Village Where You Can Meet Statues, Outdoor sculpture park in Toyama Prefecture, Japan.
The Village Where You Can Meet Statues is an outdoor sculpture park in Toyama Prefecture featuring over 800 works created by Chinese artist Lu Jinqiao. The sculptures are distributed across natural outdoor settings and display diverse styles and subjects.
A businessman named Mutsuo Furukawa established the park in 1989 with significant personal investment. The artworks arrived via the Jinzu River and have remained on the site as an enduring cultural landmark.
The sculptures blend Buddhist figures with characters from Chinese and Japanese folklore, creating a bridge between different cultural traditions. Walking through the grounds, visitors encounter zodiac animals and mythological beings that reflect shared regional storytelling.
The park is located about 18 kilometers south of Toyama city and is maintained by dedicated volunteers. Visitors should allow time for leisurely walks to explore the grounds on foot and fully appreciate the scattered sculptures.
Some of the sculptures depict real people from the founder's life, including friends, family members, and business associates. This personal connection gives the artworks a distinctive character and tells quiet stories from his world.
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