[Yamagata Prefecture] Let's stay at a roadside station! Introducing roadside stations with accommodation facilities in Yamagata Prefecture!

As car camping trips at roadside stations become a quiet trend, did you know that there are an increasing number of roadside stations where you can stay safely?

, we will introduce two roadside stations in Yamagata Prefecture that have RV parks where you can safely sleep overnight in your car

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Roadside Station Yamagata Zao (Omote Zao, Yamagata City: National Route 13)

This is a new roadside station that just opened on December 3, 2023, and together with the adjacent " Gutto Yamagata ," it handles and widely introduces a wide range of Yamagata Prefecture products.

Various events promoting Yamagata will be held in the artificial turf event plaza and large multipurpose hall, and the roadside station is expected to also create new business

Large car camping space

Each space is the size of two standard cars and can accommodate tables, chairs, etc., and each of the five spaces has a power outlet (100V/15A)

Information Corner at the general information center near the car camping area are available 24 hours a day, and changing rooms in the bus waiting area for buses that stop at the roadside station are also available.

However, there are no shower or bathing facilities within the hotel, and the nearest hot spring facility is about 1.3 km away, so we recommend taking a bath before parking

You can use a portable stove to cook in the car camping area, but the rule is that you must use it on a table or somewhere similar, and you must be careful when handling fire

Please note that bonfires and fireworks are prohibited in the space and the adjacent event square

"Imoni Square" with a washing area

The Imoni Square where you can enjoy 's local autumn dish, Imoni , and is also used as a space for holding empty-handed Imoni parties and selling Imoni from food trucks.

It is close to the car camping space, and you can use the washing area in this Imoni Square after your meal

The drains may be closed when the plaza is not in use, but please be sure to return them to their original positions after use

Although the street lights at Imoni Square are turned off at midnight, there are sensor lights installed that light up when you approach, so you can feel safe even at night

Procedures for using car camping spaces at "Yamagata Zao"

When you check in, you will pay the fee at the general information desk and receive dedicated power key ," a " dedicated garbage collection container key, " and a " use permit

If you check out before 9:00 a.m. the day after your stay, when the general information desk opens, please return the keys and permit to return post

When disposing of garbage in the designated garbage collection container, please purchase the designated garbage bags and separate the garbage before disposing of it

Recommended Yamagata delicacies that can be purchased at roadside stations

Inside the roadside station building, there are booths for four popular shops in Yamagata right now

All of the dishes are made with generous amounts of local ingredients and are highly rated, and you can also enjoy them at the eat-in corner set up in front of the store

• Yamagata Pudding Roadside Station Zao : Yamagata's first fruit pudding specialty store made with local ingredients
• SLOWJAM Roadside Station Yamagata Zao : Sweets like canelés and a specialty cafe
• ESCARGOT ZAO BAUM STUDIO : Freshly baked piping hot Baumkuchen
• TAKAHASHI BEEF FARM : Fresh meat delivered directly from our own farm and processed products

"Yamagata Zao" and "Gutto Yamagata"

The adjacent product center, "Gutto Yamagata," opened in 1984, but was renovated and reopened in 2023 as a souvenir shop and food and drink facility in conjunction with the newly constructed roadside station

The roadside station building and " Gutto Yamagata " are connected by an indoor walkway, so you can move between the two facilities without getting wet even on rainy or snowy days.

Additionally, there are five off-site shops from famous stores in Yamagata Prefecture on the facility grounds that can also be used for shopping and dining

Please note that Gutto Yamagata is open from 9am to 5pm (food court opens from 10am), including the shops outside the building, so if you plan to sleep in your car, it is best to do your shopping and eat early

Roadside Station Yamagata Zao <Information>

• Facility name: Roadside Station Yamagata Zao
• Address: 79-1 Omote Zao, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 023-676-6868
• Business hours: 9:00-17:00
• No regular holiday
• Car camping space: Check-in from 14:00 to 17:00, check-out at 10:00 the next morning
• URL: Roadside Station Yamagata Zao Official Website

Yamagata ＜Information＞

• Facility name: Gutto Yamagata (Yamagata Prefecture Tourism and Products Center Co., Ltd.)
• Address: 68 Omote Zao, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 023-688-5500
• Business hours: 9:00-17:30
• No regular holiday
• URL: Gutto Yamagata Official Website

GOOGLE MAP

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Takahata Roadside Station (Takahata Town, Higashiokitama District: National Route 113)

This roadside station is located in Takahata Town, also known " Mahoroba Village ," a region famous for producing delicious fruit and wine, and as the filming location for the movie " Swing Girls

It was built adjacent to Mahoroba Furunosato Historical Park with the aim of disseminating tourist information about Takahata Town

Convenient RV park close to the building

There is an RV park with power outlets for four vehicles, and the space is large enough for one vehicle, so you can also use tables and chairs

The RV park is open any time between April 1st and November 30th, excluding the snowy winter months

Any garbage generated during your stay can be disposed of by purchasing designated garbage bags at the roadside station

There are changing rooms and shower rooms (for a fee) that can be used from April 1st to November 30th, but the shower rooms are currently closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so it is best to check in advance and if they are not available, use a nearby hot spring facility

Free Wi-Fi is available at the information desk and restaurant area

Jomon Shop and Farm Products Direct Sales Store "Mahoroba Daichi no Kai" and "Restaurant Jomon"

Jomon Hamburger created by the women's division of the local Chamber of Commerce is also highly rated, and the " Yonezawa Beef Croquettes " and various types of gelato are also popular.

However, the restaurant closes at 4:45 PM, so we recommend coming early for dinner

Additionally, the Jomon Shop the Mahoroba Daichi no Kai farm produce store are open until 5:30 p.m., so you might want to buy dinner there.

Takahata Roadside Station <Information>

• Facility name: Takahata Roadside Station
• Address: 2072-1 Akutsu, Takahata-cho, Higashiokitama-gun, Yamagata Prefecture
• Phone number: 0238-52-5433
• Business hours: 9:00-17:00
• No regular holiday
• Car camping space: Check-in 13:00-16:30, check-out 9:00-10:00 the next morning
• URL: Takahata Roadside Station Official Website

GOOGLE MAP

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summary

In recent years, sleeping in cars in parking lots has become a common problem at roadside stations, and unfortunately, it seems that an increasing number of facilities are banning it

Among these roadside stations, some have hotel-like accommodation facilities or RV parks for sleeping in your car, allowing you to stay overnight without any reservations

Unlike sleeping in your car in a parking lot, it will cost more, but why not try using an RV park where you can stay safely?

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