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Akita Prefecture · Tohoku

Michi-no-Eki Ouchi

道の駅おおうち

Add a hot spring and Ouchi food to a break along National Route 105.

Updated 2026-10-06Michi-no-Eki Journal Read in Japanese

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph

Location

Yurihonjo City

Road

National Route 105

Hours

9:00–21:00

The rest area is open 9:00-21:00, and the toilets are open 24 hours. Popolocco day-use bathing is 9:00-21:00, with last admission at 20:00. The shop, farmers' market and restaurant have different hours.

Parking

Cars: 246 / Large vehicles: 8

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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.

Eat first

Tororo-meshi and triangular fried tofu

Lunch is generally 11:15-14:00. Visit around midday if you want a meal.

For shopping

Snow-pea noodles and snow-pea manju sweets

Alongside Akita souvenirs, look for products specific to the Ouchi market.

For a rest

Popolocco day-use hot spring

The bubble bath, sauna and open-air bath make a welcome break from driving.

For outdoor play

32-hole ground golf

Play outdoors from mid-March through late November; preschool children play free.

For a side trip

Akata Daibutsu

About ten minutes by car for a short visit to Ouchi-area history.

Nono Hayase’s stopover notes

Tororo-meshi or a relaxing hot spring? Decide how long to stay first.

Ouchi deserves a little more than a passing break. At midday, choose Ouchi's tororo-meshi and the market; on a tiring day, the hot spring and large lounge; when children have energy, ground golf. Pick one main purpose on arrival and eating, shopping and resting fall into place.

After Akita souvenirs, look for snow-pea noodles and snow-pea manju sweets to take a little of Ouchi home.

Highlights

Michi-no-Eki Ouchi is a roadside station on National Route 105 in the Ouchi area of Yurihonjo City, with a hot spring, lodging, dining and a farmers' market on one site. A connecting passage puts it within walking distance of JR Ugo-Iwaya Station, and Ouchi Junction on the Nihonkai-Tohoku Expressway is also close. It makes a convenient break on drives between the Akita City and Daisen areas and Honjo. For lunch, try Ouchi's tororo-meshi (rice with grated yam) or triangular fried tofu. Browse kiritanpo rice sticks, Inaniwa udon, iburigakko smoked pickles, junsai water-shield shoots, snow-pea noodles and snow-pea manju sweets; with more time, add a day-use bath or ground golf.

#Popolocco
#Day-use hot spring
#Ouchi specialty tororo-meshi
#Triangular fried tofu
#Snow-pea noodles
#Snow-pea manju sweets
#Ugo-Iwaya Station
#Ground golf
#Akata Daibutsu

Practical information

Registration number: 秋田-19
Prefecture: Akita Prefecture
Municipality: Yurihonjo City
Road: National Route 105
Telephone: 0184-62-1126
Closed days: Check the facility notice for rest-area closures. Popolocco closes once a year for maintenance; the whole building is scheduled to close November 9-12, 2026, for interior maintenance. Himawari farmers' market closes January 1, and the ground-golf course closes for winter, roughly early December to mid-March.
Station stamp: Available

Address

36 Nishikoshi, Iwayamachi, Yurihonjo City, Akita Prefecture 018-0711 (〒018-0711 秋田県由利本荘市岩谷町字西越36)

Facilities

Toilets
24-hour toilets
Multipurpose toilet
Parking
Rest area
Popolocco general exchange terminal
Day-use hot spring
Lodging
Restaurant
Shop
Himawari farmers' market
Ground-golf course

1 more facilities listed.

External links

Visit the official website (Japanese)Background information (Japanese)www.city.yurihonjo.lg.jp (Japanese guide)www.city.yurihonjo.lg.jp (Japanese guide)akita-fun.jp (Japanese guide)yurihonjo-kanko.jp (Japanese guide)yurihonjo-kanko.jp (Japanese guide)www.city.yurihonjo.lg.jp (Japanese guide)

Why I like it

Reasons to stop here

From a short break to half a day with a hot spring

At Ouchi, a roadside break can easily include Popolocco, the general exchange terminal. Its day-use hot spring has a bubble bath, sauna and open-air bath; a bathing ticket also gives access to the large lounge. Whether you only need a toilet stop along Route 105 or want to shorten plans because of rain or heat, a bath can make the stop more restful.

Choose Ouchi specialties for your meal

The restaurant centers on local ingredients, including Ouchi's tororo-meshi (rice topped with grated yam) and triangular fried tofu. Lunch is generally 11:15-14:00, so arrive around midday if dining is the main reason for your stop. Later, look to the cafe and light meals, shop or farmers' market.

Browse Akita souvenirs and Ouchi produce separately

The shop carries Akita staples such as kiritanpo rice sticks, Inaniwa udon, iburigakko smoked pickles, junsai water-shield shoots and local sake. At Himawari farmers' market, look for local farmers' vegetables, pickles, mountain vegetables, processed foods, snow-pea noodles and snow-pea manju sweets. On a weekend drive, visiting the market before lunch and the shop before leaving may help you cover both.

Near JR Ugo-Iwaya Station and Ouchi Junction, convenient for meeting up

The station is a two-minute walk from Ugo-Iwaya Station via a connecting passage. By car, it is about one minute along Route 105 toward Daisen from Ouchi Junction on the Nihonkai-Tohoku Expressway. It suits a meeting between drivers and train passengers or a break en route from Akita Airport or Omagari toward Honjo.

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.

Midday break on National Route 105

Fit lunch and shopping into an hour

If you arrive around midday, check restaurant crowding and serving hours first. Try tororo-meshi or triangular fried tofu, then browse vegetables, mountain vegetables, processed foods and snow-pea noodles at Himawari farmers' market. Even a short stop can include something distinctive to Ouchi.

Parking → toilets → restaurant → Himawari farmers' market → shop.

The shop, market and restaurant close at different times. If arriving in the evening, focus on shopping.

Family drives and trips with older companions

Reset your plans with a hot spring on a rainy or tiring day

Keep the schedule loose and make Popolocco's day-use hot spring the main break. A bathing ticket includes the large lounge, so passengers as well as the driver can rest. Eat at the restaurant if the time works; otherwise consider the shop or farmers' market.

Parking → bath → large lounge → meal or shopping → departure.

Last bath admission is generally 20:00. Check official notices for maintenance closures or private bookings.

Family breaks from spring through autumn

Add a little outdoor play with children

From mid-March through November, Popolocco's ground golf offers a short outdoor activity. With 32 holes, you can play a full round or just move around after a meal. With small children, use the toilets and have water before heading outside.

Farmers' market → lunch → ground golf → hot spring or shop.

The course closes in winter. On hot days, keep the time in the sun short.

Short sightseeing for adults and history lovers

Make an Ouchi visit more memorable with Akata Daibutsu

After eating or shopping at the roadside station, drive to Akata Daibutsu to see more of Ouchi's history. The roughly 9 m wooden, gold-leaf Eleven-faced Kannon statue suits a quiet historical visit rather than a busy sightseeing circuit.

Michi-no-Eki Ouchi → Akata Daibutsu → central Honjo or back to National Route 105.

At the temple, respect ceremonies and memorial services, and follow photography and visiting etiquette.

Hours

Opening hours

Rest area

9:00-21:00

Hours listed in the official Yurihonjo City facility guide.

Toilets

24 hours

Also useful for a nighttime stop on National Route 105.

Day-use hot spring

9:00-21:00

Last admission 20:00. The large lounge is generally available 9:00-19:30.

Restaurant lunch

11:15-14:00

Cafe and light meals 14:00-17:00; dinner 17:30-20:00, last order 19:30.

Shop

8:00-16:45

Akita souvenirs, traditional sweets and local sake, among other items.

Himawari farmers' market

9:00-17:00

Closes at 16:30 in winter and is closed January 1.

Ground golf

9:00-18:00

Generally operates from mid-March through November 30. Confirm the opening time with Popolocco before an early-morning visit.

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

★★★☆☆

It is easy to move from the car to the rest area, hot spring and large lounge, with indoor shelter in poor weather.

Meal and bathing times may differ by family member, so plan a short break rather than a long stay.

Ages 2-3

★★★☆☆

The toilets, market and light meals offer natural stopping points.

Ground golf covers a large outdoor area; allow for heat and walking distance and keep the visit short.

Ages 4-6

★★★★☆

Children can move around at ground golf from spring through autumn.

If the restaurant wait is long, browse the shop or market first and return later.

Primary school age

★★★★☆

Add a short experience: 32-hole ground golf, Akata Daibutsu or the passage to Ugo-Iwaya Station.

Before a historical side trip, have lunch and use the toilets at the roadside station.

Toilets

Useful as a stop on Route 105; at night, plan mainly for toilets and a short rest.

Rainy days

Shorten outdoor plans and spend time bathing and resting indoors.

Outdoor play

Ground golf generally runs from mid-March through late November. In winter, choose the hot spring and shopping.

Meal times

Lunch is generally 11:15-14:00. If arriving later, consider cafe and light meals or the shop.

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

Popolocco hot-spring bath

The bubble bath, sauna, open-air bath and large lounge let you extend a visit according to weather and fatigue.

Restaurant

Local-ingredient dishes such as Ouchi specialty tororo-meshi and triangular fried tofu make lunch a reason to stop.

Shop and Himawari farmers' market

Browse classic Akita souvenirs separately from Ouchi produce and processed foods.

Ground-golf course

A 32-hole outdoor facility suited to family and three-generation breaks from spring through autumn.

Seasonal food and activity events

Summer water-play events and autumn harvest festivals sometimes use the parking area and indoor spaces, making the station a destination for food and activities.

Local feel

Reasons to return

Practical ideas and things to consider when spending time here.

Visit around midday for a meal; check each shop’s closing time for shopping

Restaurant lunch is generally 11:15-14:00, the shop 8:00-16:45, and Himawari farmers' market 9:00-17:00. Since they do not all stay open to the same time, decide whether lunch, local produce or souvenirs comes first.

Source: Popolocco official website

The hot spring and lounge offer shelter in poor weather

Day-use bathing is generally 9:00-21:00, with last admission at 20:00. A bathing ticket includes the large lounge, providing an indoor rest stop on rainy or very hot days or after a long drive.

Source: Popolocco official hot-spring information

A rail station next to the roadside station makes meeting easy

JR Ugo-Iwaya Station is a two-minute walk away, and a connecting passage links it to Popolocco. This makes it convenient to meet driving companions, rest before or after a rail journey, or meet someone travelling without a car.

Source: Yurihonjo City and Popolocco official websites

What you find at the market changes by season

Himawari sells local farmers' vegetables, pickles, mountain vegetables and processed foods: mountain vegetables stand out in spring, vegetables in summer and harvest produce in autumn. Going earlier may improve your selection; in winter the market closes 30 minutes earlier.

Source: Popolocco official Himawari retail information

Give children an outdoor change of pace with ground golf

The 32-hole course generally operates from mid-March through late November. If children tire of meals and baths, a little outdoor activity can help before returning to the car.

Source: Popolocco official activities information

Visitors often come for the bath, food or market

Travel and tourism guides repeatedly highlight the hot spring, restaurant, farmers' market and rail-station access. It works well as a place to combine errands on a journey, with a bath if time allows.

Source: Akita Fun and travel-site visitor trends summary

Summer event days change how the parking area and building are used

Events such as Aqua Festa on July 20, summer events on August 8-9 and an old-car exhibition on September 23 were scheduled for 2026 in the station parking area or building. On event days, allow more time for parking and for your visit, even if you mainly plan to eat or bathe.

Source: Popolocco official topics

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 a meal, arrive during the generally scheduled 11:15-14:00 lunch service. Later, try cafe and light meals or the shop.
The shop is generally open 8:00-16:45 and Himawari farmers' market 9:00-17:00, closing at 16:30 in winter. Shop earlier if buying food is your main purpose.
Day-use bathing is generally 9:00-21:00, with last admission at 20:00. Popolocco is scheduled to close completely November 9-12, 2026, for interior maintenance; check official notices if visiting for the bath, dining or shopping.
The toilets are available 24 hours. At night, plan for a toilet and rest stop rather than assuming the hot spring or shop is open.
Ground golf operates seasonally, generally from mid-March through late November. Account for summer sun and the winter closure, or choose bathing and shopping.
Ugo-Iwaya Station is a two-minute walk away via a connecting passage. This suits meetings with rail passengers or trips combining car and train.
On event days such as the third Harvest Festival on October 11-12, the parking area and building are used differently from an ordinary break. Allow more time than you would for lunch or bathing alone.

Gallery

A closer look

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.

Restaurant
Ouchi specialty tororo-meshi (rice with grated yam)
Lunch is generally 11:15-14:00. Check the restaurant notice for what is being served that day.
Meal made with local ingredients
Triangular fried tofu
A dish that fits a lunch break or a meal after the hot spring.
Akita souvenirs
Kiritanpo rice sticks, Inaniwa udon, iburigakko smoked pickles and junsai water-shield shoots
Shop hours are generally 8:00-16:45. Local sake and traditional sweets are also available to browse.
Ouchi specialties
Snow-pea noodles and snow-pea manju sweets
Ouchi take-home foods to look for at Himawari farmers' market.
Farmers' market
Local vegetables, pickles, mountain vegetables and processed foods
Market hours are generally 9:00-17:00, closing at 16:30 in winter.

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.

Lunch highlights

Ouchi specialty tororo-meshi and triangular fried tofu

Start with these two if you want a local meal. Lunch service is relatively short, so eating before bathing may be easier.

Akita souvenirs

Kiritanpo rice sticks, Inaniwa udon, iburigakko smoked pickles, junsai water-shield shoots and local sake

The shop gathers classic souvenirs. On a long-distance drive, these are foods to enjoy at home.

Ouchi take-home foods

Snow-pea noodles and snow-pea manju sweets

Look for these at Himawari farmers' market if you want a souvenir specifically associated with Ouchi.

Seasonal shopping

Local vegetables, pickles, mountain vegetables and processed foods

The market changes with the seasons: mountain vegetables in spring, vegetables in summer and harvest produce in autumn. An earlier visit may give you more choice.

Light food after bathing