Scary Park In Japan

Located close to the little town of Osawano, in the center of Japan, is a village unlike any other. Translating as “the village where you can meet Buddhist statues,” Fureai Sekibutsu no Sato is an unusual park that permanently changes those who walk among its mysterious boundaries.

The park’s origins trace back to 1989 when Japanese businessman with a taste for the macabre Mutsuo Furukawa hired a Chinese sculptor to produce thousands of stone figures for an astonishing six billion yen (equivalent to 44 million euros at the time). Furukawa envisioned a timeless refuge where these mysterious people might stare toward eternity. He also imagined a busy resort conveniently linked to Osawano by a special bus line.

The park today is a strange tapestry of more than 800 motionless gray sculptures, each with unique expression. While some figures are claimed to be inspired by people Furukawa met over his life, others strikingly resemble Buddhist gods. The way the sculptures are positioned suggests an otherworldly congregation, their eyes apparently fixed on the ceaseless stream of visitors to see this unusual display.

But time has not been cooperative for Furukawa’s ambitious project. The unrelenting expansion of vegetation in some areas of the park has partially hidden some of the figures, just showing their heads. This unintended result gives the park a spooky atmosphere as if nature herself is recovering the area and progressively encircling the sculptures in her lush embrace.

Recent park visit by photographer Ken Ohki to capture its eerie beauty for his blog, he said the experience was both fascinating and disturbing. “The village was built as a popular tourist place, where people can come to relax, but once more I felt somehow offended by the sight,” Ohki said.

He also related a feeling of discomfort he experienced while considering the possibility of the figures waking under the cover of darkness. He hurriedly left the park after getting some decent shots, not daring to turn around, since the feeling was so strong.

Fureai Sekibutsu no Sato attracts interested guests from all over despite its disturbing atmosphere. Its original mix of art, history, and the approaching wilderness presents a provocative experience that stays long after one has left its spectral grounds.