A new sightseeing attraction recently opened onMiyako, Ueno Villagefs German Cultural Hamlet. The project was established to commemorate the friendship between Ueno Village and Germany, based on a historical event that took place in 1873 when the local people saved the lives of German sailors whose ship went down off their coast. The German Emperor was so grateful that he later sent a mission to build a memorial.

The German cultural project was part of a program to spur local development, supported by the Ministry of Home Affairs, and was completed in 1995. Already opened is the Palace Hall, which includes the library seminar house, a multi-purpose meeting hall and rooms for lodging. One of the centerpieces of the project, a pavilion modeled after a German castle, is now open to the public. The German Cultural Hamlet will be a means to enhance exchange programs between Miyako and Germany and provide an attraction for visitors.