A visit to Tobetsu would surprise anyone looking for a glimpse of "old Japan" in the countryside.
Hundreds of red European-style residences, imported from Sweden, sprawl across a lawn-covered hill in the town, about 25 km northeast of Sapporo, Hokkaido.
The unusual vistas these homes provide do not undermine Japan's old culture, developers say; it is merely an attempt to meet a growing demand for higher quality homes in Japan.