You might not expect to find a cutesy Swedish village tucked away in the mountains of Japan, but if you venture to Sweden Hills that’s the bizarre sight you’ll see.
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Located on Hokkaido Island, Sweden Hills doesn’t just look the part, it specializes in all things Swedish from crafts to culture.
The strange relationship began when a Swedish ambassador visited the area and was amazed by how similar it was to his home country.
So in 1984 he set about building this quaint little replica town (as you do) and it’s now home to around 500 Japanese people, who throw themselves into the Swedish way of life.
Like dressing up in traditional Swedish clothes.
Celebrating Midsummer festival.
Even dancing around the trademark maypole and having crayfish parties (whatever they are).
It’s a quirky Swedish-Japanese time warp.
But it’s hugely popular with Swedish tourists who travel thousands of miles to visit the Japanese version of, er, Sweden.
We wonder if they have an IKEA?