A theme park based on The Moomins is coming to Japan’s Saitama Prefecture in 2017 as part of a nature-inspired reserve, according to the investment bank behind the project.

The theme park, which will sit on the area around Lake Miyazawako in Hanno owing to its resemblance to the nature-rich homeland of the Moomins, will include a museum, restaurants offering Nordic meals and facilities where visitors can interact with Moomins characters.

Investment bank FinTech Global (FGI) is behind the development, which has signed a Basic Agreement on Local Renaissance with the city of Hanno to set out the development’s parameters, underpinning joint efforts to attract tourists to both the theme park and to Hanno.

The 190,000sq m (2,000,000sq ft) plot of land at Lake Miyazawa, which is currently owned by the Seibu Railway company, will be sold to FGI. In the 1960s, Seibu Railway developed recreational facilities at the site, which will now be developed to emphasise the concept of coexisting with nature as in the Moomin stories.

The park – known as Metsä – will be comprised of two zones: a Moomin Zone and a Public Zone. The Moomin Zone will be the theme park element of the development, offering visitors attractions themed around the storybook world. The Public Zone will take into account local residents, with the area being maintained as a free-to-visit public park. The area will also offer nature-inspired activities for all to enjoy.

Moomin Monogatari will oversee the project, which will be supplied in-part by Puuha International Oy, the Finnish playground equipment group.

The Moomin stories were first published in 1945 in Swedish by the Finnish writer and artist Tove Jansson, with the nine Moomin books and various Moomin comic strips since being adapted into animated TV shows worldwide.

Japan to be home to proposed new Moomin theme park