridge connecting Toho Town with its sister land, Surf Swell Beach, modeled after Horai Bashi Bridge in Shizuoka.
Though the bridge isn't quite as exciting as the boardwalk sitting at its opposite end, it's a nice palate cleanser between the two lands.
Two large ramps, one located next to the Catbus Cafe and the other between 812 and The Capsule Club, lead up to Toho Town’s second level, which takes on a more rural feel. Here the cracked asphalt of the lower level is replaced by large inlaid stone. Most of the area is surrounded dotted with trees. This area is especially beautiful during the spring when the cherry blossoms bloom. At the top of the winding ramp are a few small buildings, namely Osono’s Bakery and Kiki’s Delivery Service, both themed after their namesake film.
To the side is a small series of torii gates which lead deep into a bamboo forest. Locals say that these gates lead to the ruins of Castle Muramasa where A Tale of Trouble & Turmoil, the legendary story of a battle between samurai and vengeful youkai. At the back of the area stands a massive crimson wall. Enter through and pass into the world of spirits and magic and discover the world of Spirited Away.
Also scattered around the land are vending machines and gachapon machines.
The vending machine feature some of Japan's most popular drinks, from Boss Coffee to Mitsuya Cider.
The gachapon machines carry a number of toys from the franchises featured in the land.
Both vending machines and gachapon are incredibly popular in Japan and help immerse guests and expose them to items they wouldn't normally be able to find in the US.
Toho Town truly has something for everyone, from the excitement and terror of Godzilla: Terror and Transit to the wonder of the world of Spirited Away, and even to the enchantment of Ghibli Garden. Discover the wonder of Japan today!