A new plaza equipped with play equipment featuring characters from the manga ``GeGeGe no Kitaro'' has opened on Mizuki Shigeru Road, a tourist attraction in Sakaiminato City, Tottori Prefecture.
``GeGeGe Square'' has newly opened near JR Sakaiminato Station, which is the entrance to ``Mizuki Shigeru Road'', a tourist attraction in Sakaiminato City.
Sakaiminato City was proceeding with the development in response to residents' requests for a rest space along Shigeru Mizuki Road.
The plaza has an area of 1,100 square meters with artificial grass and covered benches.
In addition, there will be a 4-meter-long container in the shape of ``Ittan Momen,'' a character from the manga ``GeGeGe no Kitaro,'' which is characterized by its white undulating shape, and a 1.5-meter-diameter teacup where Medama Oyaji can relax. There is also ``spring play equipment'' equipped with large springs that can be played by swinging back and forth, left and right.
Children from local nursery schools and tourists were immediately playing with the play equipment and lying on the artificial grass.
The mother of a 0-year-old boy said, ``I'm happy to have a square like this near my house.When my child grows up and can crawl, I want to let him play here.''
Kosuke Ejiri, Chief of Urban Policy Section, Urban Development Division, Sakaiminato City, said, ``Mizuki Shigeru Road is 800 meters long and I think it will be tiring to walk, so I would like people to take a rest here.We will continue to hold events so that Mizuki Shigeru Road will be a catalyst for tourism. I will think about it,'' he said.