Makino (Shiga)

History

Makino Station opened on 20 July 1974 with the Japanese National Railways Kosei Line, as an unstaffed passenger-only stop in Takashima, Shiga Prefecture. After privatisation of JNR on 1 April 1987 it passed to JR West. Special Rapid services began calling on 16 March 1996, initially just one afternoon round-trip; evening rapid services were added on 8 March 1997. On 21 October 2006, when Nagahara to Ōmi-Shiotsu was converted to DC operation, Special Rapid calls increased substantially and ICOCA use began. Station numbering as JR-B12 was introduced on 17 March 2018, and from 30 September 2019 the station has been run as a simple-consignment stop. Two opposed elevated side platforms sit above the station building, 61.2 km from Yamashina.

History summarized from Japanese & English Wikipedia · last reviewed 2026-05-18.

Notes

Makino is one of only a handful of Japanese railway stations whose name is written in katakana; the spelling honours the local Makino Kogen ski resort and was inherited from the former Makino-chō municipality.