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

Akita Prefecture · Tohoku

Michi no Eki Kazuno

道の駅 かづの

Kazuno's gateway to kiritanpo, northernmost peaches, and the Hanawa Bayashi festival in one stop.

Updated Michi-no-Eki JournalRead in Japanese

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph

Location
Kazuno City
Road
National Route 282
Hours
Shop and Kazuno Marche: 4/1-11/30 9:00-18:00、12/1-3/31 9:00-17:00
Checked September 29, 2026. The shop and Kazuno Marche close at 16:00 on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. Follow official notices for temporary shorter hours.
Parking
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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.

Decide first
Food, shopping, or exhibition

This station offers many choices. For lunch, start with MITACHI; for a short stop, try snacks and the shop; for a sense of Kazuno, prioritize the festival hall.

To eat
Kiritanpo and northernmost peaches

Choose miso-coated tanpo at Kiritanpo Hall, local dishes at MITACHI, or northernmost peach soft serve at the snack counter.

To shop
Marche early, shop last

Fresh produce sells out, so check it early. Choosing shelf-stable gifts and items suitable for shipping on the way out makes them easier to manage in the car.

To rest
Toilets and rest area open 24 hours

Plan morning or evening stops around the distinction between the rest area outside shop hours and a visit for food or exhibitions.

To explore
Walk around Hanawa or head for hot springs and nature

The former Sekizen Sake Brewery is within walking distance; Oyu Onsen and Hachimantai are drives away. Spend more time with indoor displays in bad weather.

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph
Nono's stopover notes

Eat, shop, and see a little of the festival. Take home several sides of Kazuno in one stop.

Nono Hirose sees this station as more than a lunch stop: eat kiritanpo, browse seasonal produce at the marche, and save northernmost peach soft serve or a shop gift for the drive. Add one Hanawa Bayashi display and a short visit brings Kazuno's food and local culture together.

Highlights

Michi no Eki Kazuno is a convenient gateway to Kazuno's food and culture, just off the Kazuno-Hachimantai Interchange of the Tohoku Expressway on National Route 282. For lunch, try Kazuno beef or Hinai-jidori chicken at Restaurant MITACHI; at Kiritanpo Hall, try miso-coated tanpo, grilled rice on a skewer; or take a shorter break with northernmost peach soft serve. For shopping, browse the morning-harvest produce at Kazuno Marche separately from the shop's more than 700 products. With more time, see the Hanawa Bayashi festival floats in the festival hall, then continue to the former Sekizen Sake Brewery, Oyu Onsen, or Hachimantai.

  • #Kiritanpo (pounded rice on a skewer)
  • #Northernmost peach soft serve
  • #Kazuno Marche
  • #Hanawa Bayashi festival
  • #Kazuno-Hachimantai Interchange
Why I like it

Reasons to stop here

01

Choose Kazuno food in the restaurant, snack areas, or shops

For a full lunch, choose Restaurant MITACHI; for a short break, the soba and snack counter; and for a quick taste of Kazuno, Kiritanpo Hall. Hachimantai pork, Hinai-jidori chicken, Kazuno beef, and northernmost peaches offer several options, so there is more to enjoy than a single planned meal.

02

The produce market and shop make useful stops on the way home

Kazuno Marche offers morning-harvest vegetables and fruit, cut flowers, and processed foods, with fresh produce sold until it runs out. The shop carries kiritanpo meal kits, Kazuno apple juice, local sake, and regional gifts. A cooler bag makes summer peaches and other fresh items easier to bring home.

03

Hanawa Bayashi culture indoors, even on a rainy day

At the festival hall, you can encounter ornate festival floats and the culture of festival music. Performance dates and float-display closures vary, so check the schedule; the indoor exhibition offers a taste of Kazuno even when the weather turns bad.

04

Flexible routes between Lake Towada and Hachimantai

The Kazuno-Hachimantai Interchange on the Tohoku Expressway, JR Kazuno-Hanawa Station, and express bus routes are nearby, making the station convenient by car or public transport. Adjust a short break, lunch, a festival-culture visit, or an overnight stop near hot springs and nature to the day's weather and available time.

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 60–90-minute break around the Kazuno-Hachimantai Interchange

Have lunch and shop in one stop

On arrival, check the toilets and crowd levels first. Choose MITACHI if you want a seated meal, or the soba and snack counter or Kiritanpo Hall for a shorter stop. After eating, pick up vegetables at the marche and kiritanpo kits or apple juice at the shop for a simple food-and-shopping circuit.

Parking → Toilets → MITACHI or Kiritanpo Hall → Kazuno Marche → Shop

The restaurant has closure days and a last-order time. When it is busy, leave room in your plan for snacks, sweets, or shopping instead.

A short visit on a rainy day, hot day, or in winter

Explore Kazuno culture indoors

Make the Hanawa Bayashi Festival Exhibition Hall the focus: see the floats and learn about the festival music before returning to the shop. A performance adds to the visit; even without one, the exhibition is a useful introduction before walking through Hanawa or visiting the former Sekizen Sake Brewery.

Festival Exhibition Hall → Shop → Former Sekizen Sake Brewery or Kazuno-Hanawa Station area

Float displays stop every year from August 16 to 21; check the official notice around the Hanawa Bayashi festival.

A stop with preschool or elementary-school children

Add a short family activity

This is better suited to short activities—eating, looking, and making—than to spending hours on playground equipment. The miso-coated tanpo session has set time slots and requires at least two people. It introduces children to Kazuno's food culture, but availability depends on reservations.

Toilets → Miso-coated tanpo session or Kiritanpo Hall → Northernmost peach soft serve → Departure

Experience sessions are generally at 10:00, 11:00, 14:00, and 15:00. Do not rely solely on same-day registration; fit the visit around your family's naps and meals.

A half-day to full-day drive around Kazuno

Continue to hot springs or Hachimantai

After eating Kazuno food at the station, continue to the footbath and cafe at Michi no Eki Oyu, Oyu Onsen, or Hachimantai Visitor Center. Hachimantai is cooler in summer and offers autumn foliage; in winter, check road conditions and seasonal closures and consider a hot-spring-focused route.

Michi no Eki Kazuno → Michi no Eki Oyu → Hachimantai Visitor Center or hot springs

The climb toward Hachimantai can bring different fog, rain, and cold. Plan around winter closures and road conditions.

Hours

Opening hours

Shop and Kazuno Marche
4/1-11/30 9:00-18:00、12/1-3/31 9:00-17:00

Checked September 29, 2026. The shop and Kazuno Marche close at 16:00 on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. Follow official notices for temporary shorter hours.

Restaurant MITACHI
4/1-11/30 10:00-18:00、12/1-3/31 10:00-17:00

Last orders are at 17:30 from April 1 to November 30, and at 16:30 from December 1 to March 31. Seat reservations are unavailable. Announced closures: September 30, October 6, and October 13, 2026.

Soba and snack counter
4/1-11/30 9:00-17:00、12/1-3/31 10:00-16:00

Northernmost peach soft serve, soba and udon noodles, and snacks.

Festival Exhibition Hall
4/1-11/30 9:00-17:00、12/1-3/31 9:00-16:00

Float displays stop every year from August 16 to 21. Check official notices for closures due to float restoration or other work. Hanawa Bayashi live performance admission: adults ¥500, junior and senior high school students ¥400, elementary school students ¥300, and preschool children free.

Kiritanpo Hall
4/1-11/30 9:00-17:00、12/1-3/31 9:00-16:00

Kiritanpo hot pot is limited in quantity. The hall has closure days during the month; in October 2026 it closes on October 1, 7, 14, 22, and 29.

Full Frutta (gelato)
9:00-16:00

Opened August 1, 2026. Closed on irregular days; cash only.

Akita Kirakusha
Year-round, 9:00–16:00

A workshop and shop for interlocking woodcraft.

Hands-on Experience Hall
Session times are generally 10:00 / 11:00 / 14:00 / 15:00.

At least two people; ¥1,000 per person. Same-day registration may be possible, but advance booking is recommended because sessions can fill.

Toilets and rest area
24 hours

Useful for a break on a long drive outside shop hours.

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.

Ages 1 and under
★★★☆☆

Good for a toilet break and brief shopping; keep a longer stay focused on one purpose.

The 24-hour toilets and rest area help. Check on site where nursing and diaper-changing facilities are before visiting the busy indoor displays or shop.

Ages 2–3
★★★☆☆

Suitable for dessert or a short exhibition, with limited space for running around.

Make northernmost peach soft serve or miso-coated tanpo the small goal. With many items in the shop, take a short route where you can easily hold hands.

Ages 4–6
★★★★☆

Drums, floats, and a tanpo-making session can be memorable.

Combine the festival floats, a kiritanpo-making session, and dessert. Check exhibition closures and session times by the day before.

Elementary-school children
★★★★☆

An easy way to learn about Kazuno food and festival culture.

Hanawa Bayashi, kiritanpo, and the former Sekizen Sake Brewery create a local-history outing beyond food. This also works as a rainy-day alternative.

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

Minna no Natsumatsuri in Antoraa

In 2026, this summer event was announced for Saturday July 25 and Sunday July 26, with activities for children and a karaoke call for participants. Check official notices for the next dates.

Hanawa Line Digital Stamp Rally

From July 1 to October 31, 2026, this digital stamp rally visits JR Hanawa Line stations and facilities along the line. An entry requires a photo of a Hanawa Line train ticket.

Ride the Hanawa Line! Photo Mission 2026

From September 19, 2026, to January 31, 2027, take photos for missions across the JR Hanawa Line and five cities along it. An entry requires a ticket photo showing travel on the Hanawa Line.

2026 Hanawa Bayashi

Hanawa Bayashi is held each year on August 19 and 20; the 2026 festival has ended. Float displays at the festival hall stop from August 16 to 21 around the event, and the town can be crowded.

Hanawa Bayashi live performance

Held on selected days at the festival hall. The remaining 2026 dates are Sunday October 18 and Sunday November 8, with performances at 11:00 and 11:30. Admission: adults ¥500, junior and senior high-school students ¥400, elementary-school children ¥300, preschoolers free.

Antoraa Food Fair

The 2026 event was held May 3–5. A Golden Week gathering of Kazuno food, food trucks, and parent-child activities; watch for information on the next event.

Local feel

Reasons to return

Practical ideas and things to consider when spending time here.

Food-focused visitors benefit from several choices

The official dining guide offers distinct options at MITACHI, the soba and snack counter, and Kiritanpo Hall. Visitors also often stop for a short break or lunch. At busy times, keep miso-coated tanpo, soft serve, or the shop in mind if the restaurant has a wait.

Source: Official dining guide and travel-review trends

Expect morning-harvest produce to sell out

At Kazuno Marche, growers bring in vegetables and fruit harvested that morning; fresh items are sold until they run out. For an evening stop, make shop souvenirs or dessert the priority instead.

Source: Official Kazuno Marche guide

The festival hall offers an introduction to Hanawa Bayashi outside festival season

The festival itself is on August 19 and 20, while the hall displays floats and introduces the culture as a year-round visitor stop, except during display closures. Even in rain or winter, you can encounter Kazuno's local culture indoors.

Source: Official festival hall guide and Kazuno tourism site

Parking and toilets help on a long drive

The city and tourism site describe free parking and 24-hour toilets. Even outside dining hours, this makes the station useful as a break before or after a drive toward Lake Towada or Hachimantai.

Source: Official Kazuno City and Kazuno tourism site

Peaches, festivals, foliage, and snow change the visit by season

Summer brings northernmost peaches and Hanawa Bayashi; autumn brings Hachimantai foliage; winter favors hot springs and indoor displays over outdoor nature visits. Expect weather and temperatures to differ between the station and higher Hachimantai.

Source: Official notices and Hachimantai Visitor Center
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.

  • From April to November, the shop and marche are generally open 9:00–18:00; from December to March, 9:00–17:00. Check official information for each shop's hours and temporary closures.
  • The toilets and rest area are available 24 hours. Outside shop hours, plan the stop as a rest break.
  • Restaurant MITACHI does not take seat reservations, according to its information. At weekend lunchtime, allow for switching to snacks, Kiritanpo Hall, or the shop.
  • Fresh produce at Kazuno Marche sells out. Arrive early if vegetables or fruit are your goal.
  • The festival hall changes its usual display around Hanawa Bayashi, including suspension of float displays from August 16 to 21.
  • For a trip toward Hachimantai, prepare for colder weather with elevation, fog, winter closures, and road conditions.
  • Bring a cooler bag for summer peaches, fresh produce, or chilled gifts.
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 cuisine
    Kazuno kiritanpo meal
    Served at Restaurant MITACHI. Check the official menu for current prices and availability.
  • Snack and hands-on experience
    Miso-coated tanpo
    ¥300 per skewer at Kiritanpo Hall. The hands-on session costs ¥1,000 per person for groups of at least two.
  • Dessert
    Northernmost peach soft serve
    ¥500 at the soba and snack counter (official menu, September 29, 2026).
  • Dessert
    Kazuno gelato (Full Frutta)
    An indoor gelato shop opened August 1, 2026; cash payment only.
  • Shopping
    Morning-harvest vegetables and fruit at Kazuno Marche
    Fresh produce is sold until it runs out.
  • Souvenirs
    Kiritanpo kits, Kazuno apple juice, and local sake
    Take-home choices from the shop and local-products display area.
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 full lunch

Restaurant MITACHI's kiritanpo hot-pot meal, Kazuno beef hamburger steak, and Hinai-jidori chicken-and-egg rice bowl

For a seated meal featuring Kazuno ingredients. Seats cannot be reserved, according to the restaurant information, so consider switching to snacks at the busiest lunch hour.

A quick taste of Kazuno

Miso-coated tanpo and kiritanpo hot pot at Kiritanpo Hall

For a short taste of the place where kiritanpo originated. Some dishes have limited quantities and the hall has closure days, so check early if a meal is the main reason for visiting.

A dessert break

Northernmost peach soft serve

A refreshing stop on a long drive. Sales restarts and seasonal announcements are posted for this item, so check official notices.

Food for home

Vegetables, fruit, wild plants, and processed foods at Kazuno Marche

Morning-harvest items sell out. If fresh produce is your goal, visit the stall before lunch.

Gifts and take-home food

Kiritanpo kits, Kazuno apple juice, local sake, wine, and regional sweets

The shop has a wide selection; choosing shelf-stable gifts separately from items suitable for shipping can make the decision easier.

Event days

Food Fair, summer festival, and Hanawa Bayashi events

Events add stalls and experiences to the usual shops. Allow time for parking and meal queues, and focus your shopping on a few priorities.

Access

Location and surroundings

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1
Roadside station
Michi no Eki Kazuno

Kazuno's gateway to kiritanpo, northernmost peaches, and the Hanawa Bayashi festival in one stop.

Open in Google Maps
2
History and culture
Hanawa Bayashi Festival Exhibition Hall

An indoor spot inside the roadside station to see Hanawa Bayashi festival floats and learn about its music.

Open in Google Maps
3
History and culture
Former Sekizen Sake Brewery

A historic merchant building with komose, traditional covered walkways, and timber framing, extending a walk through Hanawa.

Open in Google Maps
4
History and experience
Historic Osarizawa Mine

Learn Kazuno's modern industrial history at a former mine; check current admission conditions first.

Open in Google Maps
5
Hot springs and shopping
Michi no Eki Oyu

Another Kazuno roadside station, with a footbath and cafe on a route toward the Oyu Onsen hot-spring area.

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6
Nature walk
Hachimantai Visitor Center and Onuma Nature Trail

A gateway to beech forest and wetland walks on a drive toward Hachimantai.

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
Hanawa Bayashi Festival Exhibition HallJapanese guide
Inside the stationA short walk

Add Kazuno festival culture to a meal or shopping stop, even on a rainy day or brief visit.

History and culture
Former Sekizen Sake BreweryJapanese guide
About 10–15 minutes on footAbout 10–15 minutes on foot

After the festival display, a short walk through central Hanawa adds another layer of local history.

History and experience
Historic Osarizawa MineJapanese guide
About 10–15 minutes by carAbout 10–15 minutes by car

After eating at the station, this suits adults who want to explore Kazuno's industrial history.

Hot springs and shopping
Michi no Eki OyuJapanese guide
About 25–30 minutes by carAbout 25–30 minutes by car

After eating and shopping, extend a half-day drive with hot springs or a footbath.

Nature walk
Hachimantai Visitor Center and Onuma Nature TrailJapanese guide
About 45–60 minutes by carAbout 45–60 minutes by car

Good for a half-day drive to escape summer heat, see autumn foliage, or observe nature. Check winter closures and road conditions.

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