Skip to content
Michi-no-Eki JournalMap
Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph

Hokkaido

Roadside Station Nakagawa

道の駅 なかがわ

On a long drive through northern Hokkaido on National Route 40, pause for haskap berries, handmade meat products, the Teshio River, and Nakagawa’s fossil heritage.

Updated Michi-no-Eki JournalRead in Japanese

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph

Location
Nakagawa District Nakagawa Town
Road
National Route 40
Hours
9:00–17:00
Roadside stations and shops are usually open from 9:00 to 17:00. The restaurant is open from 11:00-13:30. It may change depending on the season or event.
Parking
Cars: 40 / Large vehicles: 10
My stamp

Record this station in your journal

Records are saved in this browser. Visited stations receive a stamp and count towards your nationwide progress.

Nationwide progress
— / 1,238 stations
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 thing when you arrive
Check out the haskap and meat products at the store.

Rather than rushing back after your meal, it's easier to take in the uniqueness of Nakagawa-cho if you go around the shops first.

If you want it for lunch
Ramen, cutlet dishes, or a hearty rice bowl

The restaurant serves lunch for a short period. Aim to arrive within its 11:00–13:30 listed hours.

For something sweet
Haskap soft serve

The station describes this popular soft serve as topped with sauce from haskap berries grown on its own farm. Check the shop for current stock and sales dates.

If you bring your dog
Take a short break at Wanwan Hiroba

The grassy dog run is free. Check its seasonal availability, daylight, and posted rules.

If you are visiting with children
Add a fossil visit at the Ecomuseum Center

The Nakagawa Ecomuseum Center announced an exhibition-room closure for roughly two months from September 16 while the floor is renovated; only the office remains open on weekdays, 9:00–16:00. Check the official reopening notice before visiting.

From evening onward
Head to Ponpira Onsen or Naport Park

If you add hot springs, lodging, and camping, it turns from a transit point in northern Hokkaido to a place to stay.

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph
A note on shopping during a road trip

A stop where you can choose both lunch and something to take home

Chitose Yasumichi (千歳 休路) sees Roadside Station Nakagawa as more than a break on the northbound drive. From ramen chashu and loin cutlet to frankfurters, haskap, gyōja ninniku, and ammonite curry, Nakagawa’s identity runs through both the meal and the souvenirs. Browsing the shop before lunch helps you make the most of even a short stop.

Before lunch, choose something to take home too.

Highlights

Roadside Station Nakagawa is a place to eat, shop, and rest on National Route 40 between Asahikawa to the south and Wakkanai to the north. The restaurant features ramen with chashu pork made at the station’s own processing center, loin cutlet dishes, and hearty dishes flavored with gyōja ninniku (wild garlic). The shop stocks sausages made with Hokkaido pork, haskap berry jam and cider, honey, sauce for pork rice bowls, and even ammonite curry. Take in the Teshio River view, let your dog stretch at Wanwan Hiroba, and, if time allows, visit Ponpira Aqua Rizing or Naport Park. The Nakagawa Ecomuseum Center announced that its exhibition rooms would close for roughly two months from September 16 for renovations; check for a reopening notice before making a fossil-focused visit. Even a brief stop gives a sense of this river and fossil town.

  • #Nakagawa Town
  • #National Route 40
  • #Teshio River
  • #Haskap
  • #Haskap soft serve
  • #House-made chashu pork
  • #Loin cutlet
  • #Gyōja ninniku (wild garlic)
  • #Sausages
  • #Nakagawa beef
  • #ammonite curry
  • #Wanwan Hiroba dog run
  • #Ecomuseum Center
  • #Ponpira Onsen
  • #Naport Park
Why I like it

Reasons to stop here

01

A hearty lunch built around house-made meat products

The restaurant suits travelers who want a substantial meal during a long drive. Its main choices are ramen topped with chashu pork from its own processing center; katsudon (cutlet over rice), cutlet curry, and set meals made with house-made loin cutlet; and hearty dishes flavored with gyōja ninniku, a wild garlic. The restaurant opens for a short lunch period, so plan to arrive around midday whether driving north from Asahikawa or south from Wakkanai.

02

Souvenirs with a distinct Nakagawa identity

The shop offers more than a standard souvenir shelf: products show the handiwork of Takumisha Co., Ltd. Look for coarse-ground sausages made with 100% Hokkaido pork, double gyōja ninniku sausages, haskap jam and cider, honey, sauce for butadon (pork over rice), gyōja ninniku powder, Nakagawa beef curry, and ammonite curry. These make easy conversation starters at home and give even visitors who skip a meal a reason to stop.

03

Clear choices after your break: river, dog run, fossils, and hot springs

The Teshio River lies in front of the station, and the free Wanwan Hiroba dog run is next door. Families can normally see ammonites and the long-necked marine reptile at the Nakagawa Ecomuseum Center, but its exhibition rooms are temporarily closed for roughly two months from September 16 for renovations; check for reopening. With time later in the day, head to Ponpira Aqua Rizing for a hot spring, or to Naport Park for camping and outdoor activities. A simple restroom stop on National Route 40 can become a half-day detour.

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.

Long distance drive connecting Asahikawa, Nayoro and Wakkanai

Make a Route 40 lunch stop count at the restaurant and shop

If you can arrive around lunchtime, first browse the shop for sausages, haskap products, and gyōja ninniku souvenirs, then have ramen or a cutlet dish at the restaurant. On a long journey, you can choose both a meal and something to take home.

Parking → Shop → Restaurant → Rest space in front of the fireplace → Teshio River view

The restaurant has a short lunch time. On days when you're aiming for just one meal, it's a good idea to check the arrival time in advance.

Traveling with a dog towards Wakkanai, resetting long-distance travel

With a dog, visit Wanwan Hiroba around your shopping stop

The dog run next to the station lets dogs stretch after a long car journey. One companion can shop while another takes the dog outside, making it easier to buy Nakagawa souvenirs while traveling with a dog.

Parking lot → Wan Wan Plaza → Shop or takeout → Short break along the Teshio River

Keep the visit short and consider the season, sunset, lawn conditions, and the need to take dog waste away.

Learning detours for elementary school students, alternative activities on rainy and hot days

With children, explore Nakagawa’s fossil story

Nakagawa Town is known for Cretaceous strata and fossils. After haskap soft serve or a snack at the station, a drive to the Ecomuseum Center can make an ammonite and long-necked marine reptile exhibit memorable for children. Its exhibition rooms are temporarily closed from September 16 for roughly two months; check for reopening first.

Roadside Station Nakagawa → Nakagawacho Eco Museum Center → Ponpira Aqua Rising

The Ecomuseum Center is usually closed on Mondays, and its exhibition rooms are currently closed for renovation. Check its official opening and event notices.

Outdoor trips and family camping from June to early October

Summer is spent camping and playing in the river.

Naport Park is an auto campsite along the Teshio River, with information on car sites with power, cabins, and free sites. If you buy processed meat products, sauces, and snacks at the roadside station before heading there, you can easily use them to replenish your camping supplies.

Shopping at the store → Naport Park → Ponpira Aqua Rising

The campsite is generally open June through early October. Check reservations, weather, insects, and river levels shortly before visiting.

Before and after staying overnight, on rainy days, on days when you want to relieve driving fatigue

End the evening with a hot spring and local food and drinks.

Even if you miss the restaurant time at the roadside station, there are restaurants in town such as the Ponpira Aqua Rising restaurant and other restaurants provided by the tourist association. It's a good idea to buy souvenirs at a roadside station, relax in a hot spring, and then think about dinner.

Roadside Station Nakagawa → Ponpira Aqua Rising → Around Teshio Nakagawa Station

Some local restaurants have limited opening days or seating. If dining in the evening, contact them and confirm hours beforehand.

Hours

Opening hours

Roadside station/Shop
9:00-17:00

Information at the same time is available at the official access guide, tourist association, and Kita-no-Michi-no-Eki.

restaurant
11:00-13:30

The tourist association also provides information on 11:00-14:00 and L.O. 13:30. If you're going for lunch, it's easier to move early.

Closed days
Year-end and New Year holidays

The usual closure is December 30 through January 4.

Wanwan Hiroba
Approximately sunrise to sunset

Kita no Michi no Eki lists the dog run as open June through October. Avoid using it when snow or bad weather makes conditions unsuitable.

Station stamp
Available for stamping 24 hours

Kita no Michi no Eki says the stamp remains available even on station closure days.

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.

Under 1 year old
★★★☆☆

Easy to use for nursing rooms, diaper changing tables, and short breaks.

Useful for a short stop with a nursing room and diaper-changing table, rather than extended outdoor play. The shop, restrooms, and a pause before returning to the car are the main draws; the fireplace seating can help in winter.

2-3 years old
★★★☆☆

It's easy to change your mood with soft serve ice cream and a short walk outside.

Keep a close eye on young children near the Teshio River side and parking area. Soft serve, a restroom stop, and a short walk work better than a long period of outdoor play.

4-6 years old
★★★★☆

It's easy to create a topic with fossils, dogs, and river views.

The station itself is not mainly a playground. Adding the Ecomuseum Center or Naport Park makes a fuller outing; the museum exhibition rooms are temporarily closed for renovation, so check reopening before planning a rainy-day visit.

Elementary school student
★★★★★

Ammonites, the long-necked marine reptile, and the Teshio River can spark learning.

Enjoy meals and souvenirs at the roadside station, find fossils at the Ecomuseum Center, and go camping and enjoy the nature of the river in the summer. A break on the way will be a detour to learn something typical of northern Hokkaido.

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

Seasonal events around Roadside Station Nakagawa

The 2026 summer festival and Koyanowa Marche took place on August 8–9, and the 42nd Nakagawa Autumn Flavors Festival took place on September 13 at the Teshio riverbank event plaza, with a roadside-station stall. Check the station’s official news or Facebook page for future events.

Fossil event at Eco Museum Center

Notices for a dinosaur fossil survey and strata observation event appeared in 2026, but applications have closed. The Nakagawa Ecomuseum Center announced a roughly two-month exhibition-room closure beginning September 16 for floor renovation; only its office operates on weekdays, 9:00–16:00. Check for reopening before a fossil-focused visit.

Naport Park camping season

The roadside station’s official site lists an approximate camping season from June through early October. Buying processed meats and seasonings at the station before camping makes an easy food stop.

Waterside and nature events in Nakagawa Town

Nakagawa Town’s official site listed local nature activities, including the waterside restoration event “Gasagasa” on July 20, 2026. Check the town’s news for future seasonal activities beyond the immediate station area.

Winter fireplace and snowy road break

The large fireplace is a symbol of the roadside station Nakagawa. While the scenery becomes more attractive in winter, the weather, road surface, snow removal, and sunset on National Route 40 are directly linked to your decision to stay.

Local feel

Reasons to return

Practical ideas and things to consider when spending time here.

It is safer to decide on lunch early.

The station and tourist association describe a short lunchtime restaurant service. Traveler reports likewise suggest planning around those hours and keeping takeout or another town restaurant in mind if arriving late.

Haskap soft serve as a mainstay during short breaks.

The station describes its soft serve with sauce made from its own farm’s haskap berries as a popular product; travel guides also feature it as a local sweet. It gives a short stop a distinct Nakagawa flavor even without a restaurant meal.

The shops have specific names for processed meat products and seasonings.

Coarse-ground sausages, gyōja ninniku sausages, sauce for butadon, honey mustard, and Nakagawa beef curry are among the cooking-friendly souvenirs. Consider them before camping or for a meal at home.

If you bring your dog, it is easy to divide the roles of waiting outside.

Wanwan Hiroba makes a dog break on a long drive easier. Companions can divide time between the dog outside and the shop or restaurant. Check seasonal access, daylight, and snow conditions and use the area briefly.

A trip to the fossil town is likely to leave a lasting impression on children's memories.

Nakagawa is known for its Cretaceous strata and fossils. A visit to the Ecomuseum Center could add ammonites and the long-necked marine reptile to a child’s memories, but the exhibition rooms are temporarily closed for renovation; check the reopening notice.

Change from a transit point to a place to stay at Teshio River, hot springs, and camping

Combining the Teshio River scenery with Ponpira Aqua Rizing and Naport Park can turn a Route 40 break into a half-day or overnight stay. In summer, check insects, weather, and river levels shortly before visiting.

In winter, consider the appeal of a fireplace and road conditions together.

The large indoor fireplace evokes a northern Hokkaido winter, while sunset, snowy roads, and low temperatures affect how long to stop. On a long winter drive, a restroom break and time to warm up may matter more than a meal.

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.

  • For lunch, plan to arrive during the restaurant’s short service. If you are running late, consider takeout or another restaurant in town.
  • If you go around the shops first, you can calmly choose haskap, processed meat products, seasonings, and curries.
  • With a dog, use Wanwan Hiroba for a short break and consider its season, daylight, snow, and lawn conditions.
  • For fossils, check the Ecomuseum Center’s temporary exhibition-room closure from September 16 for roughly two months and any reopening notice before visiting.
  • On days when you are heading to Naport Park or riverside nature experiences in the summer, it is a good idea to use insect repellent, drinks, cold storage, and information about river water levels.
  • The fireplace makes an appealing winter rest stop, but let Route 40 road conditions, snowstorms, and sunset guide the length of your visit.
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
Have a good lunch

Stamina soy-sauce ramen / katsudon (cutlet over rice) / cutlet curry / cutlet set meal / steak rice bowl

For a filling meal during the drive, head to the restaurant. Its house-made chashu pork and loin cutlets are distinctively Nakagawa choices.

The lunch hours are short, so on days when you arrive late, you'll want to have some free time to switch to takeout or eat in town.

Take a sweet break

Haskap soft serve / pasture-raised cow’s milk soft serve / fried taiyaki (fish-shaped pastry)

Even on days when you don't have much to eat, Haskap Soft will leave you with the reason why you stopped by Nakagawa-cho.

It has been officially announced that pasture-raised beef soft serve will be on sale this season until mid-October. The sales period and stock of Haskap Soft may change. Please give priority to in-store instructions.

Buy for use in the car or camping

Coarse-ground sausages / frankfurters / hamburger patties / bacon / sausage curry

Suitable for shopping at Naport Park or before staying overnight. Processed meat products are the kind of shopping that gives you the feeling of being a roadside station in Nakagawa-machi.

When choosing refrigerated items, consider travel time and keeping them cool.

Make it a souvenir to use at home

Sauce for butadon (pork rice bowls) / all-purpose sauce / gyōja ninniku powder / gyōja ninniku soy sauce / honey mustard

These seasonings bring the trip back to the dinner table. They travel well by car and are easy to choose for family or yourself.

The products shown are examples and may be out of stock.

Talk about the uniqueness of Nakagawa Town

Haskap Jam / Haskap Cider / Nakagawa Beef Curry / Nakagawa Ammonite Curry

For a taste of Nakagawa’s haskap berries and fossil heritage, consider these products. Their names make the place of origin clear, so they also work as gifts.

Seasonal and limited products rotate in and out of stock.

Access

Location and surroundings

Driving directions from your location
Open in your map appOpen in Google Maps
Explore stations near 中川町 (Japanese guide)
Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph

If the map does not load, open it in Google Maps

1
Roadside station
Roadside Station Nakagawa

On a long drive through northern Hokkaido on National Route 40, pause for haskap berries, handmade meat products, the Teshio River, and Nakagawa’s fossil heritage.

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

Wanwan Hiroba
Dogs and outdoor breaks
Wanwan HirobaJapanese guide
Adjacent to the stationShort walk

Useful for letting a dog stretch before or after a shop or restroom stop on a long drive.

Nakagawa Town Ecomuseum Center
Culture and learning
Nakagawa Town Ecomuseum CenterJapanese guide
Approximately 10 minutes by carBy car

A learning detour alongside a station meal or sweet, including on rainy days once the exhibition rooms reopen.

Ponpira Aqua Rizing (ポンピラアクアリズイング)
Hot spring and lodging
Ponpira Aqua Rizing (ポンピラアクアリズイング)Japanese guide
Approximately 5 minutes by carBy car

After eating and shopping at the roadside station, it's perfect for days when you want to end your day at a hot spring, or as a stop before or after staying overnight.

Naport Park Auto Campground
Camping and nature
Naport Park Auto CampgroundJapanese guide
Approximately 10 minutes by carBy car

It's perfect for days when you want to stock up on food and souvenirs at a roadside station before heading off to summer camp or playing in the river.

Transport and community
Nakagawa Exchange PlazaJapanese guide
Approximately 5 minutes by carBy car

You can use it when you miss the meal time at the roadside station or when you want to switch to eating and drinking in the town center, hot springs, or train travel.

Share

Send your travel companions a possible stop.

Share on XShare on LINE

Send a correction

Let us know if information on this page, such as hours or closing days, is incorrect. Our editors will review your message before updating the guide.

We use your submission only to review and improve our content and to reply about your message.

Updated 2026-09-29Explore the nationwide map →