Visiting the Big Buddha at Suzuran Hillside in Sapporo
Just 40 minutes from the centre of Sapporo is Suzuran Hillside (also known as Takino Cemetary), an iconic place in Hokkaido where you can find a 13.5m tall Buddha, a mini Stonehenge, Japanese spiritual practices, and a different experience to enjoy, each season.
Hidden beneath a hill blanketed in lavender in the spring, or snow in the winter, only the Buddha’s face rises above the landscape, creating a peaceful and deeply symbolic connection between nature and spirituality.
You will be blown away by the impressive architecture here and depending on when you’re visiting, you can tie it in with a trip to Takino – in the winter, enjoy the Snow World, and don’t miss out on the tulip fields come spring.
Here’s everything you can expect from your visit here in Sapporo, a perfect addition to add onto your itinerary whilst visiting Sapporo.
Visiting the Big Buddha at Suzuran Hillside in Sapporo
Location: 2 Takino, Minami Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 005-0862
How to get here from Sapporo city: From central Sapporo, take the Namboku Subway Line to Makomanai Station, then hop on the 108 or 106 bus towards Takino Cemetery. The journey takes around an hour in total and offers an easy way to visit the striking Hill of the Buddha and nearby attractions like Takino Suzuran Hillside Park.
As you enter the grounds here, you’ll be greeted by this row of Moai statues, it’s the first thing you’ll see as you drive or enter the park. The largest one is 9.5m in height and weighs a whopping 120 ton!
They stagger over the mountainous backdrop and this part is completely free to explore, look at and snap some photos!
The cafe and store is also free to enter, but to see the Big Buddha and Stonehenge, the admission fee is ¥1,000 per person.
On approach to the Big Buddha is a 40m long tunnel and water garden to admire, intentional architecture that leads you straight into the Buddha. Designed by world-renowned architect Tadao Ando and completed in July 2016, this striking worship hall is known as the “Hill of the Buddha.”
Viewing the Buddha allows you to connect with your spiritual side, offering a serene and peaceful moment in the rural landscape of Hokkaido.
We visited here at the start of Autumn, so as you can imagine, the landscape is completely different, but equally beautiful. Spring is a wonderful time to visit as tens of thousands of lavender plants bloom, and don’t forget to grab a lavender soft serve at the cafe when you leave!
Each season is very distinct here in Hokkaido, so no matter when you visit, you’ll experience a unique and unforgettable experience.
We also recommend tying this in with a trip to Takino Snow World, which like the cemetery, celebrates and has different things on offer during each season.
Learn how to ski and enjoy the free snow tubing in the winter, have a BBQ in the summer in the open fields near Ashiribetsu Falls, or enjoy the beauty of the tulips in spring. Looking for more things to do in Sapporo? Take a look at our Hokkaido Itineraries!
