1-Day Tour from Sapporo: Hill of the Buddha, Sapporo Gems & Sake Tasting

The first part of this day tour(A.M.) will take us to The Buddha. The Shari-Zan Butsugan-ji Temple (Sleeping/Lying down Buddha) and to The Hill of The Buddha. Both of these sites are located in the lush green forestry area of Sapporo’s south district. The unique atmosphere and the peaceful statue of Buddha (at both locations) will help you to find inner peace, clear your mind,and help you forget about your everyday troubles. This part of the tour is spiritually provoking and you will be “in awe” of the Buddha statues and surrounding beauty.

Mid-afternoon, we will arrive back into “The Heart of Sapporo” at Sapporo T.V. Tower. Located in central Odori Park, this tower was built in 1957, and stands 147.2 metres tall. This tower was designed and built by Tachu Naito, a Japanese architect who is also famous for planning the Tokyo Tower. We will head up to the top observation deck where you will enjoy spectacular 360 degree daytime views of the entire city of Sapporo. Your guide will be able to point to various aerial directions from the observation deck and inform the guests as to what specific location that is.

Our tour will end at The Yata Sake Stand Bar. This bar is both inviting and stylish. The staff is very knowledgeable of the various sakes that are served. In fact, thermometers are used to measure the exact/correct temperature before the sake is served to the customer! A fun little bar where locals and visitors can “mingle” together at the counter. This stand bar will delight all lovers of Japanese sake. Your guide will be able to offer insight to his favorite sake and the reason why. Likewise, tour members are encouraged to relax, enjoy their sake and chat amongst each other.

Highlights

• Visit The Shari-Zan Butsugan-ji Temple, one of the newest and most religious spots in Hokkaido! It is “home” the largest (45m) lying Buddha in Japan! This amazing place is now considered to be one of the strongest power spots in Japan!
• Arrive at The Hill of The Buddha. As you approach from a short distance away, you’ll see only the head of the Buddha poking out from an artificial hill. Your imagination will be piqued by what you cannot see. Finally, you will reach the roofless hall where the entire Buddha looms. The ethereal sight is one you’ll remember forever.
• From the top observation deck of The Sapporo T.V. Tower, we will enjoy 360 degree panoramic views of the entire city of Sapporo. Absolutely breathtaking!
• Enjoy varies types a Japanese sake at a Sake Stand Bar. Learn about sake from a very knowledgeable staff that run the sake strand bar.

Description

Your tour will start at Sapporo Station, in front of “MYOMU” (The Circular white Stone Structure)at 9a.m. This circular white stone structure is located in front of the South Exit doors of the station. Your guide will greet you there. Thereafter, we will start our journey to our first spot on the tour: The Butsugan-ji(Sleeping/Lying Buddha) in the south district of Sapporo.

Upon arrival at The Butsugan-ji(Sleeping/Lying Buddha) you will be visually struck by the 45 meter long Buddha Nirvana statue resting/lying down horizontally in peace, on the roof of the Great Nirvana Temple Hall. This amazing place is now considered to be one of the strongest most spiritually power spots in all of Japan. Many visitors flock here from all over Japan and throughout the world. In addition to the Buddha, visitors can see the beautiful Jodo Pure Land Garden with a very authentic Japanese design. Nearby, there is a pond and a waterfall with pure clean water. There are ancient purely clean garden rocks scattered about the garden. People come to this temple not only for its beautiful ambience but also for its powerful spiritual area.

After leaving The Butsugan-ji(Sleeping/Lying Buddha)we will travel by bus shortly “up the road”
to another Buddha: The Hill of The Buddha(Japanese: Atama Daibutsu). This sculpted stone Buddha statue is encircled by a rotunda situated on a gently sloping artificial hill within the land belonging to a cemetery. It is 13.5-metre tall and weighs 1500 tonnes. When approaching it from afar, the lone head of the Buddha peeking from within the rotunda conveys a solemn, serene impression of the Buddha. The entrance to the Buddha has a water garden that visitors normally walk around. After this, you walk through an arched concrete tunnel at the end of which sits the Buddha statue, at the center of an open rotunda allowing sunlight to come in.The circular opening of the rotunda with light streaming in almost gives a “halo” like feel to the Buddha statue. Definitely a magnificent site to behold! A “must visit” anytime throughout the year.

Besides Buddha, upon entering this sacred cemetery visitors are immediately greeted by the strange sight of numerous giant Moai statues. It is assumed that these statues were put here as a way of honoring and deifying the ancestors. Lastly, visitors will observe a replica of Stonehenge! I guess the idea of Stonhenge possibly being a burial ground itself, has something to do with this replica created inside a Japanese cemetery.

Next, we will return to central Sapporo and visit The Sapporo T.V. Tower. Built in 1957, it stands 147.2 metres tall. This tower was designed and built by Tachu Naito, a Japanese architect who is also famous for planning the Tokyo Tower. We will head up to the top observation deck where you will enjoy spectacular 360 degree daytime views of the entire city of Sapporo. Your guide will be able to point to various aerial directions from the observation deck and inform the guests as to what specific location that is.

Our tour ends at The Yata Sake Stand Bar. This is a cozy and quaint stand bar. This bar is visited often by both locals and visitors. It is easy to know why. The staff are very friendly and really “know their stuff” when it comes to sake. This is a “must” visit for all those who enjoy sake and want to know more detailed information of the various types of sake.

TOUR MEETUP POINT

SAPPORO STATION @ 9:00 A.M.

After exiting the main JR gates of Sapporo Station TURN LEFT. Walk towards the
South Exits(南出口) of Sapporo Station. After a very short walk(in the near distance)
you will surely notice “MYOMU”(The Circular White Stone Structure/see above picture). Your guide will be standing in front of this stone structure wearing a SNOW MONKEY RESORTS tour tag. You are kindly asked to be at this meetup point at 9a.m. Thank you.

NOTES

Included

• English speaking tour guide
• Transportation fee from Sapporo Station to all listed destinations and activities as stated on each tour itinerary
• All entry/admission tickets to each attraction/sightseeing spot listed on the tour itinerary
• Sake Tasting

Excluded

• Lunch
• Accommodation

Other Information

• Please check the weather forecast before heading to the meetup point and prepare umbrella or raincoat if necessary.
• Clothes worn should be appropriate for the given season.
• In winter, ice and snow will be prevalent on the ground. Thus, caution is advised to all  guests while walking on the tour.