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Hokkaido

Michi-no-Eki Tohma (道の駅とうま)

道の駅とうま

A small rest stop in the town of Densuke watermelon, adding a sweet pause to a drive near Asahikawa.

Updated 2026-09-28Michi-no-Eki Journal Read in Japanese

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph

Location

Tohma Town, Kamikawa District (上川郡当麻町)

Road

National Route 39 / Hokkaido Prefectural Route 1122, Tohma–Pippu Line

Hours

See hours below

Station and shop hours are based on the official Tohma Town and Northern Road Stations guides. Closed December 31–January 3. The restaurant has separate hours, which may change in winter.

Parking

Cars: 40 / Large vehicles: 10

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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 things first

Parking and 24-hour toilets

On a Route 39 drive, use the toilets and get drinks before setting off on the next stretch.

If you are shopping

Densuke watermelon and local vegetables

Densuke watermelons are usually available from late June to around mid-August. Check stock and how to carry them. Sweets and processed foods are options year-round.

If you are eating

The restaurant or watermelon soft-serve

For lunch, try the soba-centered restaurant; for a quick break, the seasonal watermelon soft-serve. Have an alternative in mind for Thursday or temporary restaurant closures.

With children

Add Kurumina no Kiyukan

Rather than planning a long play stop at the station, pair it with this indoor wooden-toy play facility for rainy or cold days.

Heading into nature

Tohma Limestone Cave or Ueno Farm

Choose the cave in its summer season or Ueno Farm during flower season, with the station as a supply stop before or after.

Kyuro's road-break notes

Whether you buy watermelon or not, it is easy to get back on the road.

Kyuro Seto sees this as a brief rest stop where you can sample Tohma's character, rather than a large sightseeing facility. Park and use the 24-hour toilets, notice the Densuke watermelon products in the shop, then pause for a meal or a sweet. When children want to play or rain sets in, moving on to Kurumina no Kiyukan instead of lingering at the station can keep the drive pleasant.

Highlights

Michi-no-Eki Tohma is an easy place for a short toilet, parking, light-meal and local-shopping break before or after driving from Asahikawa along Route 39 toward Sounkyo or Kitami. Its signature product is Densuke watermelon, a premium, dark-rinded variety. Look for whole watermelons in summer (usually late June to around mid-August), watermelon soft-serve from spring into summer, sweets and local vegetables, and a restaurant centered on soba (buckwheat noodles). With more time, add the indoor wooden-toy play space Kurumina no Kiyukan, the seasonally open Tohma Limestone Cave, or Ueno Farm toward Asahikawa. These nearby stops make the small station a useful starting point for a trip.

#Densuke watermelon
#Tohma rice
#National Route 39
#24-hour toilets
#Near Asahikawa

Practical information

Registration number: 北海道-048
Prefecture: Hokkaido
Municipality: Tohma Town, Kamikawa District (上川郡当麻町)
Road: National Route 39 / Hokkaido Prefectural Route 1122, Tohma–Pippu Line
Telephone: 0166-58-8639
Closed days: Closed for the New Year holidays (December 31–January 3). The attached restaurant lists Thursday as a regular closing day and may also close temporarily.
Station stamp: Available

Facilities

Toilets
Parking
Information center
Shop
Farm produce sales
Restaurant
Rest area
Vending machines
Tourist information
24-hour toilets
AED
Wi-Fi

2 more facilities listed.

External links

Visit the official website (Japanese)Background information (Japanese)www.town.tohma.hokkaido.jp (Japanese guide)www.densukesan.net (Japanese guide)www.tohma-kankou.jp (Japanese guide)hokkaido-michinoeki.jp (Japanese guide)www.town.tohma.hokkaido.jp (Japanese guide)

Why I like it

Reasons to stop here

The dark-rinded watermelon town shows its character in shopping and sweets

Tohma is known for Densuke watermelon, prized for its dark rind and popularity as a gift. Whole melons appear at the station in summer, usually from late June to around mid-August, though sales can end early in some years. Seasonal watermelon soft-serve, sweets and related goods let you take a taste of the town with you even on a short stop.

Make the soba-centered restaurant a lunch option

The attached restaurant serves mainly soba (buckwheat noodles), as well as rice bowls and ramen. Published closing times differ, and the restaurant lists Thursday closures and may close temporarily. If lunch is the purpose of your visit, first check official information or call the restaurant at 0166-84-5393. If it is closed, leave room to choose sweets or takeaway goods from the shop.

A practical short break before or after the roads beyond Asahikawa

The Northern Road Stations guide lists parking for 40 standard cars and 10 large vehicles, and toilets are available 24 hours. This is a small station rather than a place designed for a long stay: allow 20–40 minutes for toilets, drinks, sweets and shopping, then use nearby facilities for play or nature.

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 20–30-minute toilet and shopping break

Make a short stop before heading from Asahikawa toward Sounkyo or Kitami

After parking, use the toilets first, then pick up drinks, watermelon soft-serve or sweets at the shop. Even without a restaurant meal, this quick stop gives you a taste of the town known for Densuke watermelon.

Park → toilets → shop → watermelon soft-serve or souvenirs → depart

This is not a large station for extended stays. If children need a long play session, plan a separate nearby stop.

A shopping drive around July

Make summer Densuke watermelon the main reason for your visit

In season, think separately about whole melons, shipping, related sweets and soft-serve. If taking a large melon home, check space in the car and the heat first; making shopping the priority over a meal may simplify the stop.

Check stock at the shop → choose watermelon and vegetables → watermelon soft-serve → keep purchases cool and depart

Densuke watermelon shipment dates, stock and prices change. Follow the facility's guidance on gifts and shipping.

A half-day plan for a rainy or cold day

Pair the station with Kurumina no Kiyukan for children

Use the station toilets and get a light snack, then head to Kurumina no Kiyukan for indoor play with wooden toys. With small children, keeping shopping brief and making the play area a separate destination can make the day easier for parents too.

Roadside station → Kurumina no Kiyukan → Healthy Chateau if energy allows

The play facility's closing days, hours and fees may change; check Tohma Town's information before going.

A short summer nature experience

Add Tohma Limestone Cave for a cool detour

In summer, pairing Tohma Limestone Cave with watermelon shopping adds another Tohma experience. The cave is cool and the footing changes, so comfortable walking shoes are better than sandals.

Get supplies at the roadside station → Tohma Limestone Cave → rest around Tohma Sports Land

The cave's seasonal opening generally runs from late April to late October. Check operating dates and the last admission time.

An adult morning or afternoon drive

Explore toward Asahikawa in flower season

If visiting Ueno Farm or other nearby gardens, use the station for supplies before or after a meal. Bloom conditions depend on the weather, so visiting the garden first and adding watermelon soft-serve or shopping on the return can work well.

Ueno Farm → Michi-no-Eki Tohma → toward Asahikawa or Sounkyo

Follow each facility's official guidance on blooms, opening season and parking.

Hours

Opening hours

Roadside station

9:00-18:00

Officially listed hours; closed December 31–January 3.

Restaurant

Opens at 11:00

Closing times differ between official guides: 19:00 on Tohma Town's page and 17:00 on Northern Road Stations. Winter hours may change. The restaurant lists Thursday closures and may close temporarily, so check before going specifically for a meal.

Shop and farm produce sales

9:00-18:00

Same hours as the station. Densuke watermelon, vegetables and processed foods vary by season and stock.

Toilets

24 hours

A useful rest facility on Route 39.

Parking

Generally available 24 hours

40 spaces for standard cars and 10 for large vehicles (Northern Road Stations guide).

Family

Visiting with children

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

Age 1 and under

★★★☆☆

Best for toilets and a short break; plan a separate nearby stop for a longer stay.

This station is not a large indoor playground. Check the facility's current information for nursing and diaper-changing availability, and keep the break short. Watch the temperature inside the car during seasons with large temperature swings.

Ages 2–3

★★★★☆

A sweet treat at the station and play at Kurumina no Kiyukan make an easier combination.

Rather than waiting a long time in the shop, make a quick stop for watermelon soft-serve or drinks, then move to Kurumina no Kiyukan; this works in rain or snow too.

Ages 4–6

★★★★☆

The black watermelon, wooden toys and cave can all spark conversation.

Choose Densuke watermelon in summer, Kurumina no Kiyukan for indoor play, or Tohma Limestone Cave when it is open, according to the child's age and interests. Watch your footing in the cave.

Elementary school age

★★★★☆

A brief introduction to Tohma's specialty and nature.

Combining the Densuke watermelon growing area, Tohma Limestone Cave and a wooden-toy learning facility can leave children with memories of the area beyond eating and shopping.

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

Densuke watermelon shipping season

Densuke watermelon is usually sold from late June to around mid-August, though sales may end early in some years. Station stock, shipping and related products change, so check Tohma Town's information when shopping is the purpose of your visit.

Seasonal opening of Tohma Limestone Cave

This seasonal nature spot generally opens from late April to late October. It is a cool detour on hot days, but follow Tohma Town's latest information for dates, hours and fees.

Kurumina no Kiyukan and wooden-toy learning events

This indoor wooden-toy learning facility is an option for families in rain or winter. Check Tohma Town's information on closed days, admission categories and events.

Local feel

Reasons to return

Practical ideas and things to consider when spending time here.

The station's character comes through when you know the dark-rinded watermelon

Official guides and Densuke-san's communications put Densuke watermelon forward as a leading Tohma product. In traveler comments, watermelon soft-serve, melon souvenirs and summer melons stand out more often as reasons to stop than the size of the station itself. Making watermelon the focus can make the stop more memorable.

Source: Tohma Town official information, Densuke-san official communications and trends in traveler posts

Lunch is convenient, but allow for changes in service

Reviews and travel accounts mention the restaurant and watermelon soft-serve, alongside concerns about temporary closures or misreading the hours. Rather than relying on this restaurant alone for lunch, keep options such as sweets from the shop, a meal toward Asahikawa or eating after a nearby attraction.

Source: Facility information and experience trends in sources such as Google Maps

Parking and toilets are practical assets before or after a mountain drive

On Route 39, a short break after leaving central Asahikawa or before heading toward Sounkyo can make the drive feel easier. With spaces for large vehicles too, the station serves everyday road users as well as sightseers.

For families, moving on to the wooden-toy facility adds play options

The station centers on shopping and resting, but nearby Kurumina no Kiyukan offers a play destination even in rain, snow or cold weather. With small children, a short shop visit followed by a separate play stop can make the day less tiring for the family.

Summer watermelon and the cave, or flowers toward Asahikawa, change the day

Tohma Limestone Cave is a seasonal nature attraction and a cool detour on a hot day. For flowers, gardens such as Ueno Farm toward Asahikawa can pair with the station as a supply stop. Changing the main destination with the season makes the station's small size less of a constraint.

Choose one purpose to get more from a small station

Traveler accounts suggest a quick stop for toilets, watermelon soft-serve and souvenirs works well. Rather than trying to do everything at the station, choose one focus—watermelon, the restaurant, Kurumina no Kiyukan or the cave—to avoid feeling that the stay was too short.

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 roadside station and shop are open 9:00–18:00 and closed for the New Year holidays (December 31–January 3). Check official information for restaurant closures and hour changes.
Toilets are available 24 hours. Early in the morning or late at night, plan on a rest stop rather than a shop visit.
Whole Densuke watermelons are usually sold from late June to around mid-August, though sales may end early. Check availability before traveling mainly to buy one.
If the restaurant is your main lunch plan, check its Thursday closure, hours and any temporary closure first. If it is closed, choose sweets from the shop or food toward Asahikawa.
When buying watermelon or vegetables in summer, bring an insulated bag and make space in the car.
Tohma Limestone Cave opens seasonally. Check its opening period, fees, last admission time and footing before going.
In winter or bad weather, families can pair the station with indoor Kurumina no Kiyukan to keep the plan flexible.

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.

Seasonal shopping
Densuke watermelon
Usually sold from late June to around mid-August; sales may end early in some years. Check stock and shipping options for gifts or takeaway.
Seasonal sweet
Watermelon soft-serve
Sold seasonally from spring into summer (from April 4 in 2026); an option for a short break.
Meal
Restaurant soba, rice bowls and ramen
A lunch option; check Thursday closures, temporary closures and winter hour changes.
Shopping
Tohma-grown vegetables and processed foods
For dinner ingredients or gifts to take in the car; consider keeping purchases cool in summer.
Souvenirs
Densuke watermelon sweets
A takeaway option when you are not buying a whole watermelon.

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.

Summer centerpiece

Densuke watermelon

In season, decide whether to buy, ship or eat a watermelon there. A large melon is easier to manage on your return journey or just before heading to your accommodation than early in an itinerary.

Sales usually run from late June to around mid-August, but may end early in some years. Stock and prices vary with the year and weather.

A quick sweet break

Watermelon soft-serve

A good choice when you do not have time for the restaurant. It is sold seasonally from spring into summer; outside that period, switch to sweets from the shop.

Lunch

Restaurant soba, rice bowls and ramen

Soba (buckwheat noodles) is the focus, with rice bowls and ramen also available for lunch. Check ahead if lunch here is your only plan: the restaurant lists Thursday closures, may close temporarily and changes hours in winter.

For later at home