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Michi-no-Eki JournalMap

Akita Prefecture · Tohoku

Michi-no-Eki Gojome

道の駅 五城目

Eat damako hot pot, shop for wild vegetables and raspberry sweets, then stretch your legs in the forest. This roadside station brings together Gojome food and a break among the hills.

Updated Michi-no-Eki JournalRead in Japanese
Location
Gojome Town, Minamiakita District
Road
National Route 285
Hours
09:00–18:00
Moriyama: 9:00–18:00 in summer and 9:00–17:00 in winter. Hours vary by facility.
Parking
Cars: 85 / Large vehicles: 7
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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.

On arrival
Find a parking spot and the toilets first

The station has space for 7 large and 85 standard vehicles. With children, use the toilets before heading into the nature observation garden.

At lunchtime
Choose a local dish at Damako-an

Make the damako hot pot set meal your first choice; if it is busy or the portion is too large, consider another set meal, noodles or a half-size dish.

For shopping
Browse Moriyama

Wild vegetables, mushrooms, new rice, raspberry sweets, sake and woodwork offer a quick look at Gojome products.

For something sweet
Try a raspberry treat at HIROGANO

Stop briefly for coffee, a raspberry sundae or seasonal soft serve.

To get outdoors
Nature observation garden and Medaka Pond

This is a short forest walk to change the pace of a drive, rather than a playground with large equipment.

In the morning
Add the Gojome Morning Market

The market runs on dates ending in 2, 5, 7 or 0, except January 2. Around 10 a.m. is especially lively.

Nono Amemiya’s stopover notes

Check the restaurant first, then take home Gojome food and sweets.

Nono Amemiya recommends this station as a quick way to experience Gojome food. At lunchtime, choose damako hot pot first; if there is a wait, browse Moriyama for wild vegetables, mushrooms, raspberry sweets, Fukurokuju sake and woodwork. After eating, stop for sweets at HIROGANO or walk in the nature observation garden. On market days, explore the town center before returning to the station for a fuller sense of Gojome.

Highlights

Michi-no-Eki Gojome is a convenient stop on National Route 285 between the Akita City area and Gojome or Kamikoani. At Damako-an, try a set meal of Gojome’s damako hot pot, made with rice balls in chicken broth, or a pork and cabbage stir-fry set meal made with sake lees. Moriyama sells wild vegetables, mushrooms, newly harvested rice, raspberry sweets, Fukurokuju sake and Akita cedar woodwork. Behind the station are a nature observation garden and Medaka Pond. If you have time in the morning, add the Gojome Morning Market, whose history goes back more than 500 years, for a half-day drive of food, shopping and a short walk.

  • #Damako hot pot
  • #Moriyama shop
  • #Raspberry sweets
  • #Gojome Morning Market
  • #Nature observation garden
Why I like it

Reasons to stop here

01

Eat damako hot pot at the station

Gojome’s local damako hot pot features balls of mashed rice simmered in chicken broth. Damako-an serves it as a set meal, making lunch here a way to taste the town on a northbound trip from Akita City. If you need a smaller or quicker meal, consider a half-size dish or noodles; check the current menu if you want Hinaijidori chicken-broth ramen.

02

The farm shop reflects the mountain seasons

At Moriyama you can browse spring wild vegetables, summer vegetables, autumn mushrooms and newly harvested rice, as well as local sweets, Fukurokuju sake and Akita cedar woodwork. It is a small place to discover what was harvested or made around Gojome today rather than a large tourist complex.

03

Sweets and a forest walk make a refreshing break

Cafe & Gallery HIROGANO offers coffee, raspberry sundaes and seasonal soft serve, alongside displays of traditional crafts. After eating, take a short walk in the nature observation garden around the station: it has fir trees around 300 years old, skunk cabbage in spring, mountain lilies in autumn and Medaka Pond. It also gives children a chance to walk for a while.

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 northbound drive from Akita City around lunchtime

Make a Gojome specialty your lunch

After parking, check the queue at Damako-an. The damako hot pot set meal is a reason to eat in Gojome. A sake lees pork and cabbage stir-fry set meal and noodles provide alternatives, so you can choose between a full pot meal and something easier to share with family. The earlier mention of Hinaijidori chicken-broth ramen should be checked against the current menu.

Parking → toilets → Damako-an → Moriyama → cafe or nature observation garden.

The restaurant mainly opens at lunchtime and takes last orders before closing. Winter hours are shorter, so plan your arrival accordingly.

A day when lunch is planned elsewhere

Take a short shopping and sweets break

Browse Moriyama for wild vegetables, pickles, raspberry sweets, Fukurokuju sake and Akita cedar woodwork, then head to HIROGANO for a raspberry sundae or soft serve. You can take home Gojome flavors and crafts without sitting down for a meal.

Moriyama → HIROGANO → toilets → departure.

Bread and seasonal products depend on deliveries and time of day. Selection may be smaller late on weekends.

Mornings on dates ending in 2, 5, 7 or 0, except January 2

Combine the morning market with the roadside station

Explore vegetables, fish, sweets, wild vegetables and mushrooms on Morning Market Street, then have lunch and buy souvenirs at the roadside station. This combines the town center with the hills. On eligible weekends, Asaichi Plus+ may add food trucks and baked goods, making a short town walk the main event.

Gojome Morning Market → Michi-no-Eki Gojome → Damako-an or HIROGANO.

The market normally runs from 7 a.m. to noon and is liveliest around 10 a.m.; it does not run on January 2. Check the town’s guidance for dates and parking.

A break on a long drive

Let children walk before setting off

Make short stops at the toilets, for a snack and in the nature observation garden. Medaka Pond and the forest paths are not a place for hours of playground time, but offer a chance to move before returning to the car.

Toilets → cafe snack → nature observation garden and Medaka Pond → car.

Watch your footing in rain or snow and keep the outdoor walk short.

Days when you hope to continue to Moriyama or Nekobari Rock

Check road conditions before visiting nature spots

Gojome has natural sights around Moriyama, the upper Babame River and Nekobari Rock. Some managed roads and prefectural routes have been subject to closures after rockfalls or heavy rain damage. After eating and shopping at the station, check the latest town notices and choose a manageable visit to the Moriyama area or a walk in town.

Roadside station → check official town road updates → Moriyama area or Morning Market Street.

Nekobari Rock has winter closures and disaster-related access restrictions. Check the latest notices before setting out.

Hours

Opening hours

Moriyama local products shop
Summer 9:00–18:00 / winter 9:00–17:00

Summer: April 1–October 31; winter: November 1–March 31.

Damako-an restaurant
Summer 11:00–15:00 / winter 11:00–14:30

Last orders: 14:30 in summer, 14:00 in winter.

Cafe & Gallery HIROGANO
Summer 10:00–17:00 / winter 10:00–15:00

In winter, weekends and public holidays are listed as 10:00–16:00.

Toilets
24 hours

The official site lists the toilets as available 24 hours.

Family

Visiting with children

Stars show the editorial recommendation for each age group on a five-point scale. Read the reasons alongside each rating.

Under 1 year
★★★☆☆

Best for toilets and a short shopping stop.

Keep the restaurant and shopping visits short, and walk outdoors only in good weather to reduce the strain.

Ages 2–3
★★★★☆

Sweets, Medaka Pond and a short nature garden walk.

Plan brief stages of eating, walking and returning to the car rather than expecting a large playground.

Ages 4–6
★★★★☆

Sharing damako, raspberry sweets and a forest walk.

On market days, add a walk through town in the morning so children are less likely to tire.

Primary school age
★★★★☆

Morning market, local food, woodwork and the nature observation garden.

Access to Moriyama and Nekobari Rock depends on road conditions; you can also make a full day of the station and town without driving into the mountains.

Toilets

Use them soon after arrival before moving to the restaurant, shop or nature observation garden.

Meals

Choose damako hot pot, set meals, noodles or half-size dishes according to what children can eat.

Outdoor play

Use the forest and pond for a short walk rather than expecting playground equipment.

Rain and snow

Use Moriyama and the cafe; limit time in the garden or hills according to footing and road conditions.

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

Gojome Morning Market and Asaichi Plus+

The morning market, held on dates ending in 2, 5, 7 or 0 each month except January 2, is a centerpiece of a town visit. On market dates that fall on weekends from April through November, Asaichi Plus+ can bring additional stalls; consider including it in a morning itinerary.

August Asaichi Plus+ and Kyadokko Festival

The station’s 2026 announcements listed Asaichi Plus+ for August 2, 15, 22 and 30, and the Kyadokko Festival for August 15. These dates have passed; events can be canceled in bad weather, so check town and station announcements for future schedules.

Seasons in the nature observation garden

Spring skunk cabbage, autumn mountain lilies and changing supplies of wild vegetables and mushrooms give the forest and shop a different feel by season. Winter business hours are shorter and mountain roads are more likely to have restrictions, so make the station your main stop.

Local feel

Reasons to return

Practical ideas and things to consider when spending time here.

Plan the restaurant around its short lunch hours

Damako-an is listed as open 11:00–15:00 in summer and 11:00–14:30 in winter, with last orders at 14:30 and 14:00 respectively. Arriving outside lunch hours can disrupt a meal-focused stop, so have shopping or sweets as a fallback.

Source: Official restaurant information

Moriyama reflects the mountain seasons

Official shopping information describes spring wild vegetables, summer vegetables, and autumn mushrooms and new rice. Expect the farm shop’s selection to change with seasonal deliveries.

Source: Official shopping information

The nature garden offers an easy walk by the station

The garden around the station is described as having fir trees around 300 years old, skunk cabbage, mountain lilies and Medaka Pond. It can refresh children and adults, though a short walk is more practical in rain or snow.

Source: Official station site and Gojome town tourism site

The morning market brings you into town

Gojome Morning Market has a history of more than 530 years and runs in the morning on dates ending in 2, 5, 7 or 0, except January 2. Walking Morning Market Street before visiting the station gives a fuller impression of town.

Source: Gojome town tourism site
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.

  • Damako-an mainly opens at lunchtime; plan around its hours if local food is your reason for stopping.
  • Bread, seasonal goods and farm produce may be less plentiful late on weekends, so browse early.
  • Raspberry sweets make even a short stop without a restaurant meal feel distinctly Gojome.
  • The nature observation garden suits a short forest walk. Keep it brief in rain, snow or insect-heavy seasons.
  • The morning market runs on dates ending in 2, 5, 7 or 0, except January 2. Check dates and bad-weather notices for Asaichi Plus+ and festivals.
  • Check town road notices before heading toward Moriyama, Nekobari Rock or Babamedake, where closures may affect access.
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
    Damako hot pot set meal
    Check the official menu for current price and contents
  • Set meal
    Sake lees pork and cabbage stir-fry set meal
    A meal made with Fukurokuju sake lees
  • Sweets
    Raspberry sundae and seasonal soft serve
    Options for a cafe break
  • Farm shop
    Wild vegetables, mushrooms, new rice and local vegetables
    Varies by season and stock
  • Souvenirs
    Fukurokuju sake and Akita cedar woodwork
    Gojome items to take home
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.

Try local food

Damako hot pot set meal

Choose this when you want a meal that marks your visit to Gojome: rice balls in chicken broth offer a taste of Akita’s hot pot tradition.

Check the official menu and on-site notices for serving hours, price and sellouts.

Taste a local brewery ingredient

Sake lees pork and cabbage stir-fry set meal

A set meal using Fukurokuju sake lees for a Gojome option beyond hot pot.

Share with children

Half-size dishes, Hinaijidori chicken-broth ramen, soba and udon

Options when one pot per person is too much or children find noodles easier to eat. Check the current menu for the ramen variety.

Pause for sweets

Raspberry sundae, seasonal soft serve and coffee

Even on a short stop without a meal, these offer a taste of Gojome’s local raspberries.

Shop with the seasons

Spring wild vegetables, summer vegetables, autumn mushrooms and newly harvested rice

Seasonal deliveries shape what you find at Moriyama. If you also visit the market, consider how long purchases will stay in the car and whether they need to be kept cool.

Choose souvenirs

Raspberry sweets, Asadora karinto (sweet fried dough snacks), Fukurokuju sake and Akita cedar woodwork

Food and woodwork make it easy to choose separately for home and as gifts.

Change plans when it is busy

Moriyama, cafe and nature observation garden

If the restaurant is busy at midday, shop, have sweets or take a short walk in the garden while you wait.

Access

Location and surroundings

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1
Roadside station
Michi-no-Eki Gojome

Eat damako hot pot, shop for wild vegetables and raspberry sweets, then stretch your legs in the forest. This roadside station brings together Gojome food and a break among the hills.

Open in Google Maps
2
Farm shop and souvenirs
Moriyama local products shop

Shop Gojome wild vegetables, mushrooms, raspberry sweets, sake and woodwork.

Open in Google Maps
3
Local cuisine and restaurant
Damako-an restaurant

Make Gojome’s damako hot pot your lunch along National Route 285.

Open in Google Maps
4
Walks and nature by the station
Michi-no-Eki Gojome nature observation garden and Medaka Pond

Breathe forest air behind the station and refresh yourself after eating.

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

Farm shop and souvenirs
Moriyama local products shopJapanese guide
Inside the stationA short walk

Good for choosing Gojome products to take home while waiting for the restaurant or on a short break.

Local cuisine and restaurant
Damako-an restaurantJapanese guide
Inside the stationA short walk

Best for a drive around lunchtime when you want a Gojome specialty as your main meal.

Walks and nature by the station
Michi-no-Eki Gojome nature observation garden and Medaka PondJapanese guide
Inside and beside the stationA short walk

For a brief forest walk after eating or shopping, before setting off.

Morning market and town walk
Gojome Morning MarketJapanese guide
About 15 minutes by carAbout 15 minutes by car

For a morning walk through Gojome town before lunch and souvenir shopping at the roadside station.

Stream and nature spot
Nekobari RockJapanese guide
Travel by carVaries with road conditions

For a nature walk after eating and shopping at the station, when weather and road access allow.

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Updated 2026-09-29Explore the nationwide map →