HERITAGE, ARTS & CULTURE OF HOKKAIDO
✤ NINGLE TERRACE
Ningle Terrace is a spectacular collection of boutique cottages, housing speciality arts and crafts along with the artisans who make the products while visitors wander around. Ningle Terrace has been created using natural materials with timber buildings and a stunning plank walkway around the waterfalls and trees. The forest gives off a heady scent of pine trees and the waterfall creates a relaxing ambience to walk around or sit in the café admiring the scenery. At night, it transforms into a magical wonderland with walkways and buildings lit up with fairy lights.
✤ MOERENUMA PARK
Moerenuma Park was converted from a waste treatment plant, and an air conditioning system using snow atmosphere, solar energy was installed in the Glass Pyramid, an indoor facility, that uses the natural, region-specific energy of snow. It is a comprehensive park in Sapporo that combines the green spaces of the city within a loop. The fountain and hills form many geometric shapes on the expansive grounds and play equipment is arranged in an orderly manner. The landscape is an amalgamation of nature and art with Cherry blossom trees, the fountain and wading pool facilities in summer. In autumn, the landscape transforms into a riot of stunning colours and in winter, visitors can enjoy cross-country skiing and sledding across the snow-covered landscape. The park has attractions for all seasons.
✤ ATAMA DAIBUTSU (THE HILL OF THE BUDDHA)
Peeking its head over fields of the lavender fields of Sapporo in Mokomanai Takino Cemetery, the Hill of the Buddha is a monument that was completed in 2016 as a way to commemorate the cemetery’s 30th anniversary. It was designed by Tadao Ando, an architect famous for working on many creative buildings both within and outside of Japan. The statue was named Atama Daibutsu because only the statue's head peeks out from the dome-shaped roof. People come to this cemetery not only to visit the graves of their loved ones but tourists also go there to see Moai statues and a replica of the Stonehenge.
✤ UPOPOY NATIONAL AINU MUSEUM AND PARK
Upopoy serves as the national centre for the revival and development of Ainu culture which is an invaluable culture that is on the verge of extinction. The mission of The National Ainu Museum is to promote a proper understanding and awareness of the history and culture. The National Ainu Park is an open-air museum where visitors can experience various elements of Ainu culture. Visitors can watch traditional dance performances and participate in wide-ranging hands-on programs. The park is also a place where visitors can relax and appreciate Ainu culture amidst natural scenic splendour.