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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
Shizukuishi Town has an image character named " Shizuku-chan ," a young woman dressed in the costume of the " Yoshare Festival " held every August , who welcomes visitors at various locations throughout " Shizukuishi Aneko ."
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, it was selected as the second-place winner in the " Jalan National Roadside Station Grand Prix "
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, the menu features a variety of noodle dishes, including " Warm Tomato Noodles " and " Shizukuishi Wasabi Cold Noodles ," which are made with wasabi from Shizukuishi
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 Burger ," which features a Shizukuishi minced meat cutlet, and the fragrant " Hitomebore Soft Serve Ice Cream ," made with locally produced rice .
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 corner offers a wide variety of gifts, including local Shizukuishi sake, " Shizukuishi Beef Miso ," and " Wasabi Negaa, " a dressing-like condiment
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
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)
Located right off the Towa Interchange of the Kamaishi Expressway, this area features adjacent hot spring facilities and accommodations and is affectionately known as " Bishamonten and Man Tetsugoro's Village ."
It is located near Narushima Bishamondo, which is known for its baby crying sumo wrestling, and its nickname is derived from Tetsugoro Yorozu , a Western-style painter who was from Towa Town
In addition to restaurants and shops, there is a " trial workshop " where you can experience making processed foods such as bread and juice
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>
Facility name: Roadside Station Towa
Address: 147-2, Yasutawara 6-ku, Towa-cho, Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture
Phone number: 0198-42-3006
Business hours: Restaurant Hidakami 11:00 - 21:00 (LO 20:45), Ajidokoro Towa 11:00 - 15:00 (LO 14:30)
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)
This roadside station is located within the " Ohno Campus ," a social experiment facility established as an " experiential tourism zone " by the former Ohno Village, which merged with Hirono Town, with the cooperation of the University of Tokyo
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.
At " Shoku no Yakata Ohno " inside the roadside station , the " Akadori Ramen, " a miso-flavored ramen made with local chicken broth , is very popular, and at " Sanchoku Ohno ," fresh 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
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
Additionally, the " Shii-sokan " located on the premises offers 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
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 restaurant serves delicious steaks made with " Iwaizumi Tankaku beef ," and the souvenir shop and farm produce market in Iwaizumi Town, also known as " Wakuwaku House ," offers a wide variety of seasonal local vegetables, processed goods, and homemade sweets
" Italian Gelato ViTO × IWAIZUMI ," which uses milk and yogurt from " Iwaizumi Milk ," is 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.
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?
I'm a former Edoite (Tokyoite) who loves Morioka and the six prefectures of Tohoku, and I'm a big fan of history, gourmet food, travel, sports, alcohol, and choral singing.
I'll introduce you to interesting things, delicious food, and great places in Tohoku!
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