A cemetery worth visiting in Hokkaido

Just looking at these photos, you might think this place is a temple, amusement park or some other tourist attraction. However, it is actually a cemetery located in Sapporo, Hokkaido, called Makomanai Takino Reien. When traveling in Europe, visiting a cemetery is not a rare thing, but most people who travel to Japan only visit temples and shrines in various places, and at most visit the tombs of historical figures such as Sakamoto Ryoma and Toyotomi Hideyoshi. But I personally highly recommend everyone to go to this cemetery in the suburbs of Minami-ku, Sapporo. After taking the shuttle bus, as soon as we entered the cemetery, we were shocked by the row of Moai statues at the main entrance. There are 33 Moai statues of various sizes in this row, standing beside the avenue as if welcoming guests. The Moai statues can actually be regarded as Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. Bodhisattva does not have a definite reality and his appearance has different meanings to different ethnic groups. At the same time, the Moai statues symbolize eternal life in the future. There is also a Dharma wheel next to each stone statue. "Turning the Dharma wheel" is a metaphor for spreading Buddhism in the world. The Buddha's teachings can eliminate all troubles and transform ordinary people into saints, and it is not limited to one person or one place. Personally, I think the theme of the park, "regardless of religious beliefs," actually coincides with Japan's cultural structure, which has no ideological tradition. After being renovated by the famous architect Tadao Ando, ​​its appearance is completely different. It is no longer just a cemetery, but also a unique artistic building. In fact, the Big Buddha has stood for many years. Tadao Ando did not follow traditional practices and built circular hills around the Buddha statue, boldly hiding the statue while bringing natural light into the room. The inability to get a glimpse of the entire picture actually highlights the Buddha’s size. The hill outside the Buddha statue is planted with 150,000 lavender plants (unfortunately I didn’t come in summer). The plants provide seasonal embellishment and atmosphere for the Buddha statue, which changes with the seasons. The harmonious fusion of Buddha, religion and nature completely subverts the preconceived impression of cemeteries. To see the full view of the Buddha, one needs to pass by a shrine-like area where worshippers wash their hands and a water courtyard. The flowing water reflects the sky, and the tranquil environment allows worshippers to slowly change their mood and cleanse their souls. You have to walk through a 40-meter-long tunnel made of plain concrete before you can reach the Big Buddha. This vivid spatial sequence is full of infinite mystery and is very fascinating. The further you go, the brighter the light becomes. The towering Buddha statues and the believers gazing up form a sharp contrast in the small space. The Buddha statue and the blue sky create a strong visual composition and religious atmosphere that is breathtaking. As you unconsciously walk around the Buddha, you can more clearly see the halo formed above the Buddha's head by the sunlight, which makes it more Zen and sacred. #日本景点 #国外游 #travel #日本旅行 #Hokkaido #Buddhism