Gluck Kingdom (abandoned German-themed amusement park),
Near Obihiro, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan,
The park, extending for around 30,000 square metres, was very popular in the early 1990s. In its heyday it welcomed up to 700,000 visitors a year.
Gluck Kingdom aimed to recreate the universe of the Grimms’ tales. The park designers were inspired by the traditional architecture of the central German states of Hesse and Lower Saxony.
The wooden houses of the 15th and 17th centuries, the cobbled streets of the Marktplatz (market square) and even the interiors of German medieval castles were accurately reproduced. The park didn’t skimp on funding and as much as possible made use of materials directly imported from Germany. Local crafters were invited to recreate an authentic German atmosphere.
A replica of Bückeburg castle was created (both exterior and interior) and used as a hotel. Nicknamed the “Schloss Hotel”, it offered guests the experience of spending the night in a German castle.
Unfortunately, with the burst of the economic bubble, the number of visitors steadily declined after 1997. Various attempts have been made to reopen the park by renting out the hotel and trying to find new sponsors. But the vast site was very difficult to maintain and the park finally closed in 2007.
Creator: Jordy Meow
