The Metasequoia Avenue in Makino Town, Takashima City, Shiga Prefecture, is a straight avenue stretching approximately 2.4 km and leading to the Makino Highland. According to Wikipedia, this avenue features deciduous trees of the Metasequoia genus from the Cypress family. While it was thought to have been extinct in the Northern Hemisphere, including Japan, it was discovered to still exist in Sichuan Province, China, from which seedlings were acquired.

The avenue offers beautiful scenery throughout the four seasons. In spring, you can enjoy the fresh green leaves; in summer, the deep green trees against a blue sky; in autumn, the brilliant red foliage; and in winter, the snow-covered Metasequoia trees. I visited on a weekday by car from Osaka. Despite the long distance even with the use of the Meishin Expressway, the visit was worthwhile for the stunning views. To capture photos, I ventured into the center of the road, but with few tourists and cars on a weekday, I did not feel much danger, though caution is advised. The long, straight Metasequoia Avenue offers a unique and impressive landscape that you won’t find elsewhere. My photos were taken in September and Novembe