In an enchanting addition to its menu, Japan’s Ghibli Park has begun offering “grilled frogs” at its recently opened Valley of Witches area.
Key points:
- The new treats, known as “kaeruyaki,” are not actually frogs, but frog-shaped pastries filled with sweet red bean paste.
- The Valley of Witches, based on Studio Ghibli films “Kiki’s Delivery Service” and “Howl’s Moving Castle,” opened on March 16 with multiple immersive attractions.
- Electric vehicles inspired by the Catbus from “My Neighbor Totoro” also debuted at the Nagoya-based park last month.
The details:
- “Kaeruyaki,” which combines the words “kaeru” (“frog”) and “yaki” (“grill”), appears to be a clever twist on taiyaki, a traditional Japanese cake made in the shape of a “tai” or sea bream, according to SoraNews24.
- The snack is prepared by baking a pancake-like batter into the shape of a frog — a likely nod to fairytales and folklore that aligns with the theme of the Valley of Witches. It is stuffed with sweet red bean paste.
- The Valley of Witches is the fifth and final themed area of the park. It opened on March 16 to include the park’s first themed rides, which include a merry-go-round and an aerial carousel.
- Apart from the kaeruyaki food cart and rides, the area hosts a variety of attractions, including a life-size Howl’s Moving Castle, a witch’s house from “Earwig and the Witch” and a play tower. Visitors can also explore the bakery home of Kiki and Jiji, enjoy a meal at the Hot Tin Roof hot dog stand or shop at the 13 Witches store.
- After launching the Valley of Witches, Ghibli Park introduced a fleet of eco-friendly vehicles inspired by the Catbus from “My Neighbor Totoro.” These vehicles are designed to facilitate 10-minute trips between the Mononoke Village and Dondoko Forest areas through an otherwise inaccessible forest path.
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