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[Iwate Prefecture] Soft-serve ice cream from southern Iwate Prefecture where you can enjoy the flavor of milk and sesame seeds! Why are the soft serve ice cream eaten at roadside stations so delicious?
[Iwate Prefecture] Soft-serve ice cream from southern Iwate Prefecture where you can enjoy the flavor of milk and sesame seeds! Why are the soft serve ice cream eaten at roadside stations so delicious?
The local soft serve ice creams at roadside stations in southern Iwate Prefecture are characterized by their "orthodox" flavor, which relies on the delicious flavor of local milk, and many that use fragrant sesame seeds
In this article, we will introduce five particularly popular local soft serve ice creams at roadside stations
Please note that the prices (tax included) listed in the article are current as of the end of May 2025
[Roadside Station Kinshuko] Premium soft serve ice cream made with 100% local Yuda milk! (Nishiwaga Town, Waga District: National Route 107)
Exterior (National Route 107 and Lake Kinshu on the left)
This roadside station is located on the shores of Lake Kinshuko in Nishiwaga Town which was formed by the merger of the former Sawauchi known as one of the snowiest areas in Iwate Prefecture the former Yuda , famous for the
Interior (the food court is in the foreground, and the shop and kitchen are in the back left)
National Route 107 around the roadside station is a difficult stretch of road, and after the station opened in 2000, it was closed due to landslides in 2015 and 2022, forcing the roadside station to close each time
Among the wide variety of menu items, we especially recommend wild game dishes such as bear meat
In the disaster of 2022, National Route 107 was closed for seven months and the road was closed for a long time, but a detour was completed by opening a temporary bridge across Lake Kinshu, and the road station reopened for business on November 30th of the same year
Premium soft serve ice cream made with 100% Yuda milk: 350 yen
The simple milk soft serve ice cream is so delicious you'll never get tired of it
The soft serve ice cream is made from 100% Yuda milk squeezed from local cows, and has a rich, full-bodied milk flavor, but a clean aftertaste - a classic soft serve ice cream
If you see it, be sure to buy it and drink it!
Yuda Milk was once a third sector company established to support local dairy farmers, but it has now been privatized and sells milk and Yuda yogurt nationwide
Biscuit tempura is the roadside station's top recommendation
As the name suggests, biscuits deep-fried in tempura , and are sold at roadside stations for 200 yen for a pack of two.
The biscuit filling is fried, which removes moisture and gives it a light, crispy and crumbly texture
Just one slice is satisfying and delicious even when cold
The thick batter is made primarily from rice flour blended with wheat flour, giving it a chewy texture similar to that of a corn dog, and even one is enough to fill you up
The biscuits used as tempura fillings must be "Kasanketto" biscuits sold by Ito Confectionery in Tokyo and they are always available in local supermarkets.
Mizusawa Roadside Station: Shohei Ohtani may have tried this black sesame soft serve ice cream! (Mizusawa, Oshu City: National Route 343)
You can dine at the restaurant on the second floor while watching the Kitakami River flow
The Flower Road of River and Greenery is located to the west of Fuji Bridge over the Kitakami River . It is known for the beautiful view of the Kitakami River from the restaurant on the second floor, and is bustling with customers at lunchtime.
The souvenir section of the shop is small, but there are Ohtani-related goods everywhere
By the way, the Anedai district of Mizusawa, where this station is located, is known as the birthplace of Shohei Ohtani, a player for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Black sesame soft serve ice cream: 350 yen
Black sesame seeds can be seen here and there in the cream
It contains black sesame seeds, so the color is not the best, but one bite and you'll be able to enjoy the strong, fragrant sesame flavor, even to the aftertaste
There are many types of soft serve ice cream, but the most popular is the black sesame soft serve
The slightly coarsely ground sesame has a texture that is likely to become addictive, and the soft serve ice cream has a flavor similar to that of a Japanese confectionery with a moderate sweetness
A restaurant with a view of the Kitakami River and a panel featuring Shohei Ohtani
The cash register at the convenience store is full of Ohtani players
" Maezawa Beef Suiton ," and offers a wonderful view of the Kitakami River, allowing you to enjoy your meal while watching the slowly flowing Kitakami River.
A panel of Otani's face exuding strength
However, the next best thing to this roadside station after the soft serve ice cream is undoubtedly the face panel of Shohei Ohtani, a local baseball player who is now a superstar in the American MLB
Previously, the uniforms were red, but now they have been repainted Dodger blue and are waiting for customers to come and take a look
Mizusawa Roadside Station <Information>
Facility name: Mizusawa Roadside Station
Address: 51-3 Ishikawahara, Mizusawa Anekatacho, Oshu City, Iwate Prefecture
[Roadside Station Hiraizumi] A wide variety of flavors! We recommend the golden sesame milk soft serve ice cream and the doburoku ice cream! (Hiraizumi Town, Nishiiwai District: National Route 4)
A roadside station with ample space for holding events
Located on the banks of the Kitakami River that flows through Hiraizumi City, a World Heritage city, this roadside station provides a soothing haven for travelers visiting the area
The restaurant opens at 6:00 and offers breakfast sets of rice (800 yen) and bread (600 yen), which are popular with travelers who arrive early in the morning
Golden sesame milk soft serve: 400 yen
The sesame paste and golden sesame seeds topping is fragrant
The milk soft serve ice cream has a strong flavor from the sesame paste kneaded into it, and is topped with fragrant golden sesame seeds
The sweet milk soft serve ice cream is refreshing and well-balanced with the rich sesame paste, making it a flavor that can only be enjoyed here among the wide variety of soft serve ice creams available
Doburoku ice cream: 400 yen
Doburoku ice cream is made fluffy by passing the ice cream in a cup through a machine
Although it's not exactly soft serve ice cream , I would like to introduce it to you as it is rare to find ice cream containing doburoku.
It's refreshing and doesn't really have the flavor of doburoku at first, but the flavor of koji comes out over time and leaves an aftertaste similar to amazake
However, the alcohol content is 0.9%, so drivers who are sensitive to alcohol should be careful.
These ice creams can be topped with gold powder
In addition to the soft serve ice cream, there are also several types of ice cream available, which can be topped with gold powder (+200 yen)
The black vanilla ice cream made with bamboo charcoal and topped with gold powder creates a luxurious atmosphere with the gold shining against the black background
"Cheese Dog" and "Takoyaki Skewers" are perfect for takeout
Cheese dogs are topped with plenty of tomato ketchup
The cheese dog (550 yen) is filled with plenty of cheese and is recommended for cheese lovers
The outside is sprinkled with 5mm chopped potatoes, adding an accent to the texture, and the slightly sweet dog dough is moist, chewy, and fluffy
Please note that the ramen comes with plenty of ketchup already on it, so be careful not to drip it when eating it in the car
Four takoyaki on one skewer, topped with bonito flakes, sauce, and plenty of mayonnaise
The chewy takoyaki skewers (250 yen each) can also be eaten with one hand, but you should be careful as the sauce will drip
【Roadside Station Daito: Soft serve ice cream made with local milk by the famous Fujiya Dairy Company! (Daito, Ichinoseki City: National Route 343)
The newly opened roadside station Daito
Daito Roadside Station opened on April 17, 2025 as the fourth roadside station in Ichinoseki City.
Before the merger, the former Daito Town was home to Fujiya Dairy, which was established in 1962 as a joint venture with Fujiya , and produces sweets using raw milk collected from dairy farmers in and around Ichinoseki City.
Peko-chan will introduce Fujiya Dairy products
You can also purchase Fujiya Dairy products at the roadside station's convenience store
Soft serve ice cream: 350 yen
Pure white milk soft serve
The soft serve ice cream made by Fujiya Dairy, which is made using milk collected from around Ichinoseki, has a flavor similar to fresh cream, compared to other milk soft serve ice creams which have a strong milk aroma
You can also taste the richness of the fresh cream, and it might be more appropriate to call it a softer, warmer ice cream rather than a soft serve ice cream
"Dango in a Cup" comes in a cup and is easy to eat
All four types of "Dango in a Cup" are recommended! The fried rice cakes on the bottom shelf are also delicious!
The popular item is Dango in a Cup (378 yen) which is sold in a cup with two skewers of three balls each so that you can eat it while driving.
There are four flavors: red bean paste, mitarashi, black sesame, and zunda
Daito Roadside Station <Information>
Facility name: Roadside Station Daito
Address: 47-1 Shibutani Nishikaze, Daito-cho, Ichinoseki City, Iwate Prefecture
[Murone Roadside Station] Can you buy fried chicken at home? Delicious vanilla soft serve! (Muronecho, Ichinoseki City: National Route 284)
Murone Roadside Station has a multipurpose space that doubles as an emergency generator, water tank, and disaster prevention plaza
This roadside station is located on a hill at the foot of Mt. Murone, offering a panoramic view of the rural mountain scenery
The station opened in April 2018 when the Murone Bypass on National Route 284 was opened, and is equipped with disaster prevention functions so that it can serve as a support base for the Sanriku coastal area in the event of a disaster
Vanilla soft serve: 380 yen
Vanilla soft serve with toppings, with Mount Murone visible in the background
The vanilla soft serve sold at fried chicken shops is made with locally produced raw milk, giving it a rich milk flavor yet a refreshing taste
Karaageya's soft serve ice cream counter is located inside the building. You can order soft serve ice cream here
The texture and aroma of the chick-shaped cookie topping on the vanilla soft serve adds a nice change of flavor
"Muroune Fried Chicken" from Karaageya Roadside Station Murone Branch
A counter for fried chicken and fast food on the parking lot side
a directly managed store of Oyama Co., Ltd. which produces the brand chicken " Oshu Iwaidori, and in addition to fried chicken, you can also get takeout fast food such as burgers.
Freshly fried chicken
"Muroone Karaage" is seasoned with a soy sauce base with the flavors of onion and ginger, and the batter is thin and crispy, and the fresh chicken is juicy
It also came in first place in the gourmet project "King of the Fried Chicken" hosted by a local Iwate TV station!
Murone Karaage won the national championship at the "Karaage Festival No. 1 Decision," which was held among stores that won the gold medal at the "Karaage Grand Prix" sponsored by the Japan Fried Chicken Association
Murone Roadside Station <Information>
Facility name: Roadside Station Murone
Address: 131-9 Orikabe Mukaiyama, Murone-cho, Ichinoseki City, Iwate Prefecture
There are four roadside stations in Ichinoseki city in southern Iwate prefecture, but this article did not introduce the soft serve ice cream at Geibikei and Kawasaki
In fact, both stations sell ice cream from an ice cream shop called "Polarno" in Ichinoseki City, and we have introduced two highly original stations where you can enjoy the ice cream
Polano's soft serve ice cream, ice cream, and gelato are extremely popular among locals, so be sure to give them a try when you visit Ichinoseki
I am a former Edo guy who loves Morioka, loves the six prefectures of Tohoku, and loves history, gourmet food, travel, sports, alcohol, and singing. We'll introduce you to some interesting, delicious, and good things about Tohoku!
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