Why are the soft serve ice cream eaten at roadside stations so delicious? If you want to eat, this is it! Soft-serve ice cream from a roadside station in northern Iwate Prefecture! [Iwate Prefecture]

The soft serve ice cream at the roadside station makes use of the flavor and aroma of local ingredients, making it a popular gourmet food that is essential for a drive break. Last time, we introduced soft serve ice cream and takeout gourmet food at roadside stations near Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, recommended by the author, but this time we will be discussing the northern part of Iwate Prefecture.
We would like to introduce you to the local soft serve ice cream that every station has to offer, as we have experienced by visiting roadside stations in northern Iwate Prefecture.

The prices listed in the article are as of the end of May 2025.


[ Roadside Station Ishigami no Oka ] Cabbage soft serve ice cream! ? What does that taste like? (Iwate Town, Iwate District: National Route 4)

Roadside Station Ishigami no Oka

It is adjacent to the Ishigami no Oka Museum on National Route 4 in Iwate Town, and is a roadside station that has been selected as holy place for lovers

The "Giii Coffee" made by three odd old men from Iwate Town is recommended as a souvenir!

There are children's play equipment on the premises, and in addition to the museum, there is also a lavender garden and a blueberry garden, so the family can play all day long.

Spring Green Soft Serve: 390 yen

Plenty of spring puree kneaded in it

This is a beautiful pale green soft serve ice cream kneaded with the puree of Spring Green known as the delicious spring cabbage picked in Iwate Town

In front of the Chayakko, a store for spring green software, there is a rare green soft-serve ice cream-shaped andon.

When it melts in your mouth, the cabbage flavor and sweetness rises, but it doesn't have a greenish flavor and is refreshing. The small grains kneaded in the kneading give you a strong sense of cabbage texture, and the aftertaste is light and the cabbage flavor remains.

An original soft serve ice cream that is also popular at Restaurant Ishigami no Oka!

The restaurant is highly rated for its menu, which is rich in local ingredients, and is certified as the "Iwate Locally Produced Local Consumption Nittsu Star Restaurant."

The restaurant's menu is full of local gourmet food and sweets!

Sweet and sour soft serve ice cream with blueberries harvested from a blueberry garden are sold at restaurants, and this is also a popular software at this station (390 yen). You can enjoy local gourmet foods filled with vegetables from Iwatecho, including curry, grilled udon, ramen, hamburgers, and steak, which you can't find anywhere else.

Roadside Station Ishigami no Oka <Information>

  • Facility name: Roadside Station Ishigami no Oka
  • Location: 121-20 10th Land Distribution, Iwate-cho, Iwate-gun, Iwate Prefecture
  • Phone number: 0195-61-1600
  • Opening hours: Chayakko (April-October) 9:30-4:30, (November-March) 9:30-4:00
  • Opening Hours: Restaurant Ishigami no Oka 10:30-18:00 (LO17:30)
  • Opening Hours: Ishigami no Oka 9:00-18:00
  • Closed: New Year's holidays (Chayakko: Every Thursday)
  • URL: Roadside Station Ishigami no Oka Official Website

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[Yamabikokan Roadside Station] A soft-sweet black bean soft serve ice cream that touches your heart! (Miyako City, National Route 106)

Roadside Station Yamabikokan is the back left of the photo and is "Omoutei"

The area where the roadside station is located is said to be almost in the middle of Iwate Prefecture, and is at the middle of National Route 106, which connects Morioka and Miyako. It was once known as Kawai Village, Shimohei District.

Wide dragon plaza and grass plaza with play equipment for families to play 

The Seii River flows right next to it, and is surrounded by abundant nature, and the adjacent Dragon Plaza and Lawn Plaza have play equipment so children can play freely.

Black bean soft serve ice cream: 350 yen

The cream, which is kneaded with the pasty black flat bean paste from Kawai Village, is a black flat bean that floats in the pale gray color.

When you take your first bite, the aroma and sweetness of sweetened black beans spread throughout your mouth, giving you a taste that feels like you're eating cream beans.

The black bean soft is also available at the counter at Yohokan in the back and inside the shop.

This local soft serve ice cream is recommended for those who like black beans, with a fragrant black bean flavor that lasts for a long time.

"Restaurant Momotei" is popular for "Dragon Men"

If you're strong in spiciness, be sure to try "super spicy"!

Dragon Noodles a soup with thin noodles full of vegetables and 5 levels of spicy eggs and spicy miso paste , and is addictively delicious with its intense spicy and delicious taste.

Even on weekdays, the "Momotei" is full at lunchtime

Named for its fire-filled spicy flavor, this ramen has been featured on TV and other media, and is bustling on weekdays with customers visiting to find dragon noodles.

Roadside Station Yamabikokan <Information>

  • Facility name: Roadside Station Yamabikokan (Kaii no Sato)
  • Location: Kawauchi 8th Land Discount 2, Miyako City, Iwate Prefecture
  • Phone number: 0193-85-5011
  • Opening hours: Yahhokan 9:30-16:30
  • Opening hours: Shop (fast food in-house) 9:30-16:30
  • Opening Hours: Restaurant Momotei 11:00-16:00 (LO15:45)
  • Closed: No mention
  • URL: Roadside Station Yamabikokan Official Website

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[Roadside Station] Fast ball! Rich freshly squeezed milk soft serve ice cream! (Hyono Town, Kunohe District: National Route 395)

Roadside Station Oono is a vast "Oono Campus" spread out at the back of this roadside station.

The Oono Campus where the roadside station is located , is a complex facility in which the former Ono Village has created accommodation facilities, woodworking experience facilities, parks, and more with the cooperation of the University of Tokyo as part of a social experiment to revitalize the community.

As the Ministry of the Environment has said it is " the most easiest place to see the stars

Dream Milk Soft Serve (380 yen)

Dream milk soft cream

The soft serve ice cream made from "Oono Yume Milk" from "Oono Milk Studio" offers a rich, freshly squeezed milk flavor. This soft serves the richness of milk, but the aftertaste is refreshing, and the refreshing sweetness makes you want to refill it as much as you want.

There are three types of soft serve ice cream sold at the shop

Another roadside station is " Mountain Grape Soft ," which is kneaded with mountain grape juice, a specialty of the northern Iwate Prefecture region, allowing you to enjoy the refreshing sour taste of mountain grapes.

We recommend "Okara Donut" for takeout, and "Akara Chicken Ramen" at "Shoku no Mansion"!

Okara donuts in two and five

The fluffy and chewy "okara donut" made with okara from Mamefuchizume in Hirono Town Ono Yume Milk

A menu table for the "Food House" that is full of handmade feel

Akachicken Ramen can be eaten at the Shokudokan , is a miso ramen made from rich soup made from stewed local Japanese chicken " Akachi " and fresh local vegetables. The thick noodles are well mixed with the soup, and the toppings of red chicken char siu and minced meat are delicious, and local cabbage, radish, spinach and carrots are also used as toppings.

Roadside Station Ohno <Information>

  • Facility name: Roadside Station Oono Campus
  • Location: 58-12-30 Ohno, Hirono-cho, Kunohe-gun, Iwate Prefecture
  • Phone number: 0194-77-3202
  • Business hours: 9:00-17:00
  • Closed: New Year's holidays (12/30-1/3)
  • URL: Roadside Station Oono Campus Official Website

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[Roadside Station Iwate Kitasanriku] NEW Spot! Enjoy a nostalgic "kinako-flavored" soft serve ice cream. (Kuji City: National Route 45, National Route 395)

The illustration of a Pokemon is depicted in the food court window

This roadside station, which opened in April 2023 at the intersection of two national highways, is adjacent to convenience stores and gas stations, making it a useful spot for driving. The three food court stores offer a wide selection of menus, making it a place for locals to relax.

Black bean kinako soft serve ice cream: 420 yen

The ingredients for "Black Mamekinako" are black soybeans with black skin, and many black granules in the cream

It is available at standonuts, a donut and parfait in the food court

This is a richly flavored soft serve ice cream kneaded with black bean kinako from Kitasanriku, and is colored like Kuji's specialty "Kohaku"

The black bean kinako flour has a Japanese-style flavor, but it is similar to chocolate or mocha ice cream, and at first it has a light aroma that leaves a strong kinako flour flavor in the aftertaste.

Soft cream is made from Ono Yume Milk

is made from Oono Yume Milk that I introduced earlier

A satisfying "shorthorn beef curry donut"

Donut menu

There are many types of donuts at "Standonut", but curry donuts made with shorthorn beef are well-known and are popular as takeout menus.

Special curry donuts from the restaurant

The slightly spicy curry with spices matches the slightly sweet, chewy donut dough with a wonderful combination, allowing you to enjoy a taste that no other curry bread has.

Roadside Station Iwate Kitasanriku <Information>

  • Facility name: Roadside Station Iwate Kita Sanriku
  • Location: 3-2 Toriya No. 7-cho, Natsui-cho, Kuji City, Iwate Prefecture
  • Phone number: 0194-66-8830
  • Opening hours: Food Court 10:30-18:30 (Opening hours vary at three stores)
  • Business Hours: Products and Direct Production 9:00-19:00
  • Opening hours: Gas station 8:00 - 19:00
  • Closed: January 1st (other temporary closures are also available)
  • URL: Roadside Station Iwate Kitasanriku Official Website

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"Roadside Station Oritsume" mountain grape soft serve is sour like a lactic acid bacteria drink!

Odode Hall has become bright and clean after renovation work

This roadside station has a nickname " Ododekan comes from Odode-sama, who is passed down in Kunohe folk tales as the guardian deity of the village

Newly opened Gelatteria Nakaichi

Renovation work was underway in 2022, with new fried chicken " Okuchikiya Geratteria Nakaichi by local baked sweet potato shop opened.

Mountain Grape Soft Serve: 350 yen, Mini 300 yen

Mountain grape soft serve ice cream (mini size is fragrant waffle corn)

This soft serve ice cream is vivid with the aroma and flavor of mountain grape juice from Kunohe Village from the first bite, and the reddish purple color of the grapes is vibrant.

The rich cream and refreshing acidity give off a taste like a lactic acid bacteria drink, and the aftertaste is left with the lingering aroma of mountain grapes.

Three types of soft serve ice cream can be selected in either regular or mini size.

We recommend the mini served in waffle corn, which enhances the flavor of mountain grape soft serve ice cream.

Dendentei offers soft-serve ice cream from "TOMI Sujata Silk Ice."

In addition, the ramen restaurant Dendentei also sells a variety of soft serve ice cream, although not original.

Here's the recommended takeout! "Okuchiki Fried Chicken" (6 pieces 550 yen)

Takeout of Okuchiki Fried Chicken is 550 yen for 6 pieces

This is a soy sauce-flavored fried chicken with a strong garlic flavor that has been released by Kunohe Village, which is considered to be the "chicken kingdom" among Iwate Prefecture, which has the highest number of broilers in Japan

Fried fried chicken with crispy fried chicken is juicy even when it's cold!

The chicken has a well-smelled marinated flavor that makes use of its flavor, and in addition to fried chicken alone for take-out, there are also various parts of yakitori and fried chicken bento boxes available.

You can enjoy the "Okuchiki Fried Chicken Set Meal" or "Okuchiki Fried Chicken Curry" at the restaurant

If you want to eat with rice or try freshly fried food, you can enjoy it on the restaurant's set meal menu.

Roadside Station Oritsume <Information>

  • Facility name: Roadside Station Oritsume "Ododekan"
  • Location: Kunoe Murayamaya 2nd Land Distribution 28-1 Kunoe Village District, Iwate Prefecture
  • Phone number: 0195-42-4400
  • Opening hours: Direct production facility Odode Hall (April to October) 8:00-7:00, (November to March) 8:00-18:00
  • Opening Hours: Restaurant Oritsume 10:30-15:00
  • Opening Hours: Dendentei (Ramen) 10:00-17:00
  • Opening Hours: Oritsume Kobo 8:00-17:00
  • Opening Hours: Gelateria Nakaichi 10:00-16:00
  • Closed: New Year's holidays (every Tuesday at restaurant, Gelateria Nakaichi)
  • URL: Roadside Station Oritsume "Ododekan" Official website (Kuninohe Village Hall official website)

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summary

Northern Iwate Prefecture is known as a production area for mountain grapes, and mountain grape soft serves the Kuzumaki Kogen and Kuji in the vicinity of Roadside Station Oritsume, and you can enjoy subtle differences in taste.

There are also many dairy cow farms, and in addition to the Roadside Station Ohno, which I introduced in this article, there are also many shops selling soft serve ice cream and gelato made with rich milk.


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