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Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph

Aomori Prefecture · Tohoku

Roadside Station Imabetsu

道の駅 いまべつ

Beside a Shinkansen station, plan a strait-side drive over Imabetsu beef and mozuku udon.

Updated Michi-no-Eki JournalRead in Japanese

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph

Location
Imabetsu Town, Higashitsugaru District
Road
Prefectural Route 14, Imabetsu–Kanita Line
Hours
09:00–19:00
The local-products shop generally closes at 19:00 from April through November and at 18:00 from December through March.
Parking
See facility information
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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.

Plan first
Toilets and mealtime

Even with the stations next door, plan around Restaurant Eki's usual 11:00–16:00 hours and 15:30 last order.

For a meal
Mozuku udon or Imabetsu beef

For a lighter meal, try mozuku udon; for something substantial, choose Imabetsu beef steak or a set meal. A hot-pot set meal is sometimes offered in winter.

For shopping
Fish, pumpkin, and Arama-themed gifts

Fresh fish depends on deliveries. If you find some, consider your journey home and how to keep it chilled.

With children
Keep the station stop short; play outside by the strait

The station suits a break and a meal. For a more active day, continue to Kaikyo Sazanami Park or Takanosaki.

If it is sunny
Seikan Tunnel Entrance Plaza

Check Shinkansen passage times and the winter closure before making this a rail-themed detour.

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph
Akari's detour notes

Choose a meal, check the weather, then head for the strait.

Akari Hirose sees this station as a place to arrange food and tourist information before heading outside. With small children, divide the indoor stop into short visits for toilets, a meal, and shopping. In fine weather, continue to Seikan Tunnel Entrance Plaza or Takanosaki; in rain or strong wind, take it easy at the station and cafe. Imabetsu makes that change of plan simple.

Highlights

Roadside Station Imabetsu, also called Peninsula Plaza Asukuru, stands beside Hokkaido Shinkansen's Okutsugaru-Imabetsu Station and JR Tsugaru Line's Tsugaru-Futamata Station: an unusual roadside station next to two rail stations. Its local-products shop carries Imabetsu souvenirs, locally landed fish when available, and processed pumpkin products. At Restaurant Eki, choose mozuku seaweed udon, Imabetsu beef steak, or ramen made with dried grilled fish. For a family stop, plan toilet and mealtime first; in good weather, add Seikan Tunnel Entrance Plaza or Takanosaki for a half day in Oku-Tsugaru.

  • #Okutsugaru-Imabetsu Station
  • #Peninsula Plaza Asukuru
  • #Imabetsu beef
  • #Mozuku udon
  • #Ikkyu Nyukon pumpkin
  • #Tsugaru Strait
Why I like it

Reasons to stop here

01

Choose your Oku-Tsugaru destination beside the rail stations

Next to Okutsugaru-Imabetsu and Tsugaru-Futamata stations, this stop works for a rail-travel wait as well as a drive. Check the tourist information corner for coastal viewpoints and events, then drive on to Takanosaki, Seikan Tunnel Entrance Plaza, or Kaikyo Sazanami Park.

02

Taste Imabetsu at Restaurant Eki

Even on a short stop, the menu offers local choices: udon with the town's specialty mozuku seaweed kneaded into the noodles, Imabetsu beef steak, an Imabetsu salmon rice bowl, and ramen made with dried grilled fish. At lunchtime, check the restaurant first; if it is busy, leave time for the cafe or local-products shop.

03

Seasonal finds to take home

Alongside souvenirs, the local-products shop sometimes stocks fresh fish. Look for Ikkyu Nyukon pumpkin, processed seafood, and gifts evoking Arama, the town's traditional festival performance. Together they make this a gateway to Imabetsu, as well as a rest stop.

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 45-minute to one-hour driving break

Fit a meal and shopping into a short station-side stop

After parking, use the toilets, then check how busy Restaurant Eki is. If you arrive in time for lunch, try mozuku udon or dried-grilled-fish ramen; if not, visit the cafe corner and local-products shop. The location also makes it easy to meet companions arriving by train.

Parking → toilets → Restaurant Eki → local-products shop → departure

The local-products shop closes at different times by season; in winter, plan for an 18:00 closing.

Families with preschool and primary-school children

Follow the children's mood toward the strait

For families, it is easier to eat and shop here, then head to Kaikyo Sazanami Park or Takanosaki than to spend a long time inside the station. On rainy or very windy days, browse tourist information indoors and decide whether to skip the coast.

Meal and toilets at the station → Kaikyo Sazanami Park or Takanosaki → homeward journey

Wind and uneven ground can affect the coast. With very young children, the park is a safer choice than Takanosaki's rocky areas.

Primary-school children and older; train enthusiasts and photographers

For a rail-themed day, visit Seikan Tunnel Entrance Plaza

Eat at the roadside station, check the scheduled train passage times at Seikan Tunnel Entrance Plaza, then drive over. Watching Shinkansen trains enter and leave the tunnel makes a particularly Imabetsu-style detour from the station-side stop.

Roadside station → Seikan Tunnel Entrance Plaza → Tsugaru-Hamana and Imabetsu area

The plaza is listed as closed for winter from December to mid-March of the following year. Train sightings depend on the timetable, so have another plan if none are due.

A sunny spring-to-autumn drive

Add strait views for a half-day trip

After a taste of Imabetsu at Restaurant Eki, drive to Horozuki Coast and Takanosaki. On clear days, you may see toward Cape Tappi, the Shimokita Peninsula, and Hokkaido; in summer, there is a sense of shore play and fishing. Starting at the roadside station lets you combine a meal, shopping, and strait views in that order.

Roadside station → Horozuki Coast → Takanosaki → return via National Route 280

Takanosaki Campground's season and facilities may change. Check official information before visiting, including notices about the suspension of hot-water coin showers.

Hours

Opening hours

Local-products shop
9:00-19:00

Generally until 18:00 from December through March. Town specialties, souvenirs, and sometimes fresh fish.

Cafe corner
10:00-16:00

For a short break with soft serve or a drink.

Restaurant Eki
11:00-16:00

Last order 15:30. Mozuku udon, Imabetsu beef, dried-grilled-fish ramen, and more.

Regular closing days
Open daily

Temporary closures occur. Check official notices or social media if traveling from far away.

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
★★★☆☆

Useful for toilets, nursing preparations, and a short meal indoors.

The station itself is not a destination with large playground equipment. Instead of a long stroller visit, break the stop into a meal, shopping, and a short rest in the car.

Ages 2–3
★★★☆☆

Meals and sweets can provide a change of pace, but take care on rocky shores.

Make mozuku udon or soft serve a small treat, and prioritize level outdoor places such as Kaikyo Sazanami Park for play.

Ages 4–6
★★★★☆

Trains, the sea, fish, and pumpkin give children plenty to talk about here.

With Okutsugaru-Imabetsu and Tsugaru-Futamata stations nearby, you can watch trains before returning for a meal. On very windy days, focus on the station and information corner rather than the shore.

Primary-school children
★★★★☆

Adding Seikan Tunnel Entrance Plaza makes the area's character especially memorable.

Shinkansen passages, the Seikan Tunnel, the Arama Festival, and the shape of the strait can make this a short educational outing.

Keep the indoor stop short

After eating, using the toilets, and shopping, move on to a park or strait viewpoint for play; this often suits a family's pace better.

Check wind and footing along the coast

Takanosaki and Horozuki Coast have fine views but also rocky ground and windy days. Choose level ground with very young children.

Decide on a meal before 15:30

Restaurant Eki's last order is generally at 15:30. If you arrive late, switch to the cafe or local-products shop.

Check winter closures before a detour

Seikan Tunnel Entrance Plaza is listed as closed in winter. In snowy months, center the break on the station.

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

Arama Festival

A traditional performance central to Imabetsu's summer. In 2026 the festival ran from August 6 to 9, with a joint procession and the Strait Fireworks Festival on August 8. Check Imabetsu Town's official notices for the next dates.

Kaikyo Sazanami Park

A park overlooking the Tsugaru Strait and a main venue for the spring festival and Arama Festival. Drive here from the station when attending an event.

Ikkyu Nyukon pumpkin

An Imabetsu specialty that adds a seasonal touch to local-products shopping and restaurant sweets, and gives autumn visitors a reason to browse.

Tsugaru Strait scenery

Takanosaki and Horozuki Coast are especially appealing on clear days from spring through autumn. Eat at the station, then continue along the coast.

Local feel

Reasons to return

Practical ideas and things to consider when spending time here.

A particularly useful roadside station beside rail stations

Imabetsu Town and tourism information repeatedly describe its position beside Hokkaido Shinkansen's Okutsugaru-Imabetsu Station and JR Tsugaru Line's Tsugaru-Futamata Station. It is easy to imagine meeting rail passengers here, eating before or after a rental car or bicycle trip, or shopping while waiting for a train, as well as stopping during a drive.

Source: Imabetsu Town official site; Amazing AOMORI

Plan lunch around Restaurant Eki and its hours

Restaurant hours are generally 11:00–16:00, with last orders at 15:30. Arrive around lunchtime if a meal is your main goal, or be ready to use the cafe or shop if you arrive late.

Source: Imabetsu Town official restaurant menu

Local ingredients range from meat and seafood to pumpkin

Imabetsu beef, Imabetsu salmon, mozuku udon, and Ikkyu Nyukon pumpkin offer choices even when family members have different tastes. Fresh fish sales depend on season and landings; if available, consider your journey home and how to keep the fish chilled.

Source: Imabetsu Town official specialty products and menu

With children, options beyond the station matter

The station has no large playground equipment, so consider Kaikyo Sazanami Park or Takanosaki if children want to move around. In rain, strong wind, or snow season, a meal and tourist information indoors may be enough; there is no need to force a coastal outing.

Source: Imabetsu Town official sights and scenic places

Takanosaki is especially good on clear days from spring to autumn

Takanosaki Campground is listed as open from late April through the end of October. On clear days, views may extend toward Cape Tappi, the Shimokita Peninsula, and Hokkaido. Check official notices about facilities before going, including suspended hot-water coin showers and the closure of the Isaribi lookout facility.

Source: Imabetsu Town official Takanosaki Campground information

Winter closure and train times are key at Seikan Tunnel Entrance Plaza

You can watch Shinkansen trains enter and leave the Seikan Tunnel here, but the plaza is listed as closed from December until mid-March of the following year. If no train is due soon, allow time to combine the outing with food and shopping at the roadside station.

Source: Imabetsu Town official Seikan Tunnel Entrance Plaza information

An event day takes you around town, beyond the station

The 2026 Arama Festival was announced for August 6–9, with a joint procession and the Strait Fireworks Festival on August 8. On an event day, eat at the station before heading to the venue, or keep the station stop short if you plan to use the venue stalls.

Source: Imabetsu Town official Arama Festival information
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 local-products shop is generally open 9:00–19:00, closing at 18:00 from December through March. Check official notices or social media for temporary closures or seasonal changes.
  • The cafe corner is generally open 10:00–16:00; Restaurant Eki is generally open 11:00–16:00, with last orders at 15:30.
  • Fresh fish sales vary with the season and landings. A cooler bag makes it easier to buy fish on a long travel day.
  • Takanosaki and Horozuki Coast are seaside viewpoints. Weigh wind, rain, footing, and children's ages before visiting.
  • Seikan Tunnel Entrance Plaza is listed as closed from December to mid-March of the following year. In snowy months, plan mainly for a station break.
  • Traffic and parking patterns change during the Arama Festival and spring festival. Decide whether to eat at the station or use the venue stalls.
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.

  • Local noodle specialty
    Mozuku udon
    About ¥620 on Restaurant Eki's menu
  • Meat dish
    Imabetsu beef steak
    About ¥3,700 for 200 g
  • Seafood meal
    Imabetsu salmon rice bowl
    About ¥1,500
  • Noodles
    Dried-grilled-fish ramen
    About ¥820
  • Sweet treat
    Ikkyu Nyukon pumpkin soft serve
    Limited season; about ¥450
  • Shopping
    Fresh fish and processed seafood
    Varies with deliveries and season
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
A light meal

Mozuku udon; dried-grilled-fish ramen

Good when you want a lighter meal during a strait-side drive. Mozuku udon offers a quick taste of the town's specialty seaweed.

Restaurant hours are generally 11:00–16:00, with last orders at 15:30.

A substantial lunch

Imabetsu beef steak; grilled-meat set meal; salmon rice bowl

If lunch is the main reason for stopping, aim to arrive around midday. Having both meat and fish options helps families with different tastes.

Menus and prices can change; follow the posted or official menu on the day.

A sweet break

Soft serve; pumpkin soft serve; shakes

These work for a break outside meal hours or a change of pace for children. Treat pumpkin desserts as seasonal or limited-period choices.

The cafe corner is generally open 10:00–16:00.

Take something home

Ikkyu Nyukon pumpkin; processed seafood; local gifts

Fresh fish is an option if the trip home is short. For longer journeys, processed foods, sweets, or Arama-themed items are easier to carry.

Do not count on fresh fish always being available; if it has arrived, consider how to keep it chilled.

On festival days

Stalls at the Arama Festival and spring festival

For an event at Kaikyo Sazanami Park, combine a light station stop with food from the venue stalls rather than relying entirely on a station meal.

Traffic and parking patterns change on event days.

Access

Location and surroundings

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1
Roadside station
Roadside Station Imabetsu

Beside a Shinkansen station, plan a strait-side drive over Imabetsu beef and mozuku udon.

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2
Railway and viewpoint
Seikan Tunnel Entrance Plaza

Wait to see a Hokkaido Shinkansen train enter or leave the Seikan Tunnel at this distinctly Imabetsu rail spot.

Open in Google Maps
3
Strait views and camping
Takanosaki Campground and Shiosai Bridge

A leading stop on a strait-side drive, with views toward Cape Tappi, the Shimokita Peninsula, and Hokkaido.

Open in Google Maps
4
Coast and nature
Horozuki Coast

A Tsugaru Strait shore for summer rock-pool play and fishing, with fishing-boat lights at night.

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

Railway and viewpoint
Seikan Tunnel Entrance PlazaJapanese guide
About 20 minutes by car from the stationAbout 20 minutes by car

A short sunny-day detour for primary-school children and older, train enthusiasts, and photographers. Check train times and the winter closure.

Strait views and camping
Takanosaki Campground and Shiosai BridgeJapanese guide
About 30 minutes by car from the stationAbout 30 minutes by car

For clear-weather drives from spring to autumn, strait views, and outdoor time with children. Take care in strong wind and on rocks.

Park and events
Kaikyo Sazanami ParkJapanese guide
About 20 minutes by car from the stationAbout 20 minutes by car

For event days, outdoor time with toddlers, or a short seaside walk. Avoid pushing on in strong wind.

Coast and nature
Horozuki CoastJapanese guide
About 25 minutes by car from the stationAbout 25 minutes by car

For clear-weather strait drives, summer shore play, and photography. With toddlers, pay close attention to footing.

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