There are two places in Japan where we can enjoy the majestic scenery of the Giant Moai Statues in a single row. One is at Sun Messe Nichinan in Miyazaki and the other is here at the Takino Cemetery in Sapporo, Hokkaido. I’ve been to both places and appreciated the platoon of huge replica statues. The northern Moais are the better of the two because of their number and scale. Additionally, it’s free to enter the cemetery.
When I visited this cemetery for the first time in 2002, there were about ten statues near the entrance gate. But the number of statues doubled when I went there for the second time in 2011. Amazingly, I found a huge seated statue of Buddha in front of the Moai line. You can also visit the life-size replica of Stonehenge in the cemetery.
Why did the religious organization build these kinds of statues? “The real Moai statues in Easter Island have the role of a grave for village ancestors, and these Takino statues were built as a symbol of deifying our ancestors,” said the officer of this cemetery. A few years ago, I visited here in the winter season and had a mysterious experience: Moai statues in the snow! This is impossible in Easter Island. I really recommend you to visit there in the snowy season.
P.S. Now all Moais in Sapporo wear a mask because of COVID-19! https://www.takinoreien.com/publics/index/136/detail=1/b_id=1253/r_id=46/
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