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A 2.4-kilometre avenue of 500 dawn redwood trees lines the road from Lake Biwa's western shore into the Makino highland, turning from deep summer green to brilliant copper and gold in November in one of Kansai's most dramatic autumn foliage displays. The trees were planted in 1981 and now form a cathedral-like tunnel that has been selected as one of Japan's top 100 roads. The avenue is free to walk or cycle and is dramatically backlit in the low winter sun.
Lake Biwa is Japan's largest lake and one of the world's oldest at over 4 million years, harbouring 60 species found nowhere else on Earth including unique freshwater fish, snails, and submerged plants. The lake's 190-kilometre shoreline encompasses everything from reed marshes and sandy beaches to volcanic headlands and shrine islands, offering different character in each season. Sitting at the heart of Japanese mythology and history โ Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, and the ancient Tokaido road all orbited this lake โ it rewards deeper exploration than most visitors give it.
Mt. Ibuki at 1,377 metres is Shiga's highest mountain and one of Japan's most celebrated peaks for alpine wildflower diversity, with over 200 species documented on its slopes including rare gentians and bellflowers that bloom from June through August. A toll road brings drivers to a trail starting point near the summit, with the final ascent on foot revealing panoramic views across the Nobi Plain and the Suzuka range. The mountain holds the world record for the greatest single snowfall in a 24-hour period, recorded in 1927.
The extensive reed marshes lining Lake Biwa's northwestern shore form one of Japan's most important bird sanctuaries, hosting egrets, ospreys, cranes, and numerous migratory waterfowl species that stop on the East Asian flyway. The marshes also support a traditional reed-cutting industry that supplies materials for tea ceremony tools and roof thatching, and guided kayak tours thread through the channels at water level. The Eau de Biwa nature centre at Shiozu provides free access and information on the wetland ecosystem.
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