Nihon Shokken's Factory in Imabari

It's a bit 'shokken' when you first see it!

Anonymous Feb 17, 2013 - 1 min read

The Belvedere Palace—you know, the one in Imabari

Is this a mirage? Are your eyes playing tricks on you? Is there actually a beach in Vienna?

The replica of the Belvedere Palace is the plant of food manufacturer, Nihon Shokken

Actually, it's a good deal bigger than the original in Vienna, and not an exact replica.

The founder of Nihon Shokken, Kazuhiko Ozawa, with a cow who likes barbecue sauce

Beyond the ornate fountains you can see Mt. Ishizuchi in the distance

The top two floors of the head office building is a museum, which you can visit if you make a reservation

Nihon Shokken is one of Japan’s premiere manufacturers of ham, sausages, sauces and seasonings, with a global distribution network. Their head office and factory are located on the Imabari seafront, but it’s not your usual giant windowless shed—it’s a replica of the Belvedere Palace in Vienna, complete with green roof and statuary. You can make a reservation to tour the plant and museum, or take a turn around the amusing and pleasant garden.

Anonymous @rod.walters__archived

I was born in Bristol, England, and I came to Japan in 1991 … which means I’ve lived half my life in this island nation on the other side of the world. The theme of my career in Japan has been communication. I started as an English teacher, and moved into translation as I learned Japanese....