Ten-year-old Chihiro Ogino and her parents are moving to a new home when they take a wrong turn and stumble upon what appears to be an abandoned amusement park. Curious, Chihiro’s parents explore and discover a feast of mysterious food. Ignoring Chihiro’s warnings, they eat greedily and are suddenly transformed into pigs. As night falls, Chihiro realizes the park is not abandoned at all—it is a gateway into the spirit world.
Terrified and alone, Chihiro encounters Haku, a mysterious boy who warns her that she must find work in the spirit bathhouse if she wants to survive. He gives her magical berries to keep her from disappearing and instructs her on how to seek employment from the bathhouse’s owner, the witch Yubaba. Though frightened, Chihiro gathers the courage to enter the strange world before her.
Chihiro confronts Yubaba and demands a job despite the witch’s attempts to intimidate her. Impressed by her determination, Yubaba hires her but steals part of her name, renaming her “Sen.” Chihiro begins working in the bathhouse alongside spirits and magical creatures, learning that forgetting her true name could trap her in the spirit world forever.
As Sen adjusts to her new life, she befriends several workers including Lin and Kamaji. Though mocked by many of the bathhouse employees, she proves herself through hard work and determination. One of her greatest challenges comes when she is tasked with bathing a foul-smelling “stink spirit,” only to discover it is actually a polluted river spirit burdened with trash and debris.
After showing kindness to the lonely spirit No-Face, Chihiro unknowingly allows him into the bathhouse. There, No-Face becomes corrupted by the greed of those around him, consuming workers and creating chaos. While others are tempted by his gold, Chihiro remains focused and selfless, eventually calming him and leading him away from the bathhouse’s corruption.
When Haku is gravely injured while attempting to steal a magical seal from Yubaba’s twin sister Zeniba, Chihiro risks everything to save him. Traveling by train to Zeniba’s cottage, Chihiro apologizes on Haku’s behalf and learns more about courage, compassion, and love. During this journey, she recalls a forgotten childhood memory that reveals Haku’s true identity as the spirit of the Kohaku River.
Armed with her newfound confidence and wisdom, Chihiro returns to the bathhouse to confront Yubaba one final time. She successfully passes Yubaba’s final test by identifying that none of the pigs presented are her parents. This proves she has matured and learned to trust herself. Freed from Yubaba’s control, Chihiro reunites with her parents and leaves the spirit world forever, forever changed by her journey.
