Getting There
The Yokoyama Visitor Center is 10 minutes by car or 15 minutes by bicycle from Ugata Station on the Kintetsu Railway Shima Line. There are parking lots in front of the Visitor Center, at Sozo-no-Mori, and just below Yokoyama Tenkū Café Terrace. Note that bicycles and other two-wheeled vehicles may not be parked in the Yokoyama View Point Parking Lot for safety reasons.
The Yokoyama Visitor Center can also be reached on foot from Shima-Yokoyama Station, one stop before Ugata Station on the same line. There are two routes: the Cherry Blossom Route (35 minutes) and the Kinki Nature Trail Route (40 minutes).
Cherry Blossom Route
The Cherry Blossom Route is the newer of the two routes. It is a two-lane road with a sidewalk lined by cherry trees. The trees are the early-blooming Yoko-zakura variety, and the blossoms are at their finest in March.
Kinki Nature Trail Route
The Kinki Nature Trail Route is a small section of the 3,258-kilometer Kinki Nature Trail, which stretches across the Kansai region. It is a narrow asphalt road with no sidewalk, but because most vehicles now use the Cherry Blossom Route, few cars pass by. It winds through forests and quiet residential areas, with colors, sounds, and scents that vary with the seasons. In the hotter months, the route is shaded by the trees.
Footwear
Sneakers or other suitable footwear are recommended for all visitors, even those arriving by car. Sections of the trail, including from the Visitor Center to the observation decks, are too steep and rough for high-heeled shoes or sandals.