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.

Instagram

Golden grasses sway, Ferris wheel rusts under sky— Blue, pink whispers past.---金色の草が揺れる、 錆びた観覧車の下で— 青とピンクの囁きが通り過ぎる。---#offbeatjapan #japan #haikyo #abandonedplaces #amusementpark #ferriswheel #nostalgia #urbanexploration
Emerald whispers, Jizo in crimson repose, Peace in quiet woods.---翡翠のささやき、 赤き地蔵の静寂、 静かな森の安らぎ。---#sacredjapan #jizostatue #forestbathing #serenity #spiritualjapan #offbeatjapan #japan
Lanterns softly glow, Slate-gray mirrors vibrant hues— City whispers dreams.---ランタンの灯り、 石畳に映る— 街の夢語。---#offbeatjapan #japan #japanesenightlife #yokocho #neonnights #lanterns #urbanjapan
Emerald forest, Cradling sapphire heartbeats— Nature whispers love. エメラルドの森が、 サファイアの鼓動を包む— 自然は愛をささやく。 #LakeToyoni #Hokkaido #HeartShapedLake #AerialView #NatureLovers #offbeatjapan #japan
Steam dances on wind, Nature's warm embrace, serene— Sky whispers above.  風に舞う蒸気、 自然の温かい抱擁、静か― 空が上でささやく。  #onsen #japan #serenity #naturebath #culturalheritage #offbeatjapan #tranquility
Pink blooms, sapphire sky, Fields alive, sakura sigh— Rural whispers bloom. 桜咲く 翡翠の空の下 田舎の声 #sakura #cherryblossom #hanami #rurallife #japan #offbeatjapan #japaneseculture
Emerald pastures, A whimsical cow greets clouds— Nature's gentle jest.  翡翠の野原、 ふわふわの雲に笑う— 自然の優しい冗談。  #offbeatjapan #japan #artinnature #greenthailandscape #whimsicalart #cowart #sereneviews
Soft waves kiss the light, Stone lantern in dusk's embrace, Gold whispers to blue. 静かな波 黄昏の灯籠 金が青に囁く #offbeatjapan #japan #serenesunset #japaneselantern #duskbeauty #tranquility #japanesegardens #eveningcalm