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Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph

Hokkaido

Michi-no-Eki Yokozuna no Sato Fukushima

道の駅 横綱の里ふくしま

A small southern Hokkaido rest stop on Route 228 where you can take home thick dried squid and memories of sumo grand champions.

Updated Michi-no-Eki JournalRead in Japanese

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph

Location
Fukushima Town, Matsumae District
Road
National Route 228
Hours
9:00–17:00
Indicative hours for the roadside station itself. Sources differ on winter Sunday and year-end/New Year closures; check the official site or tourism association for the day you visit.
Parking
Cars: 32 / Large vehicles: 3
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How to enjoy

Choose how to enjoy your visit

Eat, shop, play, take in the view or rest. Choose from the station’s strengths to suit your day.

First, on arrival
Look for dried squid and kelp in the shop

This is a small station, so it suits focused shopping more than a long walk around the building. Start with processed seafood and sweets associated with the yokozuna.

If you are a little hungry
Have soft-serve ice cream or a sweet snack

A light sweet or takeaway souvenir fits better than a restaurant meal. For a substantial meal, consider nearby restaurants too.

For sumo fans
Add the yokozuna museum first

It is across from the station; if you have at least 30 minutes, walk over to get a stronger sense of Fukushima Town.

With children
Go to Kaikyo Yokozuna Beach in summer

There is little to occupy children for long inside the station. On a sunny summer day, combine it with the beach or museum.

In rain or winter
Consider the Seikan Tunnel Museum

Exhibits are less weather-dependent, but both the Seikan Tunnel Museum and the yokozuna museum close from December 1 through March 16. Check opening status before choosing either on a winter visit.

On the way back
Finish at Yoshioka Onsen

If you want to unwind after driving Route 228, add Yoshioka Onsen Yutoragikan to make a short outing.

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph
Highlights

Yokozuna no Sato Fukushima is not a large food destination, but it is full of Fukushima Town character. At the shop, look for surume (dried squid), kelp, overnight-dried seafood, squid shiokara (salt-fermented squid), and sumo-themed sweets such as Wolf Chikara Mochi. Walk across to the Chiyonoyama and Chiyonofuji Yokozuna Memorial Museum to feel closer to the town that produced two yokozuna, sumo's highest-ranked wrestlers. The station works best as a stop on Route 228 to buy seafood and explore sumo culture before continuing to the Seikan Tunnel Museum, Kaikyo Yokozuna Beach, or Yoshioka Onsen hot-spring baths, rather than as a place for a long meal.

  • #Hokkaido
  • #Fukushima Town
  • #National Route 228
  • #Dried squid
  • #Kelp
  • #Yokozuna
  • #Chiyonoyama
  • #Chiyonofuji
  • #Seikan Tunnel
  • #Tsugaru Strait
  • #Onsen
  • #Summer swimming
Why I like it

Reasons to stop here

01

Dried squid and kelp make this stop worthwhile

Fukushima Town is known for surume, or dried squid. The shop carries thick dried squid, kelp, overnight-dried seafood, shiokara (salt-fermented seafood), and other processed marine products. Think of this as a place to choose seafood souvenirs for the car or home, rather than a large dining hall.

02

The yokozuna museum stands across from the station

Fukushima Town produced the 41st yokozuna Chiyonoyama and the 58th yokozuna Chiyonofuji. The memorial museum adds depth to the town's sumo identity. See the sumo ring, ceremonial aprons, and championship trophies before shopping, and sweets such as Wolf Chikara Mochi gain a connection to the trip.

03

Turn a short break into a half-day outing

The station alone makes a short stop, but the Seikan Tunnel Museum, Kaikyo Yokozuna Beach, Yoshioka Onsen, and, in season, the Iwabe Cruise are nearby. On the drive from Kikonai to Matsumae, it is a useful place to decide how many stops to add.

Route idea

Ways to plan your stop

Spend your time at the station or add somewhere nearby. These ideas help you plan around your companions and the weather.

A short break on Route 228

Buy seafood while driving from Kikonai to Matsumae

The station itself is compact. Use the toilet, browse dried squid and kelp, then choose a sweet for the car or a souvenir for home. It suits buying Fukushima flavors before continuing more than a long search for a dining hall.

About 30 minutes on Route 228 from the Kikonai area. Easy to include as a break before continuing toward Matsumae.

Winter business-day notices can differ, so check shortly before a Sunday or year-end/New Year visit.

Sumo fans and adults seeking local character

Explore yokozuna culture before choosing Wolf Chikara Mochi

Walk to the Chiyonoyama and Chiyonofuji Yokozuna Memorial Museum across the road to see why Fukushima is called the home of yokozuna. After the exhibits, sweets and souvenirs linked to the champions at the station shop feel connected to the town's history.

Leave the car in the station parking area and walk to the yokozuna museum, just across the way.

The museum closes for winter from December 1 through March 16. The Seikan Tunnel Museum has the same regular winter closure, so consider the onsen or confirm whether a reserved group visit is available.

Families with children, exhibition fans, and a half-day outing in poor weather

Head to the Seikan Tunnel Museum on a rainy day

When outdoor play is difficult, buy souvenirs at the station before visiting the Seikan Tunnel Museum. Construction records, heavy equipment, and video exhibits show Fukushima Town's connection to the Tsugaru Strait. Together with the yokozuna museum, it reveals two sides of the town.

About 2 minutes by car from the station to the Seikan Tunnel Museum. A combined ticket with the yokozuna museum is advertised.

The Seikan Tunnel Museum also closes for winter. Plan around its opening days in that season.

Summer drives with preschool or elementary-school children

Make Kaikyo Yokozuna Beach the main stop in summer

There are few places for children to play for long inside the station. In summer, pick up drinks or sweets here before going to Kaikyo Yokozuna Beach. The relatively shallow swimming area is enclosed by curved breakwaters and has a center house and changing rooms.

About 3 minutes by car, or roughly 10 minutes on foot, from the station to Kaikyo Yokozuna Beach.

The announced 2026 season runs from July 18 to August 22. Weather or safety conditions may close the beach, so follow tourism-association updates on the day.

A Matsumae Peninsula drive or a long day on the coastal road

Unwind at Yoshioka Onsen in the evening

After buying souvenirs and adding the museum or beach, stop at Yoshioka Onsen Yutoragikan on the way back. Rebuilt and reopened in 2024, it has an outdoor bath, sauna, cold bath, light food, and gelato. It is a place to rest after shopping and exploring.

About 15 minutes by car from the station to Yoshioka Onsen Yutoragikan.

Closed on Mondays, or the following day when Monday is a public holiday. Check the official notice for Friday morning restrictions on some categories of use.

Adults traveling in clear weather and days devoted to Fukushima Town

Extend the trip to the Iwabe Cruise in season

With more time, the Iwabe Cruise offers a very different view of Fukushima Town. This reservation-based glass-bottom boat trip visits the cliffs and Blue Cave of the Iwabe Coast. The station is useful for souvenirs and a rest before or after the trip.

About 20 minutes by car from the station toward Iwabe Exchange Center. The announced 2026 season runs from April 29 to October 12.

Book by the previous day. High waves or bad weather can cancel departures, so plan this as a weather-dependent outing.

Hours

Opening hours

Roadside station
9:00-17:00

Closed over the year-end and New Year holidays. Some sources list winter Sunday closures; check current information for visits from December through March.

Toilets
24 hours

Hakobura lists 24-hour access. At night, use this small parking area quietly for a short break.

Yokozuna Memorial Museum
9:00-17:00

Closed for winter from December 1 through March 16. Notices say winter group visits require reservations.

Seikan Tunnel Museum
9:00-17:00

Closed for winter from December 1 through March 16. A combined ticket with the yokozuna museum is advertised.

Yoshioka Onsen Yutoragikan
10:30-21:00

Closed every Monday, or the following day when Monday is a public holiday. Also closed every January 1.

Family

Visiting with children

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph

Stars show the editorial recommendation for each age group on a five-point scale. Read the reasons alongside each rating.

Age 1 and under
★★☆☆☆

This is not primarily a stop for nursing or a long indoor break.

Keep it to a toilet stop and short shop visit; do not feel obliged to extend a trip with an infant to the summer beach or onsen.

Ages 2–3
★★★☆☆

There is little room to run around inside the station, so a short stay fits best.

Choose the next destination in advance, such as Kaikyo Yokozuna Beach in summer or the Seikan Tunnel Museum on a rainy day.

Ages 4–6
★★★★☆

Pairing the museum's sumo ring with the beach helps children enjoy the town's character.

A shop visit alone is brief; add either the yokozuna museum or the beach for a fuller outing.

Elementary-school children
★★★★☆

The Seikan Tunnel Museum, yokozuna museum, and Iwabe Cruise can make an educational detour.

Choose a theme, such as sumo, the undersea tunnel, or the landscape of the Tsugaru Strait, to make the trip memorable.

Play space inside the station

Best for a short break and shopping, rather than extended play.

Summer outdoor play

The announced 2026 season is July 18 to August 22. Check the day's weather and any closure notices.

Rainy day

The yokozuna or Seikan Tunnel museum are options; mind their winter closures.

Food

For a meal, also consider restaurants in town or light food at the onsen.

Rest

Ideas for a restful stop

  1. 1
    Go straight from the parking area to the shop

    The parking area has 32 standard-car spaces and is fairly small. On busy days, shopping first and keeping the stop brief can make movement easier.

  2. 2
    The yokozuna museum is a short walk away

    It shares a parking location with the station. Check the ground and weather, then add a brief cultural stop if comfortable.

  3. 3
    Save the onsen for the return journey

    Yoshioka Onsen Yutoragikan is about 15 minutes away by car, an option for a rest after a long coastal drive.

Event

Make an event part of your visit

Permanent spaces and dated events are listed separately. Events can change both the atmosphere and crowds; use the official links for details.

Checking event dates.

Spaces used for events

Roadside station parking area

It is sometimes used for local events, including around Golden Week. On busier event days, consider a shorter stop.

Yokozuna museum and sumo ring

The center of events and visits associated with the town's yokozuna heritage, such as Kokonoe stable's summer training camp. Check official or tourism-association notices for whether an event is being held.

Kaikyo Yokozuna Beach

An area used for summer swimming and the Kaikyo fireworks festival. Close to the station, it is easy to combine with a summer stop.

Area around the Seikan Tunnel Museum

Watch this area for town event information, such as the Dosukoi morning market. Think of the trip as a circuit around town rather than a station-only visit.

Local feel

Reasons to return

Practical ideas and things to consider when spending time here.

It is a small station, so come to shop

Travelers often describe it as close in scale to the yokozuna museum shop: the range is not huge, but dried squid and kelp are available. It works better as a short seafood-shopping stop than as a large food court.

Source: Travel review trends

Some visitors come specifically for dried squid

Several Jalan reviews and travel accounts mention Fukushima's dried squid, kelp, Yokozuna Surume, and Wolf Chikara Mochi. Even without a shopping list, you may enjoy finding one dried seafood product or sweet.

Source: Review and travel-account trends

Plan meals elsewhere

Recent travel reviews describe no restaurant, with takeout soft-serve ice cream and souvenirs as the focus. For lunch, it is safer to have a separate restaurant option in town or toward Matsumae.

Source: Review and road-trip article trends

Visit the yokozuna museum as part of the stop

Though the station alone is compact, the museum across the way brings out Fukushima Town's character. Even visitors who are not sumo fans may see souvenirs differently after viewing its ring and exhibits.

Source: Tourism-association and review trends

With children, add the summer beach or an exhibition venue

Facilities for extended play inside the station are limited. For preschool or elementary-school children, the summer beach or, on a rainy day, the Seikan Tunnel Museum gives them more to do.

Source: Tourism-association facility information

In winter, check which places are open first

Both the yokozuna and Seikan Tunnel museums announce winter closure from December 1 through March 16. On a winter drive, check the station's business days, the onsen, and town restaurants before setting out solely for exhibitions.

Source: Fukushima Town Tourism Association
Before your visit

Things to check before setting out

Opening and closure days, individual businesses and facilities for children or dogs can affect your plans.

  • The station itself is compact. For a satisfying stop, use the shop and toilets, visit the yokozuna museum, or continue to nearby sights rather than planning a long stay here.
  • Do not plan around a restaurant at the station. If you want a substantial lunch, have options in town or toward Matsumae.
  • From December through March, check the station's winter hours and the winter closures of the yokozuna and Seikan Tunnel museums before planning your visit.
  • Kaikyo Yokozuna Beach announces a 2026 season from July 18 to August 22. Check weather, safety, and closure information on the day.
  • The Iwabe Cruise requires reservations and can be canceled because of high waves or bad weather. Plan it around the weather, not as an unplanned station add-on.
  • Parking is limited to 32 standard cars and 3 large vehicles. On event days or in summer, plan a short stop before moving on.
Food

Eating and shopping

Specialities, places to eat, sweets and bakeries can all give you a reason to stop. Check individual menus for current prices and availability.

  • Processed seafood
    Dried squid and Yokozuna Surume
    Varies by season and product
  • Processed seafood
    Kelp
    Varies by season and product
  • Take-home products
    Squid shiokara and overnight-dried seafood
    Varies by season and product
  • Sweets
    Wolf Chikara Mochi
    Check availability at the shop
  • Light snack
    Soft-serve ice cream
    Check availability at the shop
Food mood

What would you like to eat?

A meal, a sweet treat, market shopping or something to take away: choose a focus for the day instead of trying everything at once.

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph
Buy first

Dried squid / kelp / overnight-dried seafood

The most direct way to take a taste of Fukushima Town home. Enjoy surume dried squid as it is or lightly grill it; it makes a good travel souvenir.

Stock and prices vary by season. Shop earlier in the day if you plan to buy in quantity.

With a drink at home

Squid shiokara / processed seafood

A purchase to recall Fukushima's sea after you get home. Shiokara is salt-fermented squid; choose these products with chilled transport in mind rather than eating them in the car.

An insulated bag is useful for a long summer drive.

Add something sweet

Wolf Chikara Mochi / soft-serve ice cream

Sweets named for the home of the yokozuna are more fun alongside a museum visit. Soft-serve ice cream also makes a quick break on a hot day.

Availability changes by day, so keep alternatives in mind if you want a particular item.

For a full meal

Restaurants in town, outside the station

The roadside station is not primarily a dining destination. For a substantial lunch, also consider restaurants in town or toward Matsumae.

Some restaurants in rural areas have short lunch hours. Check hours ahead if traveling after the lunch rush.

Share the outing as a family

Souvenirs / sweets / museum

Adults can browse the shop and museum while children enjoy sweets or, in summer, the beach. Split your interests among nearby stops rather than relying on the station alone.

It is a small station. When busy, a short visit before moving on may be more comfortable.

Access

Location and surroundings

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1
Roadside station
Michi-no-Eki Yokozuna no Sato Fukushima

A small southern Hokkaido rest stop on Route 228 where you can take home thick dried squid and memories of sumo grand champions.

Open in Google Maps
2
History and culture
Chiyonoyama and Chiyonofuji Yokozuna Memorial Museum

Across from the station, discover why Fukushima Town is called the home of yokozuna.

Open in Google Maps
3
History and culture
Fukushima Town Seikan Tunnel Museum

On a rainy day or an educational detour, explore the major construction project behind the Seikan Tunnel.

Open in Google Maps
4
Nature and parks
Kaikyo Yokozuna Beach

Extend a summer station break to a relatively shallow swimming beach.

Open in Google Maps
5
Day-use hot spring
Yoshioka Onsen Yutoragikan

Ease the fatigue of a Route 228 drive with an outdoor bath and sauna before heading home.

Open in Google Maps
Food outlets and the market on the station grounds share the station pin. Nearby places are separate destinations to combine with your visit.
Nearby

Places to visit nearby

History and culture
Chiyonoyama and Chiyonofuji Yokozuna Memorial MuseumJapanese guide
A short walkAbout 1 minute on foot

Add the town's story to the shop's yokozuna-themed souvenirs; a first stop for sumo fans.

Fukushima Town Seikan Tunnel Museum
History and culture
Fukushima Town Seikan Tunnel MuseumJapanese guide
About 1.1 kmAbout 2 minutes by car

For rainy days, exhibition visits outside winter, or families with elementary-school children keen to see another side of Fukushima Town.

Kaikyo Yokozuna Beach
Nature and parks
Kaikyo Yokozuna BeachJapanese guide
About 700 mAbout 3 minutes by car / roughly 10 minutes on foot

A summer drive with children: pick up drinks or sweets at the station before heading to the water.

Yoshioka Onsen Yutoragikan
Day-use hot spring
Yoshioka Onsen YutoragikanJapanese guide
About 11 kmAbout 15 minutes by car

For a day of long coastal driving, or a hot-spring finish after the station and museum.

Nature experience
Iwabe CruiseJapanese guide
About 20 minutes by carAbout 20 minutes by car

For adults traveling in clear weather or spending at least half a day in Fukushima Town; use the station for a break and souvenirs before or after boarding.

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