Hinoki Land. A small taste of Japan in the northern Thailand hills.
Hinoki Land is a Japanese-inspired privately-owned park with striking architecture and stunning views.
Table of Contents
Hinoki Land
About
Hinoki Land first opened on October 4, 2018, and was created with the intention of displaying Japanese art, culture, and architecture in a beautiful, authentic Japanese atmosphere.
Layout
The complex is built on an area of 83 rai, directly off the R107 in Chai Prakan District, Chiang Mai Province. It contains several buildings, a stunning man-made lake, and a giant Maneki-Neko “Lucky Cat”. At the entrance, you are greeted by a replica of the Kaminarimon arch and once inside the compound, there are 88 pairs of Torii Gates which lead you to the majestic 4-story building, made from Hinoki Pine.
This replica of the Kaminarimon arch in front of Kinkaku-ji Temple looks convincingly like you have just stepped into Japan! This park really is a dream for photographers.
Hinoki Castle
The main attraction in Hinoki Land is the 3-storey, 12.5 meter, Hinoki Pine building situated on a pretty man-made lake, which is a replica of Kinkaku-ji Temple, a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan. The ground floor is a wooden structure covered with smooth white walls. The top two layers are layers of gold leaf, created to have a golden colour that reflects on the water’s surface. The original Kyoto temple was used as a reception for the Shogun’s guests and a temple in the manga Ikkyu-san.
Hinoki Activities
The main activity in Hinoki Land is just walking around enjoying the setting, the view from Hinoki Castle the flowers, visiting the gift shop, and the multiple photo-ops, such as the giant Maneki Neko lucky cat statue. There is also a small shopping arcade selling handicrafts and souvenirs, plus a traditional dress hire shop, with both male and female Yukata Kimonos.
The stunning lake in Hinoki Land contains plenty of beautiful Koi fish that you can feed.
Bags of food are available to purchase.
Yukata Kimono Hire
An extensive choice of Yukata Kimonos (both male and female) are available for hire in Hinoki Land. The experience of being dressed in the Yukata is rather brusk but fun. There is a changing area and lockers are available. The hire price is 250 Baht.
Hinoki Food & Drink
There is a cafe and restaurant on site. Prices are reasonable. This drink set below, for example, cost 130 Baht and included an iced coffee and two Japanese cheesecakes. Thai dishes and Japanese dishes are available and service is fast.
Hinoki Land is quite an experience. A wonderfully relaxing and scenic place to visit for a great price! For more inspiration on what to see and do in this area, check out the related posts below.
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