Hokkaido » Tokachi, Kushiro, Nemuro

The Church of Water

A mysterious space where water, light, greenery, and wind touch nature

The church is an innovative and magnificent chapel that blends into the magnificent nature of Hokkaido and has no boundaries with nature.
The church, completed in 1988, was designed by world-renowned architect Tadao Ando based on the theme of coexistence with nature.

The approach through the white birch forest and concrete walls leads to an extraordinary space.

The trees in front of you show their seasonal expressions, the light is gentle, the glass doors in front of the chapel slide open, a soft breeze flows in, and the surface of the water reflects the trees, the sky, and the cross.

Fantastic illumination

At night, the grove of forest trees float fantastically in the darkness, and the cross illuminated by the faint light of candles is particularly mysterious.

The cross is located in the middle of a 15cm-deep body of water, and the water flowing over the altar creates a sacred space where no one can enter.

Sacred Space

Four distinctive reinforced concrete crosses stand on the rooftop, surrounded by top lights.

Tadao Ando, who believed that a space cut out of nature as it is by human will is a "sacred space," designed this architecture so that one can feel the breath of nature on one's skin.

Information

Name
The Church of Water
水の教会
Link
Official Site
Address
Naka tomamu, Shimukappu Village, Yufutsu-gun, Hokkaido
Telephone number
0167-57-2520
Hours of operation

10:00 - 20:00
Public tours: 20:30-21:30
Not open during the daytime for weddings.

Closed

Open daily (closed for maintenance in April and November)

Admission fee

Free for public tours

Parking lot
Free of charge, 2,500 spaces
Access

5 min. by free shuttle bus from JR Tomamu Station

Tokachi, Kushiro, Nemuro

Hokkaido