The “Sayama Forest Chapel” as described by Hiroshi Nakamura who was involved in the project, is a building that was designed “with the intention to create a sense of unity in which the architecture itself seems to be offering prayer together with the people praying inside.” A more pure and new type of gassho-style building was realized through a cruk framing structure in which sets of two columns are made to stand leaning up against each other. Covering the roof are aluminum-cast sheets each bearing a size of 180 x 200 mm and a thickness of 4 mm, developed in collaboration with the casting artisans of Kawaguchi City. Due to challenging ourselves to make the sheets as thin as possible in order to be able to bend them by hand, the manufacturing process had proved extremely difficult. Each handmade sheet had a different current mark, which created a distinct and characteristic demeanor. The Sayama Forest Chapel that has welcomed visitors since its opening in 2013 has received numerous international architecture awards, and last year was honored as the recipient of the 2016 ARCASIA Award for Architecture “Building of the Year.”
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Recipient of the 2016 ARCASIA Award for Architecture “Building of the Year”
Sayama Lakeside Cemetery |
Sayama Forest ChapelEternalica Foundation
40th Anniversary Commemoration Project
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All photos by Koji Fujii / Nacasa and Partners Inc.
“Architecture is that which offers prayer together with the people praying inside.”
── Hiroshi Nakamura (architect)
Hiroshi Nakamura
photo by Koji Fujii / Nacasa and Partners Inc.
1974 Born in Tokyo
1999 Master's degree, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Meiji University
1997 Worked for Kengo Kuma & Associates (-2002)
2002 Established Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP
https://www.nakam.info/
Awards
The Japan Institute of Architects Award/ JIA Award Excellent Architecture
AIJ Selected Architectural Designs 2015
JIA Sustainable Architecture Award
BCS Prize
JAAF Award Nichijiren Kenchikusho Shoreisho
JIA Young Architects Award
ShiKenchiku Award
Grand Prize, JCD Design Award
Gold Prize, GOOD DESIGN AWARD
Overall Winner, LEAF AWARDS 2015
Building of the Year, ARCASIA Awards for Architecture 2016
Winner, WAN Sustainable Buildings Award 2016 Winner
First Prize, ar+d Awards …etc
photo by Koji Fujii / Nacasa and Partners Inc.
View from a cemetery area
Building of the Year, ARCASIA Awards for Architecture 2016
A+Award 2016 Popular Choice Winner in Typology Categories
Platinum in the ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN/ Small Architecture category in the 2016, American Architecture Prize
AR Emerging Architecture Awards 2015 highly recommended prize
Exterior of Sayama Lakeside Cemetery Community Hall
Sayama Forest Chapel / Credits and building outline
| Location | 2050 Kamiyamaguchi, Tokorozawa-shi, Saitama-ken >MAP[PDF] >Google Map |
| Primary use | Chapel, Ossuary |
| Client | Eternalica Foundation |
| Architectural design | Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP |
| Structural engineering | Arup |
| Supervision | Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP |
| Construction | Shimizu Corporation |
| Scale | Site area: 148.22㎡ Building area: 69.32㎡ Totol floor area: 110.49㎡ Underground floor: 41.17㎡ Ground floor: 69.32㎡ Building-to-land ratio: 46.76%（allowed: 60%） Floor area ratio: 74.54%（allowed: 100%） Floors: one above ground, one underground |
| Dimensions | Maximum height: 9300mm Eave height: 9000mm Ceiling height: 7250mm(hightest) |
| Primary structure | Steel-reinforced concrete and wood construction Pilings foundation: Direct foundation (mat foundation) |
| Schedule | Design schedule: April 2011 to September 2012 Construction schedule: December 2012 to January 2014 |
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2050 Kamiyamaguchi, Tokorozawa-shi, Saitama-ken
>MAP [PDF]
Google Map
>Google Map Directions Search
Arriving by car
Approximately 30-minute drive from "Tokorozawa I.C" on the Kanetsu Expressway
Approximately 30-minute drive from “Ome I.C” on the Ken-O Expressway or from “Iruma I.C” via the Tokorozawa-Iruma bypass
Arriving by train
10-minute walk from “Seibu-Kyujo-mae Station” on the Seibu Sayama Line or the Seibu Yamaguchi Line (Leo Liner)
Arriving by train and car
10-minute drive from “Kotesashi Station” on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line
10-minute drive from “Kamikitadai Station” on the Tamatoshi-Monorail
Wide-area map 
Datailed map
Guidance for visiting cemetery buildings
Please refrain from visiting the buildings on Saturdays, Sundays and National holidays as well as the sacred periods shown below when there are many people visiting their graves.
Also, cemetery is closed on every Wednesdays.
For 2025
March 15-23 (Ohigan period)
July 12-16 (Obon period)
August 13-17 (Obon period)
September 20-28 (Ohigan period)
December 29-January 4 (Year-end and New Year holiday period)
The Sayama Forest Chapel is usually locked and therefore not open for tours. Cemetery staff may be available to attend on weekdays (except Wednesday) , between 10:00 and 16:00, as far as they are not occupied for other services.
Above restrictions does not apply to visitors who are considering holding a memorial service or who are considering acquiring a cemetery newly.
NOTICE :
Please be sure to inform the cemetery management office counter when you visit.
Cemeteries are sacred places. Please be mindful of silence, as much as possible, inside the cemetery.
Thank you very much for your kind understanding.
Cemetery Management Office:
04-2922-4411 (closed on Wednesdays)