Makuyama Park

About Makuyama Park

Makuyama Park follows the Niizawa River below the 626-metre Mt Makuyama. It has flowers most of the year, but the plum grove is the reason people come: about 4,000 pink and white trees covering the slopes from early February to mid-March, during the Plum Festival.

The rest of the year it's a quiet place for a picnic or a barbecue (April to September), with a playground for kids. Makuiwa, the big rock face above the park, is a popular rock-climbing crag, and a trail leads to the summit, with views over Sagami Bay.

Makuyama is also a popular bouldering area. Boulders are scattered from the foot of the cliffs down to the riverbed, in five areas, and the sunny, sheltered slope means winter is the main season. The walk-in is short, and there's parking and toilets. The Yugawara Bouldering Area Guide publishes free topos.

Parking is free most of the year, in the car park beside the park office, with toilets next to it. When it's full, or the town says so, use the first car park by the bus stop. During the Plum Festival every car park costs ¥500 a day, entry is ¥300, and climbers are asked to use car parks 4 and 5 along the approach road. Without a car, the Makuyama Park bus from Yugawara Station takes about 15 minutes to the last stop, and extra direct buses run during the festival.

Fires and smoking are banned throughout the park, and the roped-off area around Ladybird Rock by the park office is closed to climbers. During the festival the paths are busy, so give walkers room. On a wet day, SEA ROCK in Miyakami is the indoor alternative. To stay by the park, Makuyama House is a 15-minute walk down the road.