~~
Japan does a great job of incorporating cute and creative design elements into everyday life. Just think of their manholes, or those adorable construction barriers by the roadside! One of our favourite Japan-only structures, though, are the fruit-shaped bus stops in Konagai.
The origins of these fruit-shaped bus stops
Konagai is a small, sparsely-populated coastal town in Nagasaki Prefecture on the Ariake Sea. Like most rural areas in Japan, it’s struggled to attract visitors for decades.
In 1990, though, locals conceived the idea of building large fruit-shaped bus stops for a travel-themed expo in Osaka. These proved to be a hit at the original expo. To this day, they remain a local landmark. Visitors still make their way to Konagai just to see these adorable structures. These include melons, oranges, and watermelons. Who wouldn’t want to sit inside a giant strawberry?
(You can read the rest of the article at this link. This article was first published by Team JJ on August 12, 2019. Check here for deeper and unique insights into visiting Japan, including wellness, travel, cuisine and more.)
Author: Team JJ
