By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Network Editorial Team
 

Inspired by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake in Japan, legendary Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki will build a children's park named "Forest of the Returning Wind" on Okinawa's Kume Island. Here, children can play freely in the forest and experience the beauty of nature, with completion expected in 2018.

Lush Kume Island, with its verdant environment and crystal-clear blue waters, is a place many long to visit. Master animator Miyazaki has invested 300 million yen to create the children’s park on approximately 10,000 square meters of land on the island. Existing playground equipment will be removed, and instead, a roughly two-story accommodation space will be set up within the park, able to host around 30 parent-child visitors. The aim is to allow children to climb trees and play freely in a completely natural setting, feeling the warmth of the southern soil and the beauty of untouched landscapes. Construction of the Forest of the Returning Wind is scheduled to officially begin in April 2016, with completion expected in 2018. Once finished, the park will be donated for use by the local municipality.