Makomanai Takino Cemetery 真駒内滝野霊園

A vast cemetery in Minami Ward, Sapporo, set within a beautiful natural landscape. Its most celebrated attraction is the "Atama Daibutsu-den" (Head Buddha Hall), completed in 2016. Designed by world-renowned architect Tadao Ando, this structure presents a design unlike any other in the world: a 13.5-meter stone Buddha set inside a dome-shaped mound, with only the Buddha's head protruding from the top. Approximately 150,000 lavender plants surround the mound, and during peak bloom from mid to late July, the sight of the Buddha's head floating above a fragrant purple sea of lavender is truly otherworldly.

The approach to the Atama Daibutsu-den is itself a work of architecture. A 135-meter pathway from the main gate leads to a "water garden" designed to prevent walking in a straight line — a deliberate device to slow the pace and guide visitors from the everyday into the sacred. Beyond the water garden, a corridor of ribbed exposed concrete leads into the dome, where the Buddha is finally revealed in its full presence: a quintessential example of Ando's mastery of space and emotion.

The cemetery grounds also contain stone circles and beautifully landscaped gardens, creating a spiritually and artistically rich environment that draws many visitors as a tourist destination. The cemetery is accessible by bus from Makomanai Station on the Sapporo Subway Namboku Line.