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NEWS
Hayao Miyazaki's magical landscapes to become a reality with plans for nature theme park
POSTED 24 Sep 2015 . BY Tom Anstey
Miyazaki's Oscar-winning films have all been based around nature
Oscar-winning filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki has revealed plans to create real-life versions of the landscapes from his imaginative anime films, with designs for a 10,000-acre (40,000sq m) nature park on a remote island off the coast of Japan.

Miyazaki, who retired from filmmaking in 2013, will recreate the magical worlds seen in classics such as Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle and My Neighbour Totoro, at the theme park on Kume Island in Okinawa, known as The Forest Where the Wind Returns.

As with Miyazaki’s films, the unique attraction will be centred around nature. Included on the forest-filled island will be a library, accommodation to sleep up to 30 people and as few man-made attractions as possible. Existing playground equipment will be replaced with “an interactive site where children can enjoy nature through five senses.”

An investment of ¥300m (US$2.5m, €2.2m, £1.6m) will be made by Miyazaki, with development of facilities and landscaping starting in Q2 of 2016 and an opening date of 2018. Okinawa-based design firm Kume Creation are working on both architecture and landscape architecture for the project.

Miyazaki has said once complete, he will donate the park to Kumejima – the town of 8,000 people which inhabits part of Kume. The development will be built with a "made in Kumejima" ethos, making sure local construction materials are used and the opinions of the island’s citizens are taken into account.
Okinawa-based design firm Kume Creation are working on both architecture and landscape architecture for the project
PROJECT PROFILE:

The Forest Where the Wind Returns
Oscar-winning filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki has revealed plans to create real-life versions of the landscapes from his imaginative anime films, unveiling designs for a 10,000-acre (40,000sq m) nature park on a remote island off the coast of Japan.


RELATED STORIES
  Proposed Universal theme park on Okinawa drops Universal branding


Following reports that representatives from Universal Studios Japan were looking into potentially opening a new theme park on the island of Okinawa, the interested party has taken the rather surprising step of dropping the well-established Universal name in favour of the unknown ‘Nangoku Resort’.
  Universal Studios Japan plans second park on Okinawa


Universal Studios Japan’s president, Glenn Gumpel, has said the theme park is looking to build a second development on the sub-tropical island of Okinawa – more than 1,500km (932 miles) away from its existing park on mainland Japan.
MORE NEWS
OMA completes New Museum transformation with landmark expansion and Oberon restaurant
OMA has completed a major transformation of New York's New Museum, creating a larger cultural campus that combines expanded exhibition spaces with learning, performance, hospitality and public programming.
David Rockwell creates immersive magic destination, The Hand and The Eye
A US$50 million (£44.2 million, €51.2 million) transformation of Chicago's historic McCormick Mansion has created a new destination that combines live magic, immersive theatre, dining and private membership under one roof.
Montana Heritage Center opens with immersive exhibits and US$107 million investment
The Montana Historical Society has officially celebrated the opening of its new Montana Heritage Center, a US$107 million (£79 million, €92 million) destination that combines immersive storytelling with cutting-edge audiovisual technology to bring the sta
Universal launches new theme park model with Kids Resort
Universal Destinations and Experiences has launched a new regional theme park model with the opening of Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, Texas.
+ More news   
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Heritage Great Britain
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NEWS
Hayao Miyazaki's magical landscapes to become a reality with plans for nature theme park
POSTED 24 Sep 2015 . BY Tom Anstey
Miyazaki's Oscar-winning films have all been based around nature
Oscar-winning filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki has revealed plans to create real-life versions of the landscapes from his imaginative anime films, with designs for a 10,000-acre (40,000sq m) nature park on a remote island off the coast of Japan.

Miyazaki, who retired from filmmaking in 2013, will recreate the magical worlds seen in classics such as Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle and My Neighbour Totoro, at the theme park on Kume Island in Okinawa, known as The Forest Where the Wind Returns.

As with Miyazaki’s films, the unique attraction will be centred around nature. Included on the forest-filled island will be a library, accommodation to sleep up to 30 people and as few man-made attractions as possible. Existing playground equipment will be replaced with “an interactive site where children can enjoy nature through five senses.”

An investment of ¥300m (US$2.5m, €2.2m, £1.6m) will be made by Miyazaki, with development of facilities and landscaping starting in Q2 of 2016 and an opening date of 2018. Okinawa-based design firm Kume Creation are working on both architecture and landscape architecture for the project.

Miyazaki has said once complete, he will donate the park to Kumejima – the town of 8,000 people which inhabits part of Kume. The development will be built with a "made in Kumejima" ethos, making sure local construction materials are used and the opinions of the island’s citizens are taken into account.
Okinawa-based design firm Kume Creation are working on both architecture and landscape architecture for the project
RELATED STORIES
Proposed Universal theme park on Okinawa drops Universal branding


Following reports that representatives from Universal Studios Japan were looking into potentially opening a new theme park on the island of Okinawa, the interested party has taken the rather surprising step of dropping the well-established Universal name in favour of the unknown ‘Nangoku Resort’.
Universal Studios Japan plans second park on Okinawa


Universal Studios Japan’s president, Glenn Gumpel, has said the theme park is looking to build a second development on the sub-tropical island of Okinawa – more than 1,500km (932 miles) away from its existing park on mainland Japan.
MORE NEWS
OMA completes New Museum transformation with landmark expansion and Oberon restaurant
OMA has completed a major transformation of New York's New Museum, creating a larger cultural campus that combines expanded exhibition spaces with learning, performance, hospitality and public programming.
David Rockwell creates immersive magic destination, The Hand and The Eye
A US$50 million (£44.2 million, €51.2 million) transformation of Chicago's historic McCormick Mansion has created a new destination that combines live magic, immersive theatre, dining and private membership under one roof.
Montana Heritage Center opens with immersive exhibits and US$107 million investment
The Montana Historical Society has officially celebrated the opening of its new Montana Heritage Center, a US$107 million (£79 million, €92 million) destination that combines immersive storytelling with cutting-edge audiovisual technology to bring the sta
Universal launches new theme park model with Kids Resort
Universal Destinations and Experiences has launched a new regional theme park model with the opening of Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, Texas.
San Antonio Zoo reports $283 million economic impact as expansion plans progress
San Antonio Zoo has reported a US$283 million economic impact for 2025, following a decade- long transformation programme that has seen almost US$200 million invested into the Texas attraction.
Great Barrier Reef attraction set for AU$180 million reinvention
Plans for the AU$180 million redevelopment of Reef HQ Aquarium in Townsville, Australia, are progressing, with the project set to transform the attraction into a global centre for reef education and conservation.
+ More news   
 
COMPANY PROFILES
Clip 'n Climb

Clip ‘n Climb currently offers facility owners and investors more than 40 colourful and unique Cha [more...]
Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V.

Vekoma Rides has a large variety of coasters and attractions. [more...]
RMA Ltd

RMA Ltd is a one-stop global company that can design, build and produce from a greenfield site upw [more...]
Alterface

Alterface’s Creative Division team is seasoned in concept and ride development, as well as storyte [more...]
+ More profiles  
CATALOGUE GALLERY
+ More catalogues  
DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

23-26 Aug 2026

Elevate Spa Riviera Maya Edition

The Riviera Maya Edition Kanai, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
29 Sep - 02 Oct 2026

Synergy - The Retreat Show

Pical Resort, Valamar Collection, Porec, Croatia
+ More diary  
 


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