A new theme park inspired by the Moomim brand will open in Japan in 2017.

Located in Saitama near Lake Miyazawa in Hanno, the theme park will consist of two zones–a Moomin zone, where visitors can enjoy the storybook world of the Moomins through attractions and exhibitions; and a public zone that will feature a free-to-enter park. The roughly 187,000-square-meter amusement park will be called Metsa, which means "forest" in Finnish.

The park is financed by the Japanese investment banking company FinTech Global and is expected to cost several billion yen.

"Japan has always been a key market for us, and the Moomin fans are incredibly dedicated," says Roleff Kråkström, chief executive officer, Moomin Characters. "There are only a few literary bodies of art where the author has created a holistic universe with characters, buildings, a geography, climate and topography. Now everyone who has read the Moomin books will have a chance to experience their fantasy in a touch-and-feel surrounding. If we do this right, we have the possibility to create something unique and beautiful.”