This is a live camera installed at the Makinoto Trailhead in Tano, Kokonoe, Kusu District, Oita Prefecture. It lets you check real-time views of Prefectural Route 11, also known as the Beppu-Ichinomiya Line or Yamanami Highway, Makinoto Pass at an elevation of 1,330 meters, the Makinoto Pass Rest House parking lot, and the area around the Makinoto Trailhead. The camera is provided by Oita Prefecture through the Kusu Civil Engineering Office.
Makinoto Pass is one of the most popular trailheads for Mount Kuju, the highest peak on mainland Kyushu. By checking the live camera before hiking, you can see parking lot congestion, winter snow accumulation, road surface freezing, and current weather conditions. The area becomes especially crowded during the Miyama Kirishima blooming season from May to June and the autumn foliage season in October, so checking the live camera before departure is essential. Weather forecasts, rain cloud radar, and a map can also be checked on this page.
- Watch Live Camera
- Live Camera Information
- What You Can Check with the Makinoto Pass Live Camera: Parking, Snow, and Road Conditions
- Makinoto Pass Hiking Information: Access and Facilities for the Kuju Mountain Range
- Highlights Around Makinoto Pass: Miyama Kirishima, Autumn Leaves, and Frost-Covered Trees
- Live Cameras Around Makinoto Pass and the Kuju Mountain Range Area
- Weather in Kokonoe-machi, Oita
- Rain Cloud Radar in Kokonoe-machi, Oita
- Map of Tano, Kokonoe, Kusu District, Oita (Google Maps)
- Nearby Live Cameras
Watch Live Camera
Live Camera Information
- Stream type – still image
- Provider/management – Kusu Civil Engineering Office, Oita Prefecture, Oita Disaster Prevention Information Portal
- Installation location – Near the Makinoto Pass Trailhead for Mount Kutsukake, Oaza Tano, Kokonoe, Kusu District, Oita Prefecture 879-4911
- Image source – Created by processing material from the Oita Disaster Prevention Information Portal website
- Related site – YAMAP Makinoto Pass Rest House
What You Can Check with the Makinoto Pass Live Camera: Parking, Snow, and Road Conditions
The Makinoto Pass live camera lets you check the following information in real time.
Parking lot congestion – The Makinoto Pass parking lot has space for about 200 vehicles, but during the Miyama Kirishima season from May to June and the autumn foliage season from mid-October to early November, it is not unusual for the lot to fill up from early morning on weekends. Checking the live camera before departure helps you see how much parking space is available.
Snow accumulation and road surface freezing – Makinoto Pass is located at an elevation of 1,330 meters, so snow and freezing conditions occur from late November to around March. The Yamanami Highway, Prefectural Route 11, may be subject to chain restrictions in winter, and studless winter tires are essential. Check the camera footage for road surface snow conditions before heading out.
Weather and visibility – The Kuju mountain range is known for rapidly changing weather, and clouds may cover the area around the peaks. Checking visibility and cloud conditions around the trailhead on the live camera can help when deciding whether to proceed with a hiking plan.
Makinoto Pass Hiking Information: Access and Facilities for the Kuju Mountain Range
Makinoto Pass is one of Kyushu’s most popular trailheads for the Kuju mountain range, also known as Mount Kuju. The area has a rest house, parking lot, and restrooms, and it is used by a wide range of hikers from beginners to advanced climbers.
Facilities
- Parking lot: about 200 spaces, free of charge
- Restrooms: available 24 hours; men’s restroom only may be opened from early morning
- Makinoto Pass Rest House: shop and light meals available; check operating hours in advance
- Elevation: 1,330 meters
Access
- By car: about 30 to 40 minutes from Kokonoe IC on the Oita Expressway via Prefectural Route 40 and the Yamanami Highway
- By bus: from Bungo-Nakamura Station on the JR Kyudai Main Line, take a Hita Bus to the Makinoto Pass bus stop; service is limited to around two buses per day
From the trailhead, it takes about 20 minutes to reach the first viewpoint at Mount Kutsukake, and about two to three hours to reach the summit of Mount Kuju.
Highlights Around Makinoto Pass: Miyama Kirishima, Autumn Leaves, and Frost-Covered Trees
Makinoto Pass is known not only for hiking but also for its seasonal natural scenery. It is recommended to check current conditions on the live camera before visiting.
Miyama Kirishima, late May to early June – The Kuju mountain range is one of Japan’s most famous areas for large colonies of Miyama Kirishima azaleas. Around Mount Hiiji, Mount Hossho, and Mount Kuju, the slopes turn shades of pink during this period. It is the busiest season of the year, and parking lots can fill from early morning on weekends.
Autumn leaves, mid-October to early November – Japanese rowan and enkianthus around Makinoto Pass turn color, and the scenery along the Yamanami Highway becomes beautifully autumnal. The autumn foliage of Kuju is known as one of Kyushu’s finest seasonal views.
Frost-covered trees and snowy scenery, December to February – In winter, the trees can be wrapped in white rime ice, creating a fantastic snowy mountain landscape. However, snow and freezing conditions may cause traffic restrictions, so be sure to check road conditions on the live camera before departure.
Live Cameras Around Makinoto Pass and the Kuju Mountain Range Area
Several live cameras are installed around Makinoto Pass and the Kuju mountain range area. Please check them together when planning a hike or sightseeing trip.
- Chojabaru Live Camera, Kuju Sky – Chojabaru is only a few minutes by car from Makinoto Pass. This camera offers a full view of the Kuju mountain range.
- Mount Kuju Live Camera, Handa Ohara and the north ridge of Mount Hossho – This camera installed by the Japan Meteorological Agency lets you check conditions near the summit area of Mount Kuju and the Kuju mountain range.
- Kokonoe Yume Otsurihashi Live Camera – Located about 20 minutes by car from Makinoto Pass, this is a live camera for one of Japan’s largest pedestrian suspension bridges.
- Kyusuikei Live Camera – This camera shows Kyusuikei, a gorge known for beautiful scenery along the Yamanami Highway.
Weather in Kokonoe-machi, Oita
Rain Cloud Radar in Kokonoe-machi, Oita
Map of Tano, Kokonoe, Kusu District, Oita (Google Maps)
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