Akita Prefecture · Tohoku
道の駅 十和田湖
A new gateway on Lake Towada’s western shore for himemasu, blue soft serve and a lakeside stroll.
Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph
Records are saved in this browser. Visited stations receive a stamp and count towards your nationwide progress.
Eat, shop, play, take in the view or rest. Choose from the station’s strengths to suit your day.
Dining hours differ between guides. If you want lunch, check the approximate last order time first, then use any spare time for the exhibition or shopping.
Choose between a lake specialty and a bowl associated with Kosaka Town. Himemasu is kokanee salmon; the tempura bowl is served over rice.
Even without a meal, the blue soft serve and souvenirs add a little Lake Towada character to a short stop.
Look among the Lake Towada specialties for a souvenir that recalls your visit to the shore.
Weather makes a difference to the views. If there is a clear spell, consider a lookout or a lakeside walk before or after eating.
Nearby lookouts and activities have winter closures. Use the station as a rest stop and skip the outdoor walk if conditions are poor.
Roadside Station Lake Towada is an easy first stop when approaching the lake from Akita. At the restaurant, choose a Towada himemasu tempura rice bowl or Kosaka Machikatsu ramen; enjoy blue Lake Blue soft serve while looking over the water; and browse the shop for himemasu fish sauce and limited edition wine. The exhibition room tells the story of Sadayuki Wainai and the cultivation of himemasu (kokanee salmon), connecting the lake’s scenery with its local food. Dining, shopping and a short walk fit naturally into a drive along National Route 454.
The Towada himemasu tempura rice bowl and himemasu fish sauce are more than names on a menu. Learn about Sadayuki Wainai and the history of cultivating this kokanee salmon in the exhibition room, then see how the lake and its food connect. Choosing a dish at the restaurant becomes part of the experience here.
Lake Blue soft serve is a welcome sweet stop midway through a long mountain drive. Even if a full meal is too much, soft serve and a little souvenir shopping let you take home a taste of Lake Towada in a short visit.
From here you can add the view from Hakkatoge Pass, the western shore walking path, or Yasumiya’s sightseeing boats and Towada Shrine. Head outdoors in fine weather; on rainy or cold days, choose the restaurant and exhibition room. The stop works in different conditions.
Spend your time at the station or add somewhere nearby. These ideas help you plan around your companions and the weather.
As the lake draws near after the mountain road, this station offers himemasu, Machikatsu ramen and Lake Blue soft serve. Eating first leaves more time for views and walking around Yasumiya or Oirase.
Toward Kosaka IC → Roadside Station Lake Towada → Hakkatoge / Yasumiya / Oirase.
Last order times differ between guides. Arrive earlier if lunch is the main purpose.
Lake Blue soft serve, himemasu fish sauce and limited edition wine offer a taste of Lake Towada even on a brief visit. If your group does not want a full restaurant meal, sweets and souvenirs still make a worthwhile stop.
Park → soft serve → souvenirs → lake view → depart.
Popular or seasonal items may run low later in the day. Check the shop first if you have a particular item in mind.
The Lake Towada Himemasu no Sato Exhibition Room covers the lake’s formation and the history of himemasu cultivation. A short visit before or after eating gives the tempura bowl and fish sauce a local story to remember.
Restaurant or shop → exhibition room → souvenirs.
The exhibition is a quiet place. With children, a shorter visit may be easier.
Hakkatoge Pass Lookout is a classic place to look down over Lake Towada. You can go after eating, but if clear weather may be brief, see the view first and return for soft serve or shopping.
Roadside Station Lake Towada → Hakkatoge Pass Lookout; a short drive for a viewpoint stop.
Mist, strong wind and snow can change the experience considerably. Leave it out during the winter closure.
The western shore is generally quieter than Yasumiya. The lakeside path around Namariyama and Okawatai is described as having little change in elevation and being suitable for sneakers. A short walk after eating brings you closer to the lake.
Roadside Station Lake Towada → Lake Towada Western Shore Walking Path / Okawatai area.
Wind and temperature can change beside the lake. Bring a light layer in spring or autumn, and watch your footing after rain.
Lake Towada activities suit days when you want to experience the water directly. Eat or shop at the station, then drive toward Okawatai in time for your booking to build a day beside the lake.
Roadside Station Lake Towada → Lake Towada Activities / Towada Furusato Center.
Information lists winter closure, Monday and Tuesday closures, and advance booking. Weather may also cause cancellations or changes.
Basic hours agreed on by the Kazuno and Akita official tourism guides.
Hours are approximate. The Kazuno tourism guide lists last orders at 15:00; Akita’s official tourism guide lists 15:30. Check current official or social media notices if coming to eat.
Hours are approximate. A sweet stop may still be possible outside the dining hours.
Open 24 hours during its operating season. The lookout and restrooms close for winter from mid-November to late April.
Stars show the editorial recommendation for each age group on a five-point scale. Read the reasons alongside each rating.
Best for a short break; check signs on site for details of nursing and diaper changing facilities.
Lakeside wind can feel cold, so avoid planning a long stay outdoors.
Soft serve and lake views are easy to enjoy, but keep lakeside walks short and watch the water and road.
Avoid a long restaurant wait; be ready to switch to sweets, the shop or a break in the car.
The exhibition room, soft serve and a short lakeside walk make a good combination for this age.
If adding Hakkatoge or a walking path, check weather and restroom locations first.
Connect the history of himemasu cultivation and the lake’s formation with a lookout or water activity.
For SUP and kayaking, check official age requirements, booking and seasonal operation for your visit.
Restaurant hours differ between guides. If children may get hungry unexpectedly, consider soft serve or something from the shop for the car.
Wind, mist and rain change how the lakeshore feels. A short walk in a clear spell often works best.
The exhibition room particularly suits elementary school children interested in fish and the lake.
Adding a long lakeside walk or viewpoint stop before eating may mean missing restaurant hours. If lunch is the goal, check the time on arrival.
The wind beside Lake Towada can feel cold even on sunny days. The exhibition room and shop make for a comfortable visit indoors.
Hakkatoge has a fine view but is affected by winter closure and road conditions. Decide early, especially on autumn evenings or in winter.
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.
The station is a base for dining and shopping. On event days, also check crowding and parking routes around the wider Lake Towada shore.
The Lake Festival, autumn foliage season and Winter Story are mainly held or promoted around Yasumiya and the lakeshore. The station works as an Akita-side stop for food and rest.
A reason to linger when it rains or turns cold. Add a little himemasu history to a visit that would otherwise end after eating and shopping.
Practical ideas and things to consider when spending time here.
Even official tourism pages differ on dining and last order hours. If the himemasu tempura bowl or ramen is your goal, avoid planning a very late lunch.
Lake Blue soft serve, himemasu fish sauce and limited edition wine offer a quick taste of Lake Towada without a restaurant meal. This is handy on a long drive.
When conditions are poor for a walk or lookout, the exhibition room covers the history of himemasu cultivation and the lake’s formation. A visit can extend beyond a meal.
Mist and cloud change the Lake Towada view. If sunshine may be brief, go up to Hakkatoge before eating, then come back for soft serve or shopping.
Compared with the sightseeing hub at Yasumiya, the western shore offers a calmer lakeside walk. It suits a stroll after eating, an escape from crowds or time close to the water.
SUP and kayaking run from spring to autumn, with winter closures and regular closed days. If pairing them with a meal at the station, plan backward from your booked time.
Lake Towada’s autumn colors are generally expected from late October to early November, when Hakkatoge and Shimeitei lookouts are popular. On busy days, use the station as a base for food and restrooms and allow time rather than packing in too much.
Official videos show the market and nearby park before you visit. Audio and captions are in Japanese.
If the video does not load, watch it on YouTube
A way to preview the lake’s scale and seasonal character before setting out from the station.
Opening and closure days, individual businesses and facilities for children or dogs can affect your plans.
Specialities, places to eat, sweets and bakeries can all give you a reason to stop. Check individual menus for current prices and availability.
A meal, a sweet treat, market shopping or something to take away: choose a focus for the day instead of trying everything at once.
For a meal that feels distinctly Lake Towada, start here. Pair it with the exhibition room to learn why this dish belongs to the area.
Check the restaurant’s serving hours, last orders and availability on the day.
An appealing bowl on a cold lakeside day or when you want a substantial lunch. It also gives anyone who prefers noodles to fish another choice.
The restaurant can get busy at lunchtime. If arriving late, leave room to switch to sweets and shopping.
A quick sweet that recalls the lake’s blue color, good for families or a little extra after a meal.
If eating outdoors, consider the wind and temperature; return to the car or use the rest area if needed.
A way to recall the lakeside flavors at home, and a gift for someone who enjoys cooking.
Stock and range can change. Check the shop first if you are looking for it specifically.
For an adults-only drive or an overnight stay, look for a bottle for dinner. It also connects to Kosaka Town’s wine culture. “Kohan” means lakeshore.
Drivers should save drinking for their accommodation or after returning home.
Spring mountain vegetables and autumn apples or foliage-season souvenirs change the shop’s appeal through the year. Even without a restaurant meal, the shop merits a look.
Seasonal stock depends on deliveries and weather; do not count on a particular item always being available.
If the map does not load, open it in Google Maps
A new gateway on Lake Towada’s western shore for himemasu, blue soft serve and a lakeside stroll.
A classic western Lake Towada view to catch first when the sky is clear.
For a short walk after eating, head to the quieter western shore rather than Yasumiya.
Pair a meal break with SUP or kayaking on Lake Towada.
For sightseeing boats, the Maiden Statue and Towada Shrine, continue to Yasumiya.
If the limited edition wine catches your interest, explore Kosaka Town’s wine culture too.
A viewpoint detour when you want an overview of Lake Towada during a clear spell. Watch for the winter closure, fog and strong wind.
A quiet lakeside walk after the restaurant, away from crowds. Shorten it as needed for wind, rain or poor footing.
For a trip centered on lake activities from May into autumn. The station works as a stop for food, restrooms and shopping before or after.
For a day that starts with food and shopping at the station and continues to the lake’s main sightseeing area. Check parking and crowds during events.
For anyone who becomes interested in wine or souvenirs at the station and wants one more local stop while returning toward Kosaka Town.
Send your travel companions a possible stop.
