Roadside Stations: Experience Japan's unique scenery and culture

Roadside stations with beautiful Japanese scenery: detailed information

Hokkaido

• Biei Hill Park Roadside Station:
  • This roadside station in Kamifurano Town, Hokkaido, offers a panoramic view of the Biei hills.
  • This is truly a spectacular spot in Hokkaido where you can enjoy beautiful scenery throughout the four seasons.
  • Roadside stations have restaurants, cafes, and product shops that use locally produced agricultural products and processed goods.
• Toyako Visitor Center Roadside Station:
  • This roadside station in Toyako Town, Abuta District, Hokkaido, allows you to fully enjoy the nature along the shores of Lake Toya.
  • There is also a boarding point for Lake Toya sightseeing boats and ropeways, so you can enjoy the lakeside scenery from various angles.
  • At the roadside station, you can find tourist information about the area around Lake Toya, as well as restaurants that use local ingredients and hot spring facilities.

Tohoku

• Matsushima Bay Roadside Station:
  • This roadside station in Matsushima Town, Miyagi Prefecture, offers a spectacular view of Matsushima Bay.
  • There is also a boarding point for Matsushima sightseeing boats, where you can enjoy the scenery of over 260 islands, large and small, from the sea.
  • The roadside station has a restaurant where you can enjoy seafood bowls made with fresh seafood from Matsushima Bay and dishes made with locally grown oysters, as well as a product shop selling Matsushima-related souvenirs.
• Iwaki Seaside Park Iwaki Sunshine Marina Roadside Station:
  • This roadside station in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture, offers a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean.
  • With a spacious lawn area, a dog run, and a swimming beach, it is the perfect place to enjoy leisure activities.
  • The roadside station has a restaurant where you can enjoy seafood dishes from Iwaki and dishes made with fresh locally grown vegetables, as well as a product center selling Iwaki-related souvenirs.

Kanto

• Katsuura Roadside Station - Diving Station:

  • This roadside station in Katsuura City, Chiba Prefecture, offers views of the beautiful coastline of the Boso Peninsula.
  • Popular attractions include facilities where you can see female divers demonstrate their skills, and seafood restaurants where you can taste fresh seafood.
  • The roadside station has a product hall selling sweets made with peanuts, a local specialty of the Boso Peninsula, and prepared dishes made with fresh vegetables.

• Roadside Station Kawaba Denen Plaza:

  • This roadside station in Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture, is spread across a vast area and is home to a variety of facilities.
  • It's a spot where families can have fun all day, with farm produce shops, restaurants, hot springs, an amusement park and more.
  • The roadside station has a restaurant where you can enjoy dishes made with konnyaku, a Gunma prefecture specialty, and gelato made with locally produced ingredients, as well as a product center selling Gunma-related souvenirs.

Central

• Southern Alps Akashi Roadside Station:
  • This roadside station in Iida City, Nagano Prefecture, offers magnificent views of the Southern Alps.
  • There are many places nearby where you can enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking and climbing.
  • The roadside station has a restaurant where you can enjoy dishes made with fresh vegetables grown at the foot of the Southern Alps and bread made with locally grown rice flour, as well as a product shop selling souvenirs related to the Southern Alps.
• Roadside Station Okuise Odai:
  • This roadside station is located in Odai Town, Mie Prefecture, along Odai Kaido, which is known as the approach to Ise Shrine.
  • The surrounding area is rich in nature, including the Odaigahara Harbour, which is registered as a World Heritage Site.
  • At the roadside station, there is a restaurant where you can try Akafuku mochi, a famous offering at Ise Shrine, as well as dishes made with locally produced ingredients, and a souvenir shop selling souvenirs related to Ise Shrine.

Kinki

• Roadside Station Kudoyama Harima Kogen Ryuchin:

  • This roadside station in Asago City, Hyogo Prefecture, allows you to fully enjoy the nature of the Harima Plateau.
  • There are campsites, hot springs, ski resorts and other facilities in the surrounding area , making it a place where you can enjoy leisure and sports.
  • The roadside station has a restaurant where you can enjoy dishes made with fresh vegetables from the Harima Highlands and game dishes made with locally-raised wild boar, as well as a product shop selling souvenirs related to the Harima Highlands.

• Roadside Station Kawayu Onsen Poppo no Yu:

  • This hot spring roadside station is located along the Kumano Kodo trail in Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture .
  • There are day-use bathing facilities and foot baths where you can relax and unwind after a long day of travel.
  • The roadside station has a restaurant where you can try dishes made with Kumano beef and locally grown plums, as well as a souvenir shop selling souvenirs related to the Kumano Kodo.

China

• Takanosudai Roadside Station:
  • This roadside station in Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture, offers spectacular views of the Sea of ​​Japan.
  • There is an observation deck with a panoramic view of the Tottori Sand Dunes, as well as a restaurant where you can enjoy seafood dishes.
  • The roadside station also has a product shop selling glass products made from sand from the Tottori Sand Dunes and sweets made with locally grown Nijisseiki pears.
• Roadside Station Michinoku Mori no Lakeside Park:
  • This roadside station is located on the banks of Maniwa Dam Lake, the symbol of Maniwa City , Okayama Prefecture .
  • There are walking trails and campsites along the lakeside, where you can enjoy nature walks and camping.
  • The roadside station has a restaurant where you can enjoy dishes made with ingredients from Maniwa City and dishes made with locally handmade tofu, as well as a product center selling souvenirs related to Maniwa City.

Shikoku

• Roadside Station Tosashimizu Sameura:
  • This roadside station in Tosashimizu City, Kochi Prefecture, offers views of the beautiful coastline of Cape Ashizuri.
  • It is also convenient to access Cape Ashizuri sightseeing boats and the John Manjiro statue.
  • The roadside station has a restaurant where you can enjoy dishes made with fresh bonito and sweets made with locally grown citrus fruits, as well as a product shop selling souvenirs related to Cape Ashizuri.
• Roadside Station Kagawa Kotohira Kotohira Onsen:
  • This roadside station is located in Kotohira Town, Kagawa Prefecture, along Kotohira Kaido, which is known as the approach to Konpira Shrine.
  • There are hot spring facilities and foot baths where you can relax and unwind after your trip.
  • At the roadside station, there is a restaurant where you can enjoy dishes using Sanuki udon noodles and sweets made with locally grown red kidney beans, as well as a product center selling Konpira-san related souvenirs.

Kyushu

• Roadside Station Kokonoe "Dream Suspension Bridge":
  • Located in Kuju Town, Oita Prefecture, this roadside station offers a spectacular view of the Kokonoe "Dream Suspension Bridge."
  • Kokonoe's "Dream Suspension Bridge" is the tallest suspension bridge in Japan, and is surrounded by the majestic Kokonoe mountain range.
  • The roadside station has a restaurant where you can enjoy dishes made with fresh vegetables from the Kokonoe mountain range and game dishes made with locally-sourced wild boar, as well as a souvenir shop selling souvenirs related to Kokonoe's "Dream Suspension Bridge."
• Roadside Station Yuki:
  • This roadside station is located at the foot of Mount Aso in Aso City, Kumamoto Prefecture .
  • It is also convenient for climbing Mount Aso and accessing Aso Farmland.
  • The roadside station has a restaurant where you can enjoy dishes made with Aso's red beef and dairy products made with locally produced Jersey milk, as well as a product shop selling souvenirs related to Mount Aso.

All of these roadside stations are places where you can enjoy local specialties and cuisine while taking in the beautiful scenery. Be sure to stop by during your road trip.