Decaying Opulence: Remnants of Forgotten Grandeur
Echoes of a bygone era linger in this decaying, once-opulent grand hall.

Gluck Kingdom: An Abandoned Amusement Park on a German Theme

Gluck Kingdom is a theme park based on the Grimm Brothers’ fairytales. Opened 1 July 1989 in the small Hokkaido town of Obihiro, it closed its doors in 2007.

The lush green of the region was the ideal setting for a theme park on the folklore of medieval Germany. I’ve been there several times, and here you’ll find photos of my two most recent visits, in early fall and the middle of winter!  🍂❄️

The Little Church

The park, extending for around 30,000 square metres, was very popular in the early 1990s. In its heyday it welcomed up to 700,000 visitors a year. Now it’s hard to imagine such crowds among the undergrowth taking over.

Gluck Kingdom
Gluck Kingdom

Gluck Kingdom aimed to recreate the universe of the Grimms’ tales. The park designers were inspired by the traditional architecture of the central German states of Hesse and Lower Saxony.

Gluck Village

The wooden houses of the 15th and 17th centuries, the cobbled streets of the Marktplatz (market square) and even the interiors of German medieval castles were accurately reproduced. The park didn’t skimp on funding and as much as possible made use of materials directly imported from Germany. Local crafters were invited to recreate an authentic German atmosphere.

Gluck Kingdom
Gluck Kingdom
Gluck Kingdom
Gluck Kingdom
Gluck Kingdom
Gluck Kingdom

Welcome to the Gluck Hotel!

A replica of Bückeburg castle was created (both exterior and interior) and used as a hotel. Nicknamed the “Schloss Hotel”, it offered guests the experience of spending the night in a German castle.

Gluck Kingdom
Gluck Kingdom

Unfortunately, with the burst of the economic bubble, the number of visitors steadily declined after 1997. Various attempts have been made to reopen the park by renting out the hotel and trying to find new sponsors. But the vast site was very difficult to maintain and the park finally closed in 2007. The equipment had begun to decay even before closure as maintenance was expensive.

Gluck Kingdom
Gluck Kingdom

Take a good look. You might find a corpse! 

Gluck Kingdom
Gluck Kingdom

After closure, the land as well as the buildings were to be sold at auction, but further problems meant that the sale never took place and Gluck Kingdom gradually slid into disrepair.

Gluck Kingdom
Gluck Kingdom

The Amusement Park

Rumour has it that Gluck Kingdom was one of the most haunted places in Hokkaido, after a fatal accident on a ride. The rumour’s still alive, by the way … if you doubt that, don’t hesitate to search the archives!

Gluck Kingdom
Gluck Kingdom

Since 2011, the curiosity of Internet users has grown and the premises have become more and more popular with urban explorers who come to admire the ruins of Grimm country … even if some of them end up at Obihiro police station! 😅

And for more awesome content about Japan, follow Jordy Meow on Instagram ! 🎵

Who Am I

Jordy Meow
This is me!

I am Jordy Meow, a French photographer based in Tokyo. I explore offbeat places in Japan.

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Emerald hills call, Beneath the boundless blue skies, A lone horse wanders. エメラルドの丘が呼ぶ 果てしない青い空の下 一頭の馬が歩く #serenejapan #ruralbeauty #countryside #peacefulvibes #offbeatjapan #japan #hiddenparadise
Red banners whisper, Mossy stones lead to the sky— Nature's quiet shrine.  赤い旗が囁き、 苔むした石段が空へ誘う— 自然の静かな神社。 #offbeatjapan #japan #torii #shrinesofjapan #nature #serenity #japaneseforest
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Golden sun descends, Cliffs cradle emerald dreams— Nature's fierce embrace. ---黄金の陽、 崖が翡翠の夢を抱く— 自然の強き抱擁。 ---#offbeatjapan #japan #sunsetviews #natureembrace #mountainbeauty #aeriallandscape #dramaticviews
Ancient roots embrace, Rugged bark whispers secrets— Green serenity. ---古代の根 ざらざらした樹皮が囁く— 緑の静寂 ---#ancienttree #mysticalforest #naturewonders #contemplationspot #sereneforest #offbeatjapan #japan
Sakura whispers, Ruby bridge spans tranquil flow, Spring's fleeting embrace. 桜のささやき、 ルビーの橋は静かな流れを渡る、 春の儚い抱擁。 #cherryblossoms #sakura #japan #traditionaljapan #tranquility #natureandarchitecture #offbeatjapan
Weathered wood whispers, White walls gleam in green embrace— Time flows with the stream.朽ちた木がささやき、 緑が抱く白い壁— 時間は川と流れる。#OffbeatJapan #HiddenGems #SereneScenes #Japan #Tradition #PeacefulViews #CulturalHarmony
Wood whispers softly, Frosted glass diffuses light, Harmony stands still. ---木が囁く 曇りガラス光を 調和が静止する ---#offbeatjapan #japan #traditionmeetsnature #serenespaces #ryokan #japanesearchitecture #zenvibes #culturalambiance