Japanese billionaire says 'it was money well spent!' after 'hiring' Palermo for his four-day birthday

 A Japanese billionaire who splashed out £300,000 to 'hire' an Italian city for a four day birthday weekend has told MailOnline 'it was money well spent'.

Kaoru Nakajima turns 73 on Sunday and has paid for 1,400 friends and employees to fly half way around the world for the party.

He has block booked rooms at hotels across the city of Palermo on the island of Sicily and hired two theatres for a gala dinner and concert.

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline after attending a brunch at the magnificent 300-year-old Villa Niscemi on the outskirts of Palermo he said: 'Coming here is a dream come true for me. I have always wanted to come to Palermo and have read a lot about the city. It is a wonderful place, full of art, history and culture and I have wanted to come here for years".

Dressed in a prince of Wales check suit Mr Nakajima leaned heavily on a walking stick as he left the brunch accompanied by his staff.

Palermo Mayor Roberto Lagalla had thrown the event as a thank you to the tycoon, whose guests are expected to spend thousands of pounds in the city's restaurants and shops.

Officials confirmed the Japanese businessman had paid €14,000 to hire the Politeama theatre for the weekend.

But they refused to confirm a reported €100,000 fee for the Teatro Massimo, where a concert is due to be held on Sunday by opera legend Andrea Bocelli's son, Matteo.

On the menu for brunch were traditional Sicilian specialities including sea urchins, gnocchi with Chianina steak meatballs, all accompanied by Sicilian wines,

Mr Lagalla told MailOnline: "I had the pleasure of receiving the Japanese entrepreneur Kaoru Nakajima at Villa Niscemi, on a private visit. It was a very cordial meeting full of exchanges of opinions on Italy and Japan, but we talked above all about Palermo and, as mayor, I am very satisfied to have seen how much the entrepreneur and the many guests liked the city. The last few days Japanese people who are visiting the streets of the capital has said how much they appreciated the friendly hospitality of the people of Palermo".