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

Akita Prefecture · Tohoku

Michi-no-Eki Hinai

道の駅 ひない

On National Route 285 in Hinai, Odate, the home of Hinai-jidori chicken: stop for kiritanpo hot pot and soft serve made with the chicken’s eggs.

Updated Michi-no-Eki JournalRead in Japanese

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph

Location
Odate City
Road
National Route 285
Hours
9:00–18:00
The displayed hours are a guide for Premier Hinai. Totto-kan is open 9:00–17:00 from April through December and 9:00–16:00 from January through March. The rest facility is open 8:00–17:00. Hours may change; check the official information.
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.

For a meal
Restaurant Hinaidori

The city lists Hinai-jidori chicken yakitori, kiritanpo hot pot and oyakodon, a chicken-and-egg rice bowl.

For something sweet
Hinai-jidori egg soft serve

A distinctive treat sold at Totto-kan’s light-meal counter.

For shopping
Local vegetables, Hinai-jidori chicken and tonburi

Browse Odate specialties in Totto-kan’s direct-sales and souvenir areas.

For a break
Rest facility

There are tables, chairs, a wood-floored rest area and a road information terminal.

Nono’s Hinai notes

Eat Hinai-jidori chicken, then take home tonburi.

Nono Sawatari sees Hinai as a food stop that makes sense in the place where these specialties are produced. Choose kiritanpo hot pot or oyakodon at Restaurant Hinaidori, have a taste of Hinai-jidori egg soft serve at Totto-kan, then add local vegetables and tonburi to your souvenirs. It turns a passage along National Route 285 into a detour through Odate’s food culture.

Highlights

Michi-no-Eki Hinai stands on National Route 285 in Hinai, Odate City, an area known for Hinai-jidori chicken. Nicknamed “Hinai Chicken Village” (比内鶏の里), it has three buildings: Premier Hinai, with tourist information and a restaurant; Totto-kan, with local produce, specialties and light meals; and a rest facility. At Restaurant Hinaidori, Odate City lists Hinai-jidori yakitori, kiritanpo hot pot and oyakodon. Totto-kan is known for soft serve made with Hinai-jidori eggs. Nono Sawatari suggests stopping here on the way to Odate-Noshiro Airport or the Towada and Kazuno areas to eat local chicken and take home tonburi and local vegetables. Kiritanpo are pounded-rice cylinders cooked in broth; tonburi are small, pleasantly crunchy processed kochia seeds.

  • #Odate City
  • #Hinai-jidori chicken
  • #Kiritanpo hot pot
  • #Hinai-jidori egg soft serve
  • #Tonburi
  • #National Route 285
  • #Odate-Noshiro Airport
  • #Farmers’ market
Why I like it

Reasons to stop here

01

Go straight to local chicken dishes in the home of Hinai-jidori

Odate City says Restaurant Hinaidori serves yakitori made with locally raised Hinai-jidori chicken, kiritanpo hot pot with broth made from the chicken, and oyakodon, a chicken-and-egg rice bowl. Kiritanpo are cylinders of pounded rice cooked in broth. Tasting these dishes where the chicken is produced is the main reason to stop.

02

Shop and have a light meal at Totto-kan

Totto-kan sells locally grown produce and Odate specialties. Its light-meal counter serves udon, soba, ramen and curry rice. Odate City also highlights its soft serve made with Hinai-jidori eggs as a treat unique to this stop and popular with visitors.

03

Shop for tonburi close to where it is produced

Odate City is Japan’s only producing area for tonburi, processed kochia seeds valued for their tiny, crunchy texture. The city lists Michi-no-Eki Hinai as a retailer. Alongside Hinai-jidori chicken, it makes for a distinctly local souvenir that can be hard to find elsewhere.

04

A convenient stop between the airport and expressways

According to Odate City, the station is about 24 minutes by car from Odate-Noshiro Airport, 20 minutes from Towada Interchange on the Tohoku Expressway, and 12 minutes from Niida-Manaka Interchange on the Akita Expressway. The parking area has a paid EV rapid charger, and the tourist information center also assists visitors from overseas.

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 stop centered on food

Lunch at Restaurant Hinaidori, then shopping at Totto-kan

If you arrive around lunchtime, make a Hinai-jidori dish at Restaurant Hinaidori in Premier Hinai the centerpiece. Then visit Totto-kan for local vegetables, Hinai-jidori chicken, tonburi and other Odate souvenirs. You can enjoy a meal and shop for food to take home in one break.

Park → Premier Hinai (meal) → Totto-kan (direct sales and souvenirs) → return to National Route 285.

Premier Hinai closes every Monday, or the following day if Monday is a public holiday. Restaurant service hours may change; check the official information.

A stop during a long drive

Soft serve and the rest facility for a short break

When time is short, pick up Hinai-jidori egg soft serve at Totto-kan, check road information at the rest facility, then set off again. The tourist information center also brings together information on city attractions and specialties.

Restrooms → Totto-kan (light meal) → rest facility → depart.

Totto-kan closes at 16:00 from January through March and is closed from December 31 through January 2.

Travel via Odate-Noshiro Airport or toward Towada and Kazuno

Add a Hinai-jidori stop between the airport and expressway

Odate City places the station within a 30-minute drive of both Odate-Noshiro Airport and Towada Interchange on the Tohoku Expressway. Even with time for only one stop, it is a practical place to allow time for Hinai-jidori chicken in its home area.

Odate-Noshiro Airport → Michi-no-Eki Hinai → toward National Routes 285 and 103.

Driving times are estimates provided by the city. Allow extra time for road conditions in winter.

Hours

Opening hours

Premier Hinai (tourist information center and restaurant)
9:00-18:00

Closed every Monday, or the following day if Monday is a public holiday. Hours may change.

Totto-kan (direct sales and light meals)
April–December 9:00–17:00 / January–March 9:00–16:00

Closed for New Year from December 31 through January 2.

Rest facility
8:00-17:00

Tables, chairs, tourist brochures and a road information terminal.

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

Premier Hinai

Check the restaurant’s service hours, closed days, and conditions for using the meeting and training rooms regularly.

Totto-kan

Check seasonal produce, soft serve, light-meal choices and winter opening hours regularly.

Local feel

Reasons to return

Practical ideas and things to consider when spending time here.

Hinai-jidori dishes are the restaurant’s focus

Odate City lists Hinai-jidori chicken yakitori, kiritanpo hot pot and oyakodon at Restaurant Hinaidori. These dishes give the stop a clear food focus from the outset.

Source: Odate City official website

The city highlights Totto-kan’s soft serve

The city describes soft serve made with Hinai-jidori eggs as a treat found here. It can be the purpose of a short stop.

Source: Odate City official website

Hours and closed days differ by facility

Premier Hinai closes Mondays, while Totto-kan closes over New Year and closes at 16:00 in winter. Check the hours for the particular facility you want to visit.

Source: Odate City official website

Use the city’s driving times as a guide

The city gives 24 minutes by car from Odate-Noshiro Airport (22 km), 20 minutes from Towada Interchange on the Tohoku Expressway (17 km), and 12 minutes from Niida-Manaka Interchange on the Akita Expressway (7.4 km).

Source: Odate City official website
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.

  • Premier Hinai closes every Monday, or the next day if Monday is a public holiday. Check the day first if you are going for the restaurant.
  • The city says restaurant hours may change. Avoid planning to arrive just before closing.
  • Totto-kan closes at 16:00 from January through March and is closed from December 31 through January 2.
  • The EV rapid charger is paid. Follow the information posted on site for usage conditions.
  • For fresh and processed foods such as tonburi and Hinai-jidori chicken, check product labels for shelf life and storage instructions.
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.

  • Meal
    Kiritanpo hot pot
    Check at the restaurant
  • Meal
    Hinai-jidori oyakodon (chicken-and-egg rice bowl)
    Check at the restaurant
  • Meal
    Hinai-jidori chicken yakitori
    Check at the restaurant
  • Sweet treat
    Hinai-jidori egg soft serve
    Check at the counter
  • Light meal
    Udon, soba, ramen and curry rice
    Check at Totto-kan’s light-meal counter
  • Shopping
    Local vegetables and Odate specialties
    Check at Totto-kan’s direct-sales area
  • Souvenir
    Tonburi (processed kochia seeds)
    Check availability at the counter
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

Kiritanpo hot pot, oyakodon and yakitori

Make Hinai-jidori chicken the focus of lunch in its home area. Start with the restaurant if you arrive around midday.

Closed Mondays, or the next day when Monday is a public holiday. Check official information for service hours.

Sweet treat

Hinai-jidori egg soft serve

A distinctive reason to stop even during a short break.

Check availability at the counter.

Light meal

Udon, soba, ramen and curry rice

You can eat at Totto-kan’s light-meal counter even if you do not go to the restaurant.

Direct sales and souvenirs

Local vegetables, Hinai-jidori chicken, tonburi and Odate specialties

Take home ingredients associated with Odate. This is a useful place to shop before heading for the airport or expressway.

Check product labels for shelf life and storage instructions.

Access

Location and surroundings

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Roadside station
Michi-no-Eki Hinai

On National Route 285 in Hinai, Odate, the home of Hinai-jidori chicken: stop for kiritanpo hot pot and soft serve made with the chicken’s eggs.

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Food outlets and the market on the station grounds share the station pin. Nearby places are separate destinations to combine with your visit.
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Updated 2026-09-29Explore the nationwide map →