The Hill of the Buddha

The Hill of the Buddha

Located outside Sapporo, Makomanai Cemetery is one of the most peaceful places in Japan. For over a decade, the 1500 ton Buddha was located on a ground of the cemetery. But an architect Tadao Ando transformed the place into a mystic sanctuary.

He built a hill of lavender plants around the statue, so Buddha is mostly hidden underground. But, visitors, who wish to see it first, pass a rectangular lake and then enter a 130 feet long tunnel leading to the statue.

Whether, its covered in purple in summer or becoming winter wonderland in snow, Hill of Buddha is a beautiful sight anytime of the year.

The aim of this project was to build a prayer hall that would enhance the attractiveness of a stone Buddha sculpted 15 years ago. The site is a gently sloping hill on 180 hectares of lush land belonging to a cemetery. The statue is 13.5 meters tall and weighs 1500 tons. It is made of fine, highly selected solid stone. Until now, the Buddha statue has stood alone in the field, giving an unrestful impression. The client wanted to give visitors a more serene appreciation of the Buddha.

Check more about it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ou2vUCeNEpg

Copied from: http://unusualplaces.org/makomanai-cemeterys-hill-of-buddha/ and https://www.vitra.com/en-cz/magazine/details/the-hill-of-the-buddha