Japanese culture has been all the rage in Spain for many years: manga, ramen, and sushi are characteristic elements of Japanese culture that we’ve come to accept and even love. But what we couldn’t have expected is that Spanish culture is also all the rage in Japan. So much so that they’ve even dedicated one of the most original amusement parks in the entire archipelago to us: Shima Village Spain, a theme park that recreates various places, monuments, and festivals from our country.
Among its many attractions, one dedicated to La Tomatina in Buñol stands out—even though it’s 10,000 kilometers away and has a very different concept. In this curious tribute, the tomatoes have taken the shape of the famous spinning “teacups” typically found at fairs.
The amusement park is located in Shima, a city in Mie Prefecture, in the southeastern part of the country.
This park is filled with other Spanish tourist clichés, such as Madrid’s Plaza Mayor, Cibeles, and Puerta del Sol; Montserrat in Barcelona; and a roller coaster inspired by the Pyrenees. There’s also room for medieval castles that serve as museums inside, as well as other attractions inspired by Don Quixote de la Mancha.
Spanning 34 hectares, with 28 attractions and 23 restaurants and cafés, Shima Spain Village is an ode to quintessential Spanish culture—exactly what tourists seek when they travel to Spain.
There are also hórreos, a3D San Fermín bull run, anda series of live performances such as the Fallas, flamenco shows, and parades (which include floats featuring, for example, a man dressed as Picasso).
Spanish cuisine also makes an appearance, replicating typical Spanish taverns with authentic Spanish dishes (or at least that’s the intention). It’s an atmosphere that the park itself describes as “reminiscent of the exotic atmosphere of a Spanish city and full of Spanish charm.”
