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The architecture in Japan tends to look pretty much the same in most neighborhoods. It’s always a mix of older, traditional homes with sloping roofs and those distinctive, old-time shingles, which butt up against the blockier modern buildings, plus decaying shanty houses on an alarming number of corners that all look like they could come crashing down at any moment. Sure, there is the occasional bizarre Halloween village out of nowhere, and the skyscrapers and such can be cool and varied, that’s generally the pattern.
So imagine how extra disorienting it would be to stumble upon this largely unheard-of village of beautifully weird polystyrene bubble houses in the middle of nowhere, Japan.
This is Tore Tore Village, tucked away in an idyllic valley in Wakayama Prefecture’s Shirahama. Despite the moniker, it’s technically not really a village because each little bubble house is actually a private hotel room, but the quaint little bubbles dotting either side of the winding, cobbled sidewalks of Tore Tore Village is a charming and enchanting sight—perhaps somewhere between a city of Dragon Ball-style Capsule Houses and a "Star Wars" movie set.
Tore Tore Village has two distinct areas: the “Märchen Zone” — which features some smoking- and pet-OK pods — and the non-smoking “Fantajic Zone.” The bubble houses in each area seem to have a slightly different aesthetic, although all are more or less the same size and are furnished with your usual hotel amenities. There’s even a convenience store in the resort that we presume is also a bubble and is perhaps staffed by hobbits.
Obviously, if you’re looking for a sweepingly enormous suite to spend your Wakayama vacation in, Tore Tore Village maybe isn’t for you, since the trade-off for the novelty of a stay on Tattooine is that the living quarters look to be fairly cramped. But for anyone on the fence about this quirky little resort village, you’ll want to know that Tore Tore Village is also located a stone’s throw away from two of Wakayama’s (and possibly Japan’s) best tourist destinations: Shirarahama, a beautiful white sand beach that is apparently a “sister beach” to Waikiki, and Nanki-Shirahama Onsen, one of Japan’s three best hot springs resorts.
Not that you’ll be leaving your cute little pod hotel, though, in the face of the irresistible allure of each room’s complementary Jenga set.
Source: by.S
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© Japan Today
22 Comments
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DannytheGaijin
Dragonball was the first thing that came to mind.
Argo60
We've stayed in the Aso Farmland version of something like this a few times throughout the years. It's a fun place to stay and take the family if you are ever in Kyushu... Though you may not want to go just yet seeing as Mt Aso is spewing obscenities, i.e., ash and smoke ;) Check it out and click on the 'stay' button: http://www.asofarmland.co.jp/
Robert Dykes
Just FYI these are made in southern Ishikawa. I pass the "factory" every time on the way to the Komatsu airport. Anyone can buy one. They make them at the factory then put them on a truck and ship them anywhere you like.
Scrote
Many years ago we went to some lakes near Mt Bandai in Fukushima. I remember seeing abandoned, decaying buildings like this near one of the lakes. They might look OK now, but when they reach the end of their lives the owners just leave them to rot, spoiling the "idyllic valley" for ever.
SenseNotSoCommon
the density and uniformity is a dead giveaway
lemur
Ah, the Dome House. Yes, they are made in Komatsu, Ishikawa. I only know this because I did the English editing and narration for the company's PR video a number of years ago. Quite spacious inside, apparently, and they can go up in a day once the foundation is ready. I actually considered buying one for my English school as they were relatively inexpensive and energy efficient. The major drawback, however, was that even with interior dividers, voices would undoubtedly reverberate. Was never sure about how long they would last, either.
gabrial888
Looks like some kooky religious commune. The density of it is alarming. Why do they have to be so close to each other in the countryside where land is abundant?
Black Sabbath
I think I see Frodo in that picture.
Laguna
Ideal for pets that smoke.
JeffLee
The photo reminds me of why I rarely travel in Japan: the grass areas are roped off or fenced off, even in the countryside. See it all the time. No thanks.
Kira Minaki
Definitely putting that on my bucket list!
GW
Scrote, Japan is littered with decaying buildings of all shapes & sizes & many more abandoned every day sadly
RDykes, do you know the factory name, would be fun to check their homepage!
nath
The browner ones must be the smoking-okay units.
kohakuebisu
The place looks cute but gets very mixed reviews from Japanese people who've been. Its also in a funny spot out of the way but with a big road between it and the only stuff that's close.
It looked like it would be nearly 40,000 a night for me, the missus and my kids, who are 10, 7, and 3. I just can't pay that.
Joshua Degreiff
Go Dragon Ball and Star Wars!!!
Utrack
J Govt. take a good good look at this picture of Tore Tore village... Now think of Naraha and other villages in Fukushima that are contaminated... Now start re-building the villages to look like Tore Tore village. Protect your citizens J Govt. from environmental pollutants.
Aly Rustom
Why not do something like this in Taiji? Figure out a way to bring real tourism to the town instead of dolphin protesters?
AiserX
@Danny
Ya Dragon Ball Z lol. Wonder which 1 is Mr.Roshis house? '.'
smithinjapan
I don't know why it would be hard to believe this is in Japan. Japan is full of weird, creative, and awesome (sometimes not so much) places, either tucked into the traditional areas or separated, as is the case here.
JohnBecker
Have you ever seen a picture of a place called Levittown?