Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Japan Funato Kappa Park
AO Edited

Funato Kappa Park

A small park inhabited by handmade water goblins.

Sakura, Japan

Fred Cherrygarden profile photo
Added By
Fred Cherrygarden
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
  Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
  Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
  Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
  Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Kitschy, a little creepy.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Lake Imba-numa.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
A nearby boat turned into a river weed biotope.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

On the southwestern edge of Lake Imba-numa, a small park is home to a gathering of goblins casted in stone.

Funato Kappa Park is home to a number of homemade statues of kappa, a water goblin from Japanese folklore. Depicted as humanoid amphibians with dishes on their heads, the kappa are known throughout Japan and believed to have an affinity for cucumbers, sumo wrestling, and shiriko-dama, a mythical organ found in the human anus.

Each statue at Funato Kappa Park is unique, varying greatly in style and demeanor. A few of them are indeed friendly-looking. Some are clearly female. One appears to have been turned to stone, while another seems to be plaster. 

Kappa are often depicted as friendly beings, but are sometimes used as a cautionary tale for children swimming in bodies of water. In some stories, kappa lure people into rivers and drown them.

Places

Discover your next amazing Atlas Place.

Get more unusual and extraordinary places each week with the Atlas Obscura Places newsletter.

Your newsletter subscriptions with us are subject to Atlas Obscura's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Related Tags

Parks Lakes Mythology

Community Contributors

Fred Cherrygarden profile photo

Added By

Fred Cherrygarden

Published

February 26, 2025

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Funato Kappa Park
Sakura, 285-0861
Japan
35.745938, 140.179171

Nearby Events

Convention Expo

Tokyo International Audio Show

Hear rare, high-fidelity soundscapes as legendary audio brands unveil their latest innovations for curious listeners.

Fri, Oct 23

Tokyo International Forum — Chiyoda City

View More Events in Tokyo

Nearby Places

Kabosu the Doge

Sakura, Japan

miles away

Futago Park

Inzai, Japan

miles away

Lake Imba Monster

Yachiyo, Japan

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Japan

Japan

Asia

Places 886
Stories 111

Nearby Places

Kabosu the Doge

Sakura, Japan

miles away

Futago Park

Inzai, Japan

miles away

Lake Imba Monster

Yachiyo, Japan

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Japan

Japan

Asia

Places 886
Stories 111

Related Places

  • City Park is one of the best places to view the Denver skyline and the distant Rockies.

    Denver, Colorado

    Prismatic Electric Fountain

    This stunning, technicolor array of geysers has occupied Ferril lake since 1908.

  • Path through the forest.

    Kenmore, Washington

    St. Edward State Park

    A former Catholic seminary, now a Washington State Park, preserves undeveloped lands on Lake Washington and also hosts a luxury hotel.

  • The north boardwalk trailhead

    Weatherford, Texas

    The Boardwalk at Lake Weatherford

    The longest floating boardwalk in the United States.

  • The entrance to the Roman underworld is shockingly beautiful.

    Pozzuoli, Italy

    Lake Avernus

    Smack-dab in Campania’s volcanic fields, this scenic lake was once thought to be the gate of hell.

  • Hundred Year Stone

    Keswick, England

    Hundred Year Stone

    This unusual sculpture is sometimes partially, sometimes fully, submerged.

  • Pink Lake in autumn

    Gatineau, Québec

    Pink Lake

    Despite the name, the waters of this Canadian lake are actually blue-green in color.

  • Iyake Suspended Lake

    Ado Awaiye, Nigeria

    Iyake Suspended Lake

    Ado Awaye Mountain and the unique lake that sits near its peak are shrouded in ancient legends.

  • Bridge.

    Nanjing, China

    Xuanwu Lake Park

    Once an imperial lake garden, anyone can now visit this city park.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2026 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.