Makkari: Discover Flowers, Forests, and Mount Yōtei

Makkari offers striking natural scenery and a variety of ways to spend your vacation: Mount Yōtei, seasonal flowers, forest trails, and cultural attractions. Flowering periods and the different highlights are especially useful to consider when planning your trip. You can decide whether to focus your time in Makkari on views and nature, gardens and cultural experiences, or outdoor activities.

Mount Yōtei and Choosing a Route

The Makkari Course is one of four named climbing routes on Mount Yōtei; its starting point is in Makkari. Compared with the other routes, it is considered less steep, but it is also the longest. Both details are worth bearing in mind: a relatively gentle gradient does not mean that this is the shortest route. Conditions may vary, so check the latest information when planning a hike.

Mount Yōtei is also visible from the open-air bath at Makkari Onsen. If you plan to visit, check the latest opening information beforehand. This makes the mountain not only a landmark for hikers, but also a prominent part of the landscape that you can enjoy from different viewpoints.

Flowering Spots and Their Seasons

In the Lily Garden, colorful lilies—including the “Casablanca” and “Vitala” varieties—bloom across an area of 1,400 square meters, with Mount Yōtei as a backdrop. The flowers are generally viewed in early August. The garden is also home to a transplanted Clean-Larch larch. It was originally planted by heads of state and their spouses at the site of a summit and commemorates that summit.

Makkari Flower Road forms an approximately one-kilometer-long yellow ribbon of lilies along Prefectural Road Iwanai-Tōya. It runs from the border with Rusutsu to the center of Makkari; peak bloom is given as mid-August. Timing also matters here if you want to enjoy or photograph the flowers.

The cherry-tree avenue at the entrance to Makkari Shrine offers a different floral setting. The shrine was built in 1910, and local people planted the Ezo mountain cherry trees there around 1920. During peak bloom, photographers and people wishing to enjoy the blossoms visit the avenue. Bloom times can vary from year to year.

Forest Trails, Wildlife, and Views of Yōtei

Makkari Tree Garden lies at the foot of Mount Yōtei and combines a natural forest with a collection of around 80 tree species. These include foreign species as well as trees from Hokkaido and other parts of Japan. A spring-fed pond, a lawn, and walking paths are among the garden’s features, and parking is available. The seasonal opening period is listed as mid-May through the end of November. Check the dates for your intended visit.

Ezo squirrels, chipmunks, red foxes, and black woodpeckers live in the tree garden. You may also spot walnuts and pine cones that have been gnawed, with shapes reminiscent of fried shrimp. Neither these traces nor wildlife sightings can be guaranteed. Another natural detail: the temperature of the spring water at Mount Yōtei remains nearly constant at 6.8 degrees Celsius throughout the year.

Yōtei Nature Park has several walking trails. Makkari River Park has a distinctive walking trail; in fiscal year 1995, the park received the “Tezukuri Furusato-shō” award from the Minister of Construction. These varied nature spots give you more than one reason to plan your stay around walks and scenic views.

Culture and Active Vacation Days

The Hosokawa Takashi Memorial Statue was erected in 1994 to mark the 100th anniversary of Makkari Village. It features a message from Hosokawa Takashi and four of his well-known songs; it does not sing in winter. The Hosokawa Takashi Gallery displays stage costumes, scripts, records, and, among other items, a Japan Record Award bronze statue.

If you would like to include park golf in your travel plans, Makkari Fureai Hiroba Park Golf Course has 36 holes and a practice area for short approach shots. The 2026 season is listed as running from May 9 to October 31. The Forest Learning Exhibition Hall offers free loans of park golf clubs and balls; its activity period is listed as early May to the end of October, and it is closed on Mondays. Check whether equipment is available for your visit.

Makkari Campground is divided into free camping pitches, car-camping pitches, and accessible pitches. The layout may change, so if you have specific plans, it is worth checking the latest information. When choosing a vacation rental, you can weigh your travel dates against the kinds of activities you would like to enjoy: flower spots are seasonal, while forests, walking trails, and culture offer other themes for your stay.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Rebun District, Shiraoi District, Engaru, Shintoku, Rishirifuji, Samani, Bibai, Kitahiroshima.

Return to the main travel overview: Hokkaido.