Taiyo Park; Where the Pyramids and the Great Wall Meet

Last week, my roommates and I decided to go for a leisurely bike ride through Northern Himeji. We rode along the mountains where cherry blossom trees were beginning to bloom a muted pinkish-white, a nice contrast from the greenery already covering the mountainside. We were feeling at one with nature and old world Japan as we had just spotted a rather large water rodent ambling lazily along a riverbank, before seeing in the distance a clearing in the valley dotted with traditional Japanese farmhouses. We decided to bike in the direction of the farmhouses. On our way there we were sidetracked by what appeared to be a replica of The Great Wall of China on the mountains to the West of us. Upon closer inspection we found out that we were on the outskirts of Taiyo Park. Taiyo Park is probably one of the strangest, most bizarre, tourist attractions located in Japan. Taiyo Park costs 500 Yen, or 5 U.S. dollars to enter, and is composed of replicas of famous monuments from countries around the world. The statues from Easter Island line the walkway as one first enters the park. Go around the corner and you'll find the Statue of Liberty proudly holding her Torch. After the Statue of Liberty, the roadway widens and white, wrought-iron tables and chairs line either side. Ahead in the distance one can see the Arc de Triomphe, oh look, now we're in Paris!! After going under the famous archway, we climb a hill and are confronted by the Pyramids and two surly looking Sphinx's guarding them. We next come to area that has literally hundreds of stone statues of soldiers, all lined up in perfect rows. Cats crawl amongst their feet, some are chipped with age. I have no idea where in the world these soldiers exist. Our last venture is along the Great Wall of China, which will eventually lead us out of the park. As if there weren't already enough world monuments, the park plans to have a European style castle completed by 2009, along with courtyards and commons. Taiyo Park is quite an experience, more for it's strangeness than anything else!!