
The picture above looks like it could have been taken at the set of a cute children’s fantasy movie. Or perhaps a theme park. If not those, then maybe a really expensive themed restaurant. In fact, none of those would be correct. These are apartments in Japan. Yes, you can live in them.
Join us after the jump for a beautiful collection of fairy tale-like houses and cafes to delight your inner child.



This apartment district which resembles a Halloween town is actually a very regular residential street in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture. Imagine being able to live in the world of Harry Potter every day! However, this amazingly surreal architecture is only the tip of the iceberg as we encounter more magical places in Japan.
▼ Temari no Uchi, a cat cafe in Kichioji, Tokyo
▼ The cat cafe looks like it came right out of a Ghibli movie
▼ And there are cute cats awaiting!
▼ In Yamanashi Prefecture, there is Mori no Arum, a restaurant near Lake Yamanaka
▼ If this doesn’t spell ‘Moominvalley’ I don’t know what does
▼ Meanwhile in Sumida, Tokyo, there’s a secret hideout from the hustle and bustle
▼ As its name implies, Spice Cafe looks like a cross between a forest and a herb garden
▼ The last on our list is Cafe Moruzo in Kochi Prefecture
▼ The wooden exterior gives the cafe a natural atmosphere
▼ The soft, pastel countryside-themed interior makes this a perfect getaway
This is definitely going to be one of my checklists when I visit Japan. I can imagine one spending an entire day in one of these places, just taking in the therapeutic ambiance artfully created by the architecture and interior design. Japan is indeed the land of magic and dreams!
Source/Images: Naver Matome
Featured image: Twinavi










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