Sun Messe Nichinan

A nod to the famous Moai of Easter Island, the Sun Messe statues are the only replicas allowed to be made of the originals in the entire world. You’ll find them in this quirky amusement park along the Nichinan coast in Miyazaki.

With the crystalline waters of the Pacific Ocean and the swaying palm trees scattered around the island, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to the Easter Island itself.

Built in 1996, it’s said that each of the seven Moai statues embody some sort of fortitude, whether it be a blessing for good health, love, leisure, marriage, money, fruitful business, or academics. As such, visitors can regularly be seen praying in front of the statues.

Set along the gorgeous Nichinan coastline, the park has some spectacular views of the ocean. Photo by HaydosD.

Back on Easter Island, oral tradition also has it that these seven Moai are representative of the seven explorers who were sent to get the lay of the ancient land while waiting for the return of their king. Created in the image of the Ahu Akivi, the Sun Messe statues mirror their originals in both size and shape.

Traditionally, the Moai were all built to face inwards, as if to protect the inhabitants of the island and to oversee their day-to-day lives. However, whereas the other Moai statues on Easter Island traditionally faced towards the land, the original Ahu Akivi were built to face towards the Pacific Ocean, seemingly to safely guide wandering travellers to the island.

Despite this tradition, the Miyazaki replicas were built to face inward so that they would be pointed in the direction of the Ahu Akivi standing 15,000 kilometres across the ocean.

The statues are the main draw but you can spend some time browsing the rest of the sites. There’s a small museum with a slightly random display, a butterfly garden and the requisite souvenir shop selling little Moai-themed trinkets.