4. The Village in the West
Where: Nikko, Japan
1973 is the year.
The cost of replicating Mount Rushmore is $25 million.
Spaghetti Westerns and classic American Wild West stories serve as the inspiration for The Western Village, a theme park located just a few kilometers from picturesque Nikko, Japan, and its Toshogu shrine. With the exception of the killer robots, thankfully, The Western Village has a very distinct Westworld vibe. It opened in 1973.
The Western Village, @atlasobscura/Pinterest, Nikko, Japan
The Western Village was expensive; a few decades ago, the installation of its replica of Mount Rushmore cost $25 million. 2007 saw the village close, most likely due to budgetary constraints. These days, it’s a well-liked destination for Japanese hikers, or haikyo, who like exploring the eerie, surreal environs of this former amusement park with a Western motif.
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