Metasequoia Avenue and Makino Kogen Drive Course

Anchored by the famous metasequoia avenue of Makino, Takashima, stretching about 2.4 kilometers, this is a refreshing drive through the plateau and lakeside. The single straight road lined with about 500 trees is a popular scene that changes its face with every season.

Course Route

10:00 Start at Makino Pickland Rest at the orchard park at the head of the avenue and gaze down the straight rows of metasequoia. From JR Makino Station it is about 6 minutes on the community bus (Makino Kogen Line), getting off right at Makino Pickland.

10:30 Drive the Metasequoia Avenue Cruise slowly along the single road lined with about 500 trees over roughly 2.4 kilometers, stopping partway to take photos. The fresh green is at its best from late April to May and the autumn foliage from late November to early December, each season showing a different face.

12:00 Lunch and a walk at Makino Kogen Spread out a boxed lunch on the wide plateau and enjoy the seasonal scenery. The open space commanding the surrounding mountains suits a walk or a rest.

14:00 On to the Kaizu Osaki shore Drive the lakeside known for its cherry trees and take in the shimmer of Lake Biwa to close. Kaizu Osaki is one of the finest cherry blossom spots on the shores of Lake Biwa, and in spring the lake and blossoms play off each other.

Highlights

The metasequoia avenue that changes with every season, the open Makino plateau, and the lakeside drive are the draws. The avenue running straight for about 2.4 kilometers is prized for its shifting seasonal colors.

Practical Travel Notes

• Time needed: About half a day of driving for the avenue, plateau, and lakeside together. Allow more for photos and walks.
• Getting around: Primarily a driving course by car. For public transport, take the community bus (Makino Kogen Line) from JR Makino Station to Makino Pickland, about 6 minutes.
• Best seasons: Fresh green from late April to May and autumn foliage from late November to early December. The Kaizu Osaki cherry blossoms are at their best in spring.
• Beating the crowds: The fresh green and autumn foliage seasons are especially popular and busy. An early start helps you avoid the crowds.
• Driving and parking manners: The avenue is a local road. Mind your driving and parking, and use the designated parking lots.

Access and Tips

A community bus runs from JR Makino Station to Pickland in about 6 minutes. The avenue is a local road, so mind your driving and parking manners. Use the parking lots in the area.

A Quick Tip

The fresh green and autumn foliage seasons are especially popular. An early start helps you avoid the crowds.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• The metasequoia avenue: As it is an avenue of trees along a prefectural road, it is free to see at any time and free of charge. It is open to traffic 24 hours a day, but there is little lighting at night
• Best times to see it: Fresh green from late April to May, deep green from June to October, and autumn colors from late November to early December. In winter you can also see the avenue covered with snow
• Parking: Use the free parking at Makino Pick Land. Free temporary parking areas also open during the autumn foliage season
• Makino Pick Land: The address is 835-1 Terakubo, Makino-cho, Takashima City. Opening hours and closing days change with the season, so check before you visit
• Makino Kogen Onsen Sarasa: The address is 931 Makino, Makino-cho, Takashima City. Full use of the facility including the bathing pool, where swimwear is worn, costs around 1,300 yen for adults, while using only the regular bathing areas is set at a lower price. Closed on Wednesdays
• Access (by train and bus): From Makino Station on the JR Kosei Line take the community bus on the "Makino Kogen Line" for 220 yen for adults
• Access (by car): About 20 km and 30 minutes from Kinomoto IC on the Hokuriku Expressway, about 25 km and 40 minutes from Tsuruga IC, and about 60 km and 90 minutes from Kyoto-Higashi IC on the Meishin Expressway
• Rental bicycles: Available from the tourist information center inside JR Makino Station (9:00-17:00). An ordinary bicycle costs 1,000 yen per day and must be booked online. If you want to ride along the avenue, this is the realistic option
• Total time needed: 5-6 hours. If you only want to see the avenue, 1 hour is enough
• Can you do it in reverse?: Yes. If you want to photograph the avenue in the evening light, coming in from the lakeshore works better
• To avoid the crowds: In the fresh green and autumn foliage seasons the middle of the day is busiest. Early in the morning is quieter
• If it rains: The avenue can be enjoyed perfectly well from inside a car, so the trip works even in the rain. To spend time indoors, head for Makino Kogen Onsen Sarasa
• Underfoot and clothing: Walking the avenue means walking alongside a road used by cars, so pedestrians need to watch for passing traffic. The highland sits at altitude, and mornings and evenings are chilly even in summer
• Strollers and wheelchairs: The avenue is flat, but it is a local road with traffic on it. If you are walking, choose a time when there are fewer cars and never go without someone with you
• Toilets: It is a good idea to use the facilities at Makino Pick Land or on the Makino highland
• Budget guide: Seeing the avenue is free of charge. Including the hot spring and a meal, allow around 3,000 yen per person

Information Sources

The number of trees in the avenue, its length, the background to the planting in 1981, the best times to see it, and the warnings about parking or stopping on the road come from the metasequoia avenue guidance on the official Takashima City website and the Biwako Takashima Tourism Guide. The address of Makino Pick Land and the journey time and fare of the community bus come from the facility's official access page; the location, hours and prices of the rental bicycles from the rental cycle guidance in the Biwako Takashima Tourism Guide; and the bathing areas, location and closing day of Makino Kogen Onsen Sarasa from the official Makino Kogen website and the facility guide of Takashima City. The details and dates of the one-way traffic restriction at Kaizu Osaki, and the fact that there is no parking there, come from the guidance on the official Takashima City website. Prices, opening hours and traffic restrictions are subject to change, so please check the official information before you set out.