A park roughly the size of four sheets of paper in Japan’s central prefecture of Shizuoka has been crowned the world’s smallest, according to Guinness World Records.
Despite measuring just 2.6 square feet, the recreational space offers a stool made up of a block of wood held up by a rock, with a little bush encircling it.
The park is a short walk from the town hall of Nagaizumi, about 68 miles southwest of the capital Tokyo.
The previous official world’s smallest park was Mill Ends Park in Portland, Oregon, which helped inspire the Japanese contender that officially took the title on Tuesday.
When a Nagaizumi local was on vacation in the US, “they found the previous record holder for the smallest park,” Shuji Koyama, a team leader of the town’s construction division, told Guinness. “So they wanted to create an even smaller park.”
Locals have been referring to it as the world’s smallest park since it was built in 1988, despite a lack of official recognition. It was only recently that Shizuoka officials brought in a certified surveyor to measure the park for Guinness certification.
Mark Ross, a spokesperson with Portland Parks and Recreation reportedly was not amused by the new record, humorously remarking that Mill Ends resident family of leprechauns were ‘outraged’ by the news.
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