I am looking forward to the Fall so much.
It’s so cozy and as an introvert, it’s my favorite holiday right after Christmas of course.
If you’re anything like me, you probably start rewatching Studio Ghibli films the second the temperature drops below 70.
There’s just something about them that’s so soothing, the gentle storytelling, the soft quiet moments, the way everything feels so full of wonder and magic and sadness all at once.
They make you want to bake something with cinnamon, take a nap under a cozy quilt, or write a letter to someone you love.
Am I right?
And maybe that’s why this list matters so much.
Because sometimes fall makes you nostalgic for things you’ve never lived, or places you’ve never been, or people you haven’t met yet, and Ghibli just gets that.
The slowness. The sweetness. The depth.
So if you’re craving a softer, slower kind of fall this year — one where your hobbies feel more like rituals, and your days feel a little more like something out of Kiki’s Delivery Service or Whisper of the Heart, this is for you.
These are the hobbies I think Ghibli girls (and soft-hearted women everywhere) will fall in love with.
They’re whimsical, grounded, imperfect, a lil’ nostalgic, and honestly… kinda healing.
Let’s make fall feel magical again.
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1. Making a Warm Drink Ritual (Every. Single. Day.)
Forget rushing out the door with lukewarm coffee.
You deserve a drink that feels like self-care.
Pick a mug that makes you smile, play a bit of soft lo-fi, and create a ritual.
Stir in cinnamon, whisk some matcha, or add honey to your chamomile tea like you’re in Howl’s Moving Castle.
Let the drink become a moment.
I promise you, it will switch up your entire day!
Your mood will just lift up, instantly!
I’m currently enjoying a pumpkin spice latte (these recipes are lovely) – I used pumpkin puree and this pumpkin spice.
2. Pressing Leaves Into Journals or Sketchbooks
This was a hobby I picked up when I was younger and I love doing it now too!
Take a walk. Pick up a leaf that makes your heart skip a beat.
Press it into a book and keep it forever.
You don’t need to “do” anything with it. Just the act of pressing something beautiful and fleeting into a page — that’s art. You can label the date, add a line of poetry, or just leave it as-is.
I use this Moleskine Art Sketchbook – This is a perfect, high-quality notebook for pressing leaves, doodling forest scenes, or journaling tiny thoughts in the margins.
I also watercolor sometimes so it’s perfect!
3. Baking Simple, Cozy Recipes With No Pressure to Be “Good”
Bake like nobody’s watching (and even if they are, feed them too).
Fall is for messy cinnamon rolls, gooey banana bread, and cookies that taste better because you danced around while making them.
You don’t need to be a pro.
You just need butter, sugar, and an excuse to fill your home with the scent of something warm.
If you’re looking for cozy recipes, get these cozy baking recipes – Full of simple, baking recipes you’ll want to make on repeat while pretending you’re in a Ghibli kitchen.
4. Keeping a “Tiny Joys” Notebook
I’ve been stressed lately and this is something my therapist suggested.
Ghibli girls don’t just live — they notice. That bird on the windowsill. The way steam curls off a cup. A laugh that caught you off guard.
Keep a notebook just for these things.
Not a formal gratitude journal. Not a place to track goals. Just a little space to write down the beauty that happens in between everything else.
If it’s too much, then just get this The Five Minute Journal – It’s a lovely guided notebook that gently prompts you to record joy without pressure.
Very “Whisper of the Heart” energy.
5. Taking Slow, Aimless Walks in a Cozy Sweater
No destination.
No agenda.
Just you and the crunch of leaves underfoot. Fall is made for this.
You’re not walking for fitness or productivity — you’re walking because it reminds you that the world is still turning, and maybe you don’t need to fix everything today.
Pretend you’re walking through a Ghibli village.
Imagine the wind is carrying stories. Smile at dogs. Pick up a weird little rock.
I’m currently loving this Kawaii Strawberry Cardigan – It’s so cute!
6. Painting or Doodling Dreamy Little Scenes (No Art Degree Needed)
You know those watercolor moments in Ghibli movies — the ones that show rooftops, gardens, quiet corners of a town?
You can recreate that feeling, even if you’ve never held a paintbrush before.
Just sit by a window, pull out some paints or pens, and draw what you see, or what you wish you saw.
Maybe it’s a little cottage in the woods. Maybe it’s a floating bakery in the clouds. It doesn’t have to be good. It just has to feel good.
You can get this Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolor Set – Japanese watercolors with soft, dreamy tones that’ll make your doodles look straight out of My Neighbor Totoro.
7. Rewatching Your Favorite Ghibli Movies… the Slow Way
I love doing this with my dogs. They are so warm and soft.
Just you, a blanket, and the quiet magic of rewatching Spirited Away for the twentieth time — this time actually watching it.
Notice how long the scenes linger.
How often no one’s talking. How quiet the food moments are. These films are slow on purpose. Let them slow you down, too.
If you’re interested, get The Collected Works of Hayao Miyazaki Blu-ray Set – If you want to own the full Ghibli mood, this set is an absolute treasure for autumn movie nights.
8. Writing Letters You’ll Probably Never Send
When I was in a bad place, writing letters to my future self gave me hope.
I have a post on how to do that here.
This is the kind of quiet, reflective hobby that Ghibli characters would totally do.
Kiki, Shizuku, even Chihiro — all of them would have a box of unsent letters somewhere.
Write to someone who broke your heart. Someone you miss. Your future self.
A stranger you saw once and never spoke to. Pour it all out. Fold it. Tuck it away.
I used this Letters to my Future Self to do this. It made the whole process easier.
9. Making a Seasonal Altar or Cozy Shelf for Fall Vibes
It doesn’t have to be spiritual or serious — though it can be.
It’s more about having a small corner of your home that honors the season. A place to pause.
Gather fallen leaves, a candle that smells like apple cider, a small dish of acorns or pinecones, maybe a framed quote or a photo that feels like October.
This becomes your grounding spot. A Ghibli-style still life. Something sacred and simple.
You can get this Fall Scented Candle Set– These smell like all your favorite cozy scenes and look absolutely dreamy on a shelf or altar space.
10. Starting a Ghibli-Inspired Reading List
I have a list of books that give off Studio Ghibli vibes here if you’re interested.
Ghibli films often come from books, and they carry that same quiet, slow, heart-centered magic.
Why not make a fall reading list inspired by those themes?
Look for books about everyday wonder, gentle magic, and introspective characters.
11. Learning How to Make Herbal Tea Blends Like a Forest Witch
If you’ve ever wanted to feel like the herbalist in a Ghibli village, this is your moment.
You don’t need a cauldron or a garden full of rare plants.
Just some dried herbs, a few mason jars, and your curiosity. Try mixing chamomile, rose petals, and mint for calming. Or hibiscus and cinnamon for something a little more autumn and dramatic.
Make it a whole ritual. Label the jars.
Tie twine around them. Brew your blend in a teapot and sip it while watching the rain.
Get this Traditional Medicinals Organic Herbal Tea Sampler – A gorgeous intro to herbal blends without the overwhelm.
Feels like something Nishi might offer in her shop.
12. Embroidery and Slow Stitching While Listening to the Wind
There’s something incredibly grounding about stitching.
One thread at a time, your mind quiets. Your breathing slows down. It’s like meditation, but with something beautiful to show for it.
You can follow a pattern or just freestyle. Stitch a flower, a moon, a sleepy cat. Make it imperfect on purpose.
Put on a Ghibli soundtrack or open a window and listen to the wind while you stitch.
Suddenly, you’re a side character in Only Yesterday, and your entire life feels softer.
Here is a Beginner Embroidery Kit with Floral Pattern Hoop – It’s simple, pretty, and looks like something Sheeta would’ve made in her quiet time.
13. Starting a Soft Morning Routine (Without Your Phone)
Not a “5am CEO grind” kind of morning — a slow, gentle, cozy kind of morning.
Wake up and stay in bed for a bit. Open the curtains. Light a candle. Journal. Sip tea. Breathe. No scrolling.
Maybe you write one sentence in your notebook. Maybe you water your plants. Maybe you just sit on the floor and do nothing for five minutes.
This is about reclaiming your mornings. You don’t have to “achieve” anything. You just get to start your day with yourself, softly.
This particular book is perfect: One Line a Day: A Five-Year Memory Book – Perfect for tiny, Ghibli-style reflections. Helps you track how your soft mornings evolve over time.
14. Learning the Art of Bento-Box Lunches (Just for You)
I picked this hobby after packing my partner’s lunches.
There are so many Youtube tutorials that teach you how to make this quickly.
Ghibli bento boxes are always simple but full of care — rice, pickles, a boiled egg, maybe a cut apple with a leaf shape.
And you can make yourself a little lunch just because. Even if you’re staying home. Arrange the food carefully. Add color.
Pack it with intention. Eat it slowly.
You’re not feeding anyone else’s expectations here. Just your own quiet craving for sweetness and care.
I love this Monbento Original Bento Box – Japanese Lunch Box for Adults – Cute, durable, and aesthetically satisfying. It’s giving “Satsuki made this for lunch before school.”
15. Spending an Afternoon at the Library (Like a Ghibli Girl)
This is dedicated to my friend Roy who spent a whole Sunday with me taking me to old libraries.
I fell in love.
You know that scene in Whisper of the Heart when Shizuku is just living her best life in the library? You deserve that too.
Go to your local library without an agenda. Wander the aisles.
Pick up books with pretty covers. Sit near the window and just read for a while. Bring a notebook and write about nothing in particular.
Even if you don’t check anything out, you’ll leave feeling full, not with noise, but with calm.
16. Pressing Flowers & drawing them
I got this tip from a friend in my Book Club.
He watercolors flowers after he’s pressed a flower at the corner of the page.
It looks so pretty!
It feels like catching a piece of a Ghibli landscape and keeping it with you forever.
Here is a Natural Flower Press Kit with Straps and Paper – Perfect for beginners and beautifully crafted. Makes you feel like you’re preparing ingredients for a spell.
17. Learning to Play a Soft Instrument (Just for You)
Think of the gentle piano melody from The Cat Returns or the dreamy background music from Totoro. That could be you.
You don’t have to be good. You just have to start.
Try a kalimba, ukulele, or even a small keyboard. Learn a few simple songs. Play when it rains. Play when your heart is heavy. Play for no reason.
It doesn’t need to be impressive — it just needs to sound like peace to you.
My partner has this and I love using it! GECKO Kalimba Thumb Piano – 17 Keys – Soft, melodic, and feels like playing magic with your fingertips. The Ghibli girl instrument, honestly.
18. Starting a Nature Sketchbook Like You Live in the Valley of the Wind
Even if you’re not “good” at drawing (whatever that means), keeping a little sketchbook of trees, leaves, birds, and bugs you see is a beautiful way to fall deeper in love with the world.
Sit under a tree. Sketch the bark. Try to draw a mushroom from memory. Trace a leaf and label it like a mini field guide. Bonus: press that same leaf inside the page. Now it’s a keepsake.
19. Hosting a Ghibli-Themed Dinner for One (Or a Friend)
Make that steamy ramen bowl with a soft-boiled egg.
Cut toast into perfect rectangles like in Howl’s Moving Castle. Drink sparkling water from a glass bottle. Light a candle. Play instrumental background music.
Set the table like it matters. Even if it’s just you. Especially if it’s just you.
This is about honoring your need for ceremony and comfort — Ghibli-style.
20. Making Handmade Gifts Like You’re Living in a Ghibli Village
Bake banana bread for your neighbor.
Crochet a scarf for someone you care about.
Make a jar of herbal bath salts or a hand-lettered bookmark for someone who’s having a rough week.
Studio Ghibli girls don’t show love with big gestures — they show it in quiet ways. Through care. Through attention. Through handmade things that carry a little piece of your heart inside.
21. Letting Yourself Romanticize Fall Without Guilt
This last one’s not a “hobby,” really. It’s more like permission.
Let yourself light that extra candle. Wear your oversized cardigan again. Write poetry that no one will read. Watch the same movie 3 times this week. Cry at the way the sky looks at 6:47 p.m.
You don’t need a reason to slow down or make things beautiful. You don’t need to earn softness. This season is yours.
Please read The Comfort Book by Matt Haig – Gentle reminders that it’s okay to be soft, sad, hopeful, tired, healing, or all of those at once. A book that truly feels like a friend.
Here are a few more posts you may enjoy:
How to Live a Studio Ghibli Life in 2024
21 Cozy Hobbies for Women (includes Ghibli-style hobbies)
21 Cottagecore Hobbies for Women Who Love Studio Ghibli
How to Create a Studio Ghibli-Inspired Kitchen (Even If You Rent)
