The cherry blossoms of Kaizu Osaki have been selected as one of the "100 Best Cherry Blossom Spots in Japan."

Stretching for 4km along the shoreline of Lake Biwa, about 800 colorful Yoshino cherry trees bloom in full glory, some of which are said to be as old as 80 years old.

It is no exaggeration to say that the distinctive group of reefs jutting out from the surface of Kaizu Osaki, the beautiful blue lake, and the distant view of Chikubushima Island make this the most scenic spot on Lake Biwa, and it has been selected as one of the Eight Views of Lake Biwa as "Dawn Mist - Kaizu Osaki Reefs."

During cherry blossom viewing season, the area is bustling with tourists who enjoy driving through the cherry blossom tunnel.
Special buses and cherry blossom viewing boats are also operated, attracting many visitors.

The history of Kaizu Osaki's cherry blossoms created by locals

The history of the cherry blossoms in Kaizu Osaki began when a roadworker, Muneto Seishichi, planted a single cherry tree sapling, saying, "I want to leave something behind on this road that I love."

Five years later, in 1936, the village of Kaizu (now Kaizu, Makino Town, Takashima City) planted trees to commemorate the completion of a road and the Osaki Tunnel, a long-cherished dream for the residents. This led to the spread of cherry blossom trees in Kaizu-Osaki, and with the villagers also planting trees, the avenue now boasts 800 trees.

Even today, members of the "Utsukushii Makino Sakura Morikai," a group made up of local volunteers, work every day to preserve the beautiful cherry blossom scenery for future generations.

Volunteers have been engaged in cleaning activities such as picking up trash and cutting weeds around the avenue, maintaining the health of the trees by fertilizing and removing moss, and conducting educational activities, and more than 100 cherry tree seedlings have been planted at the tree-planting event.

The cherry blossoms of Kaizu Osaki continue to be protected today so that this beautiful cherry blossom tunnel can be passed on to future generations.

Where is Kaizu Osaki? Recommended sightseeing spots

Kaizu Osaki, one of Shiga Prefecture's most popular cherry blossom viewing spots, is located in Makino Town, Takashima City, Shiga Prefecture, on the northernmost cape of Lake Biwa.

At Kaizu Osaki, you can enjoy the scenery of Lake Biwa throughout the year, and the area is also famous for its driving and cycling courses.

From the Kaizu East Exit, there is a nature trail called the Omi Lake Side Path, where you can enjoy hiking on a mountain course that runs from Suga Shrine in Sugaura across the Tsuzurao Peninsula.

At the tip of Kaizu Osaki, in front of Kaizu Osaki Port, is Osaki Temple, affectionately known as Osaki Kannon.

Osakiji Temple, a temple of the prestigious Shingon sect of Buddhism that was founded by Taicho during the Nara period, is also the ninth temple of the Omi Saigoku Pilgrimage.

The statue is said to have been made by Prince Shotoku.

Many people have heard the legend of the "Azuchi Blood Ceiling" of the Amida Hall, which is said to have been restored using bloodstained materials from the castle when it fell.

It was moved to the Amida Hall when the Kannon Hall was renovated in 1966, and there is still an anecdote that bloodstains still ooze from it during the rainy season.

The view of Lake Biwa from the observation deck within the temple grounds is also magnificent.
In front of Kaizu Osaki Port, there is a shop that is only open during the cherry blossom season.

This is the only souvenir shop in the area, and you can also eat there.
It gets crowded during the season, but please feel free to use it.

Best time to see the cherry blossoms in Kaizu Osaki

The best time to see the cherry blossoms is usually from early to mid-April. Compared to Kansai areas such as Osaka and Kobe, this area is known as a late-blooming cherry blossom spot.

The cherry blossoms usually begin to bloom around April 3rd and reach full bloom around the 10th, but the exact time may vary depending on the weather.

For your reference, it is said that delivery is often about a week later than in Kyoto city and about three days later than in Hikone city.

By the way, the Shimizu Cherry tree in the Kaizu cemetery is over 300 years old and is a type of Azuma Higan Cherry, which blooms in full bloom about 5 to 7 days earlier than the Somei Yoshino cherry tree in Kaizu Osaki.

Please check the flowering times on Japanese flower forecast websites before visiting.

Access to Kaizu Osaki

*Get off at Makino Station on the JR Kosei Line and it is about a 5-minute drive.
*Take the Makino Kogen Line bus and get off at Kaizu Osakiguchi, then walk for about 5 minutes.
*Please note that there is no parking lot at Kaizu Osaki.

During cherry blossom season, special shuttle buses may operate from JR Makino Station.

If you're going for a drive, the popular route is from Kaizu Osaki to the Oku-Biwako Parkway.

Along this route, you can enjoy a 23km-long row of approximately 3,800 young Yoshino cherry trees, and from the Tsuzura Ozaki Observatory halfway up the parkway, you can get a panoramic view of the distant view of Chikubushima Island and the cherry blossom trees along the lake shore.

On weekends during the peak cherry blossom season, traffic restrictions may be in place on the section from "Kaizu Osaki Higashiguchi" (west side of the lake) to "Nihonmatsu" (east side of the lake), where Route 161 branches off to Kaizu Osaki, and cars will be limited to one-way traffic from west to east, so please be careful. Bicycles can pass through, but you may be asked to walk.

The days when traffic restrictions will be in effect change every year, so please check the cherry blossom information provided by the Lake Biwa Takashima Tourism Association in advance.

Normally it takes about 20 minutes to get through Kaizu-Osaki, but there are often traffic jams during cherry blossom season, so be sure to plan your trip with plenty of time.

How to enjoy cherry blossom viewing in Kaizu Osaki even more

The cherry blossoms of Kaizu Osaki are characterized by their branches that spread out over the surface of Lake Biwa.

We also recommend cherry blossom viewing from a boat to enjoy the contrast between the pink cherry blossoms and the blue Lake Biwa, as well as the spectacular scenery of the mountains lining the lake.

During the peak cherry blossom season, many cherry blossom viewing boats are operated by companies such as Lake Biwa Kisen, Ohmi Marine, Nihonmatsu Hanamisen, and Yakatabune Kirari, and have become a popular attraction.

By taking a cherry blossom viewing boat, you can enjoy a relaxing time on the lake without getting caught in traffic jams.

summary

Kaizu Osaki is a popular cherry blossom viewing spot in Japan. You will be overwhelmed by the cherry blossom trees lining the vast Lake Biwa.
If you are thinking of traveling to Osaka or Kyoto, why not try visiting this place?