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Visitors would be forgiven for thinking they've entered Medusa's lair.

Hundred of lifelike figures stare straight forwards, some dressed in suits and others imitating Buddhist deities.

But the striking stone sculptures are in fact the work of a Japanese craftsman acting on the orders of an affluent local chairman called Mutsuo Furukawa.

Visitors would be forgiven for thinking they've entered Medusa's lair. Hundred of lifelike figures stare straight forwards, some dressed in suits and others imitating Buddhist deities

But these stone sculptures are in fact the work of a Japanese craftsman acting on the orders of a very rich man called Mutsuo Furukawa

They stand near the town of Osawano in Japan in a village named Fureai Sekibutsu no Sato - which translates literally to 'the village where you can meet Buddhist statues'

They stand near the town of Osawano in Japan in a village named Fureai Sekibutsu no Sato - which translates literally to 'the village where you can meet Buddhist statues'.

Furukawa paid a reported 6 billion yen (£44million) to a Chinese sculptor in 1989 for the figures and hoped to keep them with him for all eternity.

Today more than 800 motionless grey statues stare out at the bus loads of tourists who come to visit the bizarre park.

Some of them are Buddhist deities and others are based on people Furukawa knew during his lifetime. 

In some areas the grass has grown so tall only the tops of the figures' heads can be seen.

Photographer Ken Ohki - who goes by the name Yukison - shared the amazing images on his blog.

'I found this incredible place in Toyama Prefecture. I felt like I'd accidentally stumbled into some forbidden area. Amazing,' he wrote.

Furukawa paid a reported 6 billion yen (£44million) to a Chinese sculptor in 1989 for the figures and hoped to keep them with him for all eternity. He also had a stature of himself made

Furukawa wanted the park to be a 'popular tourist place' where 'people could come to relax'

Photographer Ken Ohki - who goes by the name Yukison - shared the amazing images on his blog 

'I found this incredible place in Toyama Prefecture. I felt like I'd accidentally stumbled into some forbidden area. Amazing,' Yukison wrote

One male figure sits cross legged atop a podium, hands joined in front of him as a slight smile plays on his lips

This woman, her buttoned up clothing demure, appears to be listening intently to something or someone before her 

In some areas the grass has grown so tall only the tops of the figures' heads can be seen as they gaze into the distance

He added that the village was built as a 'popular tourist place' where 'people could come to relax'.

However that didn't stop him feeling somewhat unnerved by the effigies and wondered whether they came alive when no one was looking after dark.

'You come to feel like something is moving every time you turn around,' he said.

Yukison wrote that he'd left soon after taking his photographs, 'without looking back'.

Despite the park's aim to help visitors relax, Yukison said on his blog that he felt somewhat unnerved by the effigies and wondered whether they came alive when no one was looking after dark

'You come to feel like something is moving every time you turn around,' he said. Yukison wrote that he'd left soon after taking his photographs, 'without looking back'. 'I felt like I'd been to another world,' he added

Commentators on the images on RocketNews24 have praised Yukison's work. One wrote: 'Wow! That place is incredible. It's actually really beautiful, when you try and understand the message behind it'

Another says: 'I think it's cool, not creepy,' but a third disagrees, joking, 'Just make sure not to blink when you go visit'

'I felt like I'd been to another world,' he added. 

Commentators on the images on RocketNews24 have praised Yukison's work. 

One wrote: 'Wow! That place is incredible. It's actually really beautiful, when you try and understand the message behind it.'

Another says: 'I think it's cool, not creepy,' but a third disagreed, joking: 'Just make sure not to blink when you go visit.'