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[Iwate Prefecture] Stay at a roadside station! Introducing roadside stations in Iwate Prefecture with accommodation facilities!

Iwate Prefecture has the most roadside stations with accommodation facilities out of the six Tohoku prefectures, with five roadside stations equipped with hotels, campsites, and RV parks specifically for overnight stays in cars

All of these roadside stations are located in areas surrounded by abundant nature, allowing you to spend a relaxing time in a convenient environment

Shizukuishi Anekko Roadside Station (Shizukuishi Town, Iwate County: National Route 46)

In the Shizukuishi region on the border between Iwate and Akita prefectures, girls of marriageable age are called "anekko."

"Shizuku-chan" holding vegetables

held every AugustYoshare Festivala young woman dressed in the costume ofShizuku-chanhas an image character namedShizukuishi Anekowho welcomes visitors at various locations throughout

The station is surrounded by rich nature, and it is a roadside station where you can sleep in your car or camp at the adjacent auto campsite, as well as enjoy a bath in the natural hot springs

The auto camping site is in the upper left direction of this diagram

Shizukuishi Town has many hot springs and is affectionately known as "Ideyu no Sato" (Village of Hot Springs). In 2021,Jalan National Roadside Station Grand Prixit was selected as the second-place winner in

The spacious Rainbow Park (Koyanagi Sabo Park Campground)

It is well maintained and you can enjoy swimming in the river

Across the Shizukuishi River from the roadside station, there is an auto campsite called "Rainbow Park" with 21 sites equipped with water facilities and toilets.

There is an area where you can drive your car and sleep in it, and if you take advantage of the rental plan for all camping equipment, including tents, you can enjoy authentic outdoor camping even if you arrive empty-handed

A view of the auto camping site. The hexagonal roof building on the right is the toilet, and the roof visible in the back center is the kitchen

Komakusa Restaurant: A wide variety of specialty dishes

The menu features many ingredients from Shizukuishi, and the "Shizukuishi Beef Sirloin Steak Bowl" is especially recommended.

In addition,Warm Tomato Noodles" and "Shizukuishi Wasabi Cold Noodlesthe menu features a variety of noodle dishes, including

Kobiru Kitchen: Enjoy light meals at your leisure

The kitchen's name, "Kobiru," is a local Shizukuishi dialect word meaning "leisurely" or "relaxed." Popular items include the hearty "Anekko Burgermade with locally produced riceHitomebore Soft Serve Ice Cream.

Part of the Kobiru menu

Authentic handmade soba noodles at Sobadokoro Shizukuan

The soba noodles, which are hand-made using buckwheat flour milled in-house from Shizukuishi, are renowned for their exquisite taste

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, soba noodle making experiences were popular, but they are currently suspended and there are growing calls for their revival

Direct from the farm Shizukuishi & Local Products Shizukuishi

The direct sales include local agricultural products, processed foods such as wild vegetables, mushrooms, pickles, freshly baked bread and rice cake sweets, as well as popular bento boxes

The souvenir cornerShizukuishi Beef Misoa dressing-like condimentWasabi Negaa,offers a wide variety of gifts, including

A rare frozen venison vending machine

A rare game meat vending machine

The first wild game vending machine in Tohoku has been installed at the entrance to the direct sales area

Not only seasoned meat but also plain venison is sold

The venison caught in Otsuchi Town in Sanriku is frozen and many of the dishes are seasoned and processed, making it a popular choice for camping meals

The Japanese Herb Garden: Surrounded by the scent of herbs

The greenhouse in the center is the herb garden, and the entrance to the auto camping site is on the left

The garden is filled with the aroma of herbs, and a variety of herbs are grown, including Japanese herbs such as shiso.In addition to processed products such as herbal tea and herbal essences, potted plants are also sold

Please note that it is closed during the winter season from late March to early November

Hashiba Onsen Shinhashiba no Yu

Shin Hashiba no Yu sells day fishing tickets for the Shizukuishi River and other areas

The alkaline simple hot spring water, which flows directly from the source, is known for its skin-beautifying properties, and this is a day-trip hot spring where you can enjoy both the hot spring and sauna bathing

The sauna is set at a low temperature of 90°C, allowing you to take your time in the bath, and when combined with the cold water bath made from local famous water that is gentle on the skin, it is said to help relieve daily fatigue and restore both body and mind

This year, a new free foot bath was opened near the hot spring facility

The small foot bath in the foreground is for dogs

There are facilities for both people and dogs, so you can enjoy the park with your pets (it will be closed during the winter)

Large dog run "Wanwan Park"

The roadside station seen from the dog run, with the parking space for the dog run in the foreground

It is divided into two sections, one for small dogs and one for medium and large dogs, so even your little dog can play safely

Please use this as a relaxing place for your dog while taking a walk in Koyanagi Sabo Park

Shizukuishi Anekko Roadside Station <Information>

  • Facility name: Roadside Station Shizukuishi Anekko
  • Address: 118-10 Hashiba Sakamoto, Shizukuishi-cho, Iwate-gun, Iwate Prefecture
  • Phone number: 019-692-5577
  • Opening hours: Komakusa 11:00-16:00 (Saturdays, Sundays and holidays until 20:00, last order 30 minutes before closing), Kobiru Kitchen 9:00-17:00, Shizukuan 11:00-15:00
  • Opening hours: Direct from Farm Shizukuishi and Bussan Shizukuishi 9:00-17:00, Shin Hashibanoyu 9:00-20:00 (reception: 19:30)
  • Closed: Open all year round
  • URL:Shizukuishi Aneko Roadside Station Official Website

GOOGLE MAP

Towa Roadside Station (Towacho, Hanamaki City: Prefectural Route 39, Kamaishi Expressway)

Information corner and shop

Located right off the Towa Interchange of the Kamaishi Expressway, this area features adjacent hot spring facilities and accommodations andBishamonten and Man Tetsugoro's Villageis affectionately known as

It is located near Narushima Bishamondo, which is known for its baby crying sumo wrestling, andYorozuits nickname is derived from Tetsugoro

where you can experience making processed foods such as bread and juicetrial workshopthere is

The shop sells processed mulberry products and honey, a specialty of Towa Town, as well as juice and jam made with aronia

Ajidokoro Towa

The building on the far left is "Ajidokoro Touwa"

The 100% buckwheat soba noodles, curry rice made with plenty of vegetables from Towa, and tempura bowls are very popular

Hotel Folkloro Hanamaki Towa

Hotel Folkloro is a B&B-style hotel adjacent to the JR station, but this particular location is called a "countryside resort" and is located next to a roadside rest area.

There are 35 guest rooms (Western-style rooms and Japanese-Western style rooms), a cafe bar and a book lounge, and the hotel is connected to Towa Onsen by a corridor, making it easy to come and go

Towa Onsen, where 100% of the water flows directly from the source

The water quality is simple hot spring (hypotonic, weakly alkaline, high temperature hot spring), which is gentle on the skin and has little irritation, making it safe for small children to bathe in. There is also an open-air bath and sauna

This is the only hot spring in Tohoku where carbonated spring water with dissolved carbon dioxide gas flows freely, and it is popular as the stimulation of the carbon dioxide promotes blood circulation

Restaurant Hidakami

There is a beer garden on the restaurant terrace, and you can also play park golf in the large garden (bio garden)

The restaurant at Towa Onsen serves everything from light meals to plated and set meals, and in the summer you can enjoy a beer garden on the terrace facing the garden (a Western-style model garden)

Towa Roadside Station <Information>

GOOGLE MAP

Roadside Station Ohno (Hirono Town, Kunohe District: National Route 395)

Panoramic view of "Michinoeki Oono" Source: Wikipedia (File name: Michinoeki Oono in Iwate.JPG Photographer: Aratsuku)

by the former Ohno Village, which merged with Hirono Town, with the cooperation of the University of Tokyoexperiential tourism zone," a social experiment facility established asOhno CampusThis roadside station is located within the

Guests can use various facilities within the "Ohno Campus," stay in Western-style or Japanese-style rooms at "Green Hill Ohno," and also enjoy meals at the restaurant, herbal baths, and saunas.

inside the roadside stationShoku no Yakata Ohnoa miso-flavored ramen made with local chicken brothAkadori Ramen,, is very popular, and at "Sanchoku Ohnofresh vegetables and delicious milk and dairy products from "Ohno Milk" are sold.

Various experiences such as woodworking, pottery making, and stargazing at the observatory are also popular

Roadside Station Ohno <Information>

  • Facility name: Oono Campus Roadside Station Oono
  • Address: 58-12-30 Ono, Hirono-cho, Kunohe-gun, Iwate Prefecture
  • Phone number: 0194-77-3202
  • Opening hours: Food Hall Ohno 11:00-18:00, Direct from Farm Ohno 9:00-17:00
  • Closed: Open all year round
  • URL:Ohno Campus Official Website

GOOGLE MAP

Tanohata Roadside Station - Wind of Thought (Tanohata Village, Shimohei District: National Route 45)

Tanohata Roadside Station Source: Wikipedia (File name: Michinoeki Tanohata Shii no kaze.jpg Photographer: Yasu)

"Shiino Kaze" reopened in April 2021 after renovations due to construction work on the Sanriku Coastal Road.

There is a private RV parking space with power for five vehicles, and the spacious area allows you to spread out tarps and tables and even cook using fire

located on the premisesShii-sokanoffers a private rental of a traditional Japanese house for one group per day (capacity 20 people; more than that requires consultation).

Restaurants and farm shops offer a wide variety of souvenirs, including fresh seafood such as seaweed, sea urchin, abalone, salmon, squid, and crab, as well as dishes and processed products such as mountain vegetables and mushrooms

Roadside Station Thanatata Wind of Thought <Information>

  • Facility name: Roadside Station Tanohata Wind of Thought
  • Address: 151-6 Sugakubo, Tanohata Village, Shimohei District, Iwate Prefecture
  • Phone number: 0194-32-3555
  • Business hours: Cafeteria 11:00-14:00, Fast food 10:00-16:30, Retail and direct sales 9:00-17:00
  • Closed: Open all year round
  • URL:Michi-no-Eki Tanohata Shii no Kaze Official Website

GOOGLE MAP

Iwaizumi Roadside Station (Iwaizumi Town, Shimohei District: National Route 455)

Roadside Station Iwaizumi (Baseball field lights in the background on the left) Source: Wikipedia (File name: Michinoeki Iwaizumi.jpg Photographer: Yasu)

Next to the roadside station is the "Rakuten Eagles Iwaizumi Stadium," which is named by a professional baseball team under a naming rights agreement.

The restaurantIwaizumi Tankaku beefserves delicious steaks made withWakuwaku Houseand the souvenir shop and farm produce market in Iwaizumi Town, also known as

"Iwaizumi Milkwhich uses milk and yogurt fromItalian Gelato ViTO × IWAIZUMIis gaining popularity as the first Italian gelato specialty shop in the Tohoku region.

the opposite bank of the Komoto River, "Fureai Land Iwaizumi" offers camping, cottages, and even overnight stays in the "Blue Train Nihonkai" carriages. However, it is currently closed for complete renovations from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025.

Roadside Station Iwaizumi <Information>

GOOGLE MAP

summary

There are five roadside stations in Iwate Prefecture where you can stay overnight, each with its own unique characteristics that make them interesting places to stay

You can enjoy the unique flavors of each region, from restaurants and souvenirs to fresh vegetables sourced directly from the farm, so why not stay overnight and take your time to savor the local flavors?

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