In the world of parks, most feature vast green spaces, playgrounds, and benches for relaxation. But one park in Japan takes the idea of a “small park” to a whole new level.
Located in Nagaizumi Town, Shizuoka, just over an hour from Tokyo, the world’s smallest park occupies a space of just 0.24 m²—roughly the size of two A3 sheets of paper. This minuscule park is a surprising sight, tucked away in a residential area near Nagaizumi Town Hall, where a brief walk leads visitors to the small, grassy spot featuring a tiny bench and a modest entrance.
The park, which was officially recognized by Guinness World Records (GWR), has an intriguing history. Created in 1988, it was originally designed to utilize a tiny, unused patch of land on the road. According to Shuji Koyama, a team leader at the construction management division of Nagaizumi Town, the idea for the park came after a staff member visited the United States and discovered Mill Ends Park in Portland, Oregon, the previous record holder for the world’s smallest park.
Inspired by this discovery, the staff member and the town decided to create an even smaller park. Since its inception, locals have unofficially referred to it as the world’s smallest park. Its size has drawn attention from the media, and it’s become a popular spot for both locals to relax and tourists to take photographs.
However, Nagaizumi Town wanted to make it official, so they enlisted the help of a professional surveyor to measure the park’s precise dimensions and gathered the necessary information to meet Guinness World Records’ guidelines. Koyama expressed his relief and pride when the park was finally recognized as the world’s smallest.
Though the park’s size is incredibly small, it’s become a local landmark and an interesting example of how even the tiniest spaces can hold special significance.
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