Makino マキノ町

Home > Shiga 滋賀県 > Takashima 高島市 > Makino マキノ町

Makino Station on the JR Kosei Line. The only train station in the Makino area of Takashima.

Makino Station. Makino was the first town in Japan whose name used katakana. The town was established in 1955 upon the merger of a few villages. The new town was named after its most famous spot, the Makino Ski Grounds which used katakana for "Makino

The original kanji for Makino was 牧野. However, the ski grounds used katakana to give an imported feel since skiing was imported back then in the 1920s. Photo: Makino Station's cherry trees.

Makino is only one of two towns in Japan whose name uses katakana (the other is Niseko in Hokkaido). マキノ町

Makino Station wicket

Makino Station corridor with a photo showcase.

Old-style train on Kosei Line at Makino Station.

Kosei Line train going to Makino Station.

Makino Station platform in winter. This was in Jan. 2006.

In spring when the cherry blossoms bloom at Kaizu-Osaki, a makeshift food stall is setup outside Makino Station selling local foods.

Diagram showing how many minutes it takes to go from Makino Station to other stations. Around 68 min. to/from Kyoto and 32 min. to Omi-Takashima. Makino is also accessible from Maibara via Omi-Shiotsu Station.

Makino Station looking from the west. Very little development on this side of the station.

Right across Makino Station is this building which houses the local tourist information office. This is where you can rent a bicycle and obtain sightseeing maps.

Map of Makino. Makino used to be an independent town until it merged with neighboring towns to form the city of Takashima.

Makino Sunny Beach is a major swimming beach on Lake Biwa in summer.

Makino Sunny Beach

Makino Sunny Beach looks best on a sunny day...

Monument for Takagihama beach.

Kaizu stone wall is what you see along the way to Kaizu-Osaki on the distance.

Several hundred meters of stone wall was built in the early 18th century along the lake shore to prevent high waves from damaging homes.

Kaizu

Makino Station is the closest station to Kaizu-Osaki in northern Lake Biwa. Famous for cherry blossoms in mid-April. Best to rent a bicycle at Makino Station. Kaizu-Osaki photos here.

On the west side of Makino Station, you can visit Makino Highland. I went by bicycle.

Another noted sight of Makino is this neat row of Metasequoia (dawn redwood) trees.

Metasequoia (dawn redwood) trees on the way to Makino Highland.

Unfortunately, all these trees were removed in June 2009 due to complaints by residents regarding fallen branches and leaves on the road below. Also, the droppings of birds who gather on the trees. Another reason, is that they are constructing sidewalks.