Makino is a small town on the Northwest side of Lake Biwa. In winter they get plenty of snow, and there is a ski field in the mountains nearby. The town itself is a combination of stunning lake views, holiday homes that are deserted most of the year, and old wooden houses slowly but surely crumbling to decay. You can take JR Kosei Line to Makino from Kyoto and walk around the lake to nearby Kaizu Osaki to enjoy some lovely winter scenery. I even saw some monkeys, but I wasn't quick enough to get a good photograph.
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Find out more about Lake Biwa.
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