By public transport: take the train to Makomanai Station, then continue by bus. Plan ahead, because the bus schedule is not very convenient if you arrive after 9:00.
By car, it is much easier, and there is plenty of parking.
When you arrive, you’ll see replicas of the Moai statues from Easter Island, a replica of Stonehenge, and a cute café with a lovely garden.
Entrance to the area where the Buddha statue is located costs ¥1,000.
The site is definitely impressive. The statue is huge, and the approach is beautiful: a quiet walk around the hill, passing through the corridor, and then the breathtaking Buddha statue slowly reveals itself.
The minimalism and silence are powerful. I highly recommend arriving early, as the site opens at 9:00. Later on, tour buses arrive and the place can get crowded, which may affect the peaceful atmosphere you’re looking for.
Simply spectacular! Even though there are many tourists around taking pictures, most are quiet, respectful and take their photos quickly so that others may have a turn. Such a beautiful and peaceful site!
Hill of Buddha (Sapporo)
Refined Google review:
Visited the Hill of Buddha on my last day in Sapporo — honestly, I didn’t have much planned and just decided to drive there. It turned out to be one of the most unexpected and memorable experiences of the trip.
Designed by renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando, the space is both minimal and powerful. As you walk through the curved concrete tunnel, the view slowly opens up to reveal the massive Buddha statue — very calm, almost spiritual. The entire structure is surrounded by a hill covered in lavender (in season), making it feel serene and beautifully integrated with nature.
It’s quiet, peaceful, and quite different from typical tourist spots. Even if you’re not specifically interested in architecture, the atmosphere and design are truly impressive.
Definitely worth the drive — a hidden gem in Sapporo.
Located on the outskirts of Sapporo, there is a dedicated bus service, from Makomanai metro station, that takes you to the Hill of the Buddha. For adults, admission fee is 1000 JPY and kids under 12 are free.
When you enter there is a large pool or as they call - Water Garden. As you walk through a tunnel, you will see the magnificent Buddha statue. So calm and peaceful. There are some chairs to sit, pray, relax and admire the Buddha. This worship hall was designed by world-renowned architect Tadao Ando. Because all of it is covered by a hill of lavender except for the face which watches over the precious spirit, he named it “Hill of the Buddha”.
You can spend as much time as you want. Since, it's a tourist spot, there will always be crowd but the place is huge, hardly makes any difference.
It's a must for everyone.
The Hill of the Buddha in Sapporo has always been on my Hokkaido bucket list, and it did not disappoint. I visited in March and the entire area was still covered with snow, which made the place even more beautiful. The entrance fee is 500 yen per person.
The design is truly an architectural marvel by the famous Japanese architect Tadao Ando. From the entrance, you walk through a long tunnel before the huge Buddha statue slowly reveals itself under the open skylight. The whole experience is very impressive and thoughtfully designed.
It’s a place where you can easily spend time just admiring the details behind this masterpiece. I’ve heard that during summer the hill is covered with lavender, which must be stunning as well.
Getting there is quite easy. Take the Namboku Line to the last station, Makomanai. From the metro station exit, turn left and you will see the bus stop. Take bus 106 and stop at Takino Cemetery. Don’t worry about missing the stop — you will see the large stone statue at the entrance.
