Japan Goals: Shima Spain Village

After writing my previous post about the Spanish restaurant in Kawagoe, I ended up falling down a rabbit hole exploring Spanish‑inspired locations around Japan. Among the places I discovered, Shima Spain Village (Parque España) stood out immediately. And I’ve now officially added it to my growing list of places I want to visit in Japan.

Shima Spain Village, also known as Parque España, is a Spain‑themed park and resort located in Shima City, Mie Prefecture. It’s designed to feel like a slice of Spain within Japan, complete with Mediterranean‑style streets, Gaudí‑inspired architecture, flamenco shows, Spanish restaurants, and a hotel modeled after coastal towns. The whole area blends theme‑park fun with cultural charm, making it one of Japan’s most distinctive European‑inspired destinations.

I love Spain, for many years it was a second home to me, but now that I live in Japan, it is like a third home! As a child, I visited with my family every summer and we had Spanish students stay with us for two or three weeks every summer for about ten years. So, I really like the idea of getting a taste of Spain in Japan.

Have you ever been? What did you think of it? Any tips for a visit?

Photo: Actual Spain! One of my favorite countries to holiday in