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Michi-no-Eki JournalMap

Yamagata Prefecture · Tohoku

Michi-no-Eki Nishikawa

道の駅 にしかわ

Mountain vegetables from Mount Gassan, local beer and a hot spring: turn a Route 112 rest stop into a short stay in Nishikawa.

Updated Michi-no-Eki JournalRead in Japanese
Location
Nishikawa Town, Nishimurayama District
Road
National Route 112
Hours
09:00–17:00
Approximate hours for the shop, farm produce market and restaurant. Mizusawa Onsenkan has different hours by season and day of week.
Parking
Cars: 90 / Large vehicles: 10
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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.

See first
Shop and Ikiiki Farm Produce Market

Look for wild mountain vegetables in spring, Gassan bamboo shoots in early summer and mushrooms in autumn. Checking the seasonal shelves first helps you find what is distinctive to Nishikawa.

For food
Beer-stewed beef or soft-serve

For lunch, try beef stewed in local beer; for a quick pause, try the nonalcoholic local beer soft-serve. Check the shop's dining hours.

For a rest
Mizusawa Onsenkan

A hot spring open from morning on many days. With a large rest room and Wi-Fi, it suits rainy days or a break on a long drive.

With children
Toilets, food and a little outdoor play

Time for physical play at the station itself is limited. For a day with more play, continue to Lake Gassan or Yumiharidaira Park.

With a dog
Outdoor dog run

Free for small and medium-sized dogs, 9:00–17:00. It cannot be used in rain; check the weather and rules before visiting.

Going farther
Lake Gassan or Yumiharidaira

Choose Lake Gassan for a short look at the scenery or Yumiharidaira for a longer outdoor stay. In winter or bad weather, switch to the hot spring.

Riho's stop-by-stop plan

Eat, shop, then head for the hot spring or outdoor play—in an order that works for families.

At this station, the order of stops matters. Use the toilets and produce market first, eat during lunch hours, then choose Mizusawa Onsenkan if you are tired or Lake Gassan and Yumiharidaira if the weather is clear and children want to move. On rainy days, favor indoor stops; with a dog, fit in a short visit to the dog run. Nishikawa works well because you can adjust the plan.

1

Family break

Use the nursing room, multipurpose toilet and diaper changing station first, then keep meals and sweets to a short stop.

2

Food and shopping

Choose wild mountain vegetables, Gassan bamboo shoots, mushrooms and Gassan Beer according to the season and whether you are driving.

3

Nearby outings

Lake Gassan suits a short stop; Yumiharidaira is closer to a half-day outing. If the weather is poor, make the hot spring the main stop.

4

Driving route

The station links a stop from Nishikawa IC, travel toward Gassan IC or Shonai, and a bath on the return journey.

Highlights

Michi-no-Eki Nishikawa sits on National Route 112 at the foot of Mount Gassan. Here you can combine wild mountain vegetables, mushrooms and Gassan bamboo shoots with Gassan natural spring water, Gassan Beer and Mizusawa Onsenkan. Browse the shop and farm produce market for mountain foods, pause for local beer soft-serve or lunch, then, if time allows, visit the adjoining hot spring and dog run or continue to Lake Gassan and Yumiharidaira Park. In this snowy area, the main attractions change with the season: mountain vegetables from spring to early summer, mushrooms in autumn, and the hot spring with extra allowance for snowy roads in winter.

  • #Mount Gassan
  • #Wild mountain vegetables
  • #Gassan Beer
  • #Mizusawa Onsenkan
  • #National Route 112
  • #Dog run
Why I like it

Reasons to stop here

01

Wild mountain vegetables and mushrooms take center stage in the shop

The official guide gives April to early August for wild mountain vegetables, May to June for nemagari bamboo shoots, and September to October for mushrooms. The fun of the produce market is finding the changing seasons of Nishikawa’s mountains, rather than shopping broadly for Yamagata souvenirs.

02

Gassan Beer and local beer soft-serve make even a short stop distinctive

The site includes a local beer brewery, unusual in Yamagata Prefecture. The restaurant may offer beef stewed in local beer, while the snack counter offers nonalcoholic local beer soft-serve. Drivers, children and other adults can each choose accordingly.

03

Easy to combine a hot spring, a dog stop and outdoor time near Gassan

Mizusawa Onsenkan is a day-use hot spring on the grounds that opens in the morning. An outdoor dog run was added in spring 2026. Depending on the weather, combine toilets, food, shopping, the hot spring and nearby nature instead of planning to spend a long time at the station alone.

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 short break on National Route 112

A 30-minute stop for mountain vegetables and something sweet

After parking, use the 24-hour toilets first. Check the shop and produce market for wild mountain vegetables and mushrooms, then add local beer soft-serve from the snack counter for a short taste of Nishikawa.

Parking → Toilets → Shop and produce market → Local beer soft-serve → Departure

The produce selection changes with the season and time of day. Rather than relying on finding one item late in the day, choose from what is available.

On the way back from hiking, skiing or a drive toward Shonai

Ease the journey back from Gassan with lunch and a hot spring

At the restaurant, choose beef stewed in local beer or a dish with mountain vegetables, then wash away sweat and fatigue at the adjacent Mizusawa Onsenkan. On some days the hot spring stays open later than the main station, making it a useful stop before a long drive.

Lunch at the station → Shop → Mizusawa Onsenkan → National Route 112

Mizusawa Onsenkan is generally closed on the second Tuesday of each month, and hours vary by summer or winter season and on Fridays and Saturdays. Decide the order of food and bathing based on that day's hours.

Families with preschool and elementary-school children

Meet children's needs at the station, then go elsewhere to play

The station has a nursing room, multipurpose toilet and diaper changing station, making it easy to take care of meals and toilet needs. For a longer play stop, make the Lake Gassan Water Culture Museum or Yumiharidaira Park a separate destination, and use the station for rest and supplies.

Toilets and nursing → Snack or lunch → Lake Gassan Water Culture Museum / Yumiharidaira Park

At Yumiharidaira, operating seasons and days vary on the highland. Even in summer, evenings can be chilly, so allow travel time and bring an extra layer.

A drive with a small or medium-sized dog

Fit a short dog-run stop into the drive

The outdoor dog run opened in 2026 and can fit between a toilet break and shopping. A dog foot-washing area is also listed, so one person can shop while a companion gives the dog a break.

Parking → Dog run → Shop → Water break → Departure

Rules cover rabies vaccination, leads and cleaning up after dogs. In rain or crowded conditions, skip the run and keep the stop short.

A day with unpredictable weather near Gassan

On rainy days, focus on the hot spring and shopping

When Lake Gassan or Yumiharidaira is hard to explore on foot, plan around the shop, produce market, restaurant and Mizusawa Onsenkan. The hot spring's large rest room, private rooms and Wi-Fi allow a longer family break.

Shop and produce market → Restaurant → Mizusawa Onsenkan → Return journey

The outdoor dog run and nearby nature are less practical in rain. In winter, prioritize snow and road conditions.

Hours

Opening hours

Shop and Ikiiki Farm Produce Market
9:00〜17:00

Closed for New Year holidays. Hours may change with the season or temporary notices.

Restaurant and snack counter
9:00–17:00 / Lunch 11:00–15:00

Temporary closures or changes to hours may occur.

Mizusawa Onsenkan
Summer 7:00–21:00, until 22:00 on Fridays and Saturdays / Winter 8:00–21:00, until 22:00 on Fridays and Saturdays

Closed on the second Tuesday of each month (open if it is a public holiday, with another day closed instead). Follow official notices for temporary closures.

Outdoor dog run
9:00〜17:00

Follows station operating days. Unavailable in rain. Free for small and medium-sized dogs.

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 or younger
★★★★☆

A nursing room, multipurpose toilet and diaper changing station help with a reset during a long journey.

Keep the stop to nursing, diaper changes and a little shopping rather than play at the station. If using the hot spring, check bathing hours and how busy the rest room is.

Ages 2–3
★★★☆☆

Meals and sweets are convenient, but the station alone is not a place for extended play.

Make local beer soft-serve or the produce market a short goal. For a day when children need to run around, continue to the Lake Gassan Water Culture Museum or Yumiharidaira Park.

Ages 4–6
★★★★☆

Combine Gassan's mountain vegetables, soft-serve, the hot spring and nearby parks to keep the visit varied.

On rainy days, choose the hot spring and shopping; on clear days, add Lake Gassan or Yumiharidaira. Watch for temperature differences on the highland.

Elementary-school children
★★★★☆

The local beer brewery, mountain vegetable seasons, Lake Gassan and Yumiharidaira offer plenty to talk about.

At the Lake Gassan Water Culture Museum, add a look at water and the dam to make the stop educational. In winter, prioritize snowy roads and indoor rest.

Use the toilet first

Information is available on a multipurpose toilet, ostomate facilities and a diaper changing station.

Plan meals around lunch hours

Use the time of day to decide the order of the restaurant, snack counter and hot spring.

Go elsewhere for outdoor play

Lake Gassan suits a short stop; Yumiharidaira is closer to a half-day outing. Check seasonal operation and temperature differences.

Check the rules before bringing a dog

Keep dogs on a lead outside the dog run. The run cannot be used in rain.

Rest

Ideas for a restful stop

  1. 1
    From parking to the toilets

    Free parking is in front of Gassan Meisuikan and Mizusawa Onsenkan. Using the toilet first leaves more time to choose shopping or food at an easy pace.

  2. 2
    Take a short look around the produce market

    Mountain vegetables and mushrooms are seasonal. Leave heavy purchases until departure; browse first to adjust how far you walk.

  3. 3
    Allow enough time for the hot spring

    Mizusawa Onsenkan also has a large rest room. If you want to rest before a long drive, avoid packing meals and bathing too tightly together.

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

Outdoor dog run

Opened in Felicia Park in April 2026. It gives drivers with small and medium-sized dogs a place for a brief break.

Mizusawa Onsenkan

Generally closed on the second Tuesday of each month (open on a public holiday, with another day closed instead); morning bathing, a sauna and a large rest room are available. Check official notices for temporary closures or changes in hours.

Gassan's mountain vegetable and mushroom seasons

Wild mountain vegetables and Gassan bamboo shoots appear from spring to early summer, and mushrooms in autumn. Changes at the produce market offer a reason to visit even outside event dates.

Seasonal events in Nishikawa Town

River play, the summer mountain opening and Yukihatago snow-lodge events take place elsewhere in town. Rest and shop at the station before heading to those destinations.

Local feel

Reasons to return

Practical ideas and things to consider when spending time here.

Look for the mountain season in the shop, beyond Yamagata souvenir shelves

The official guide specifies seasons for wild mountain vegetables, nemagari bamboo shoots, seasonal vegetables and mushrooms. Visitor reviews and travel accounts also describe stopping for information about the Gassan area and souvenirs; browsing the seasonal shelves before eating works well.

Source: Official facility guide and travel review trends

Keep the snack counter as an option alongside the restaurant

The restaurant may close temporarily or change hours, and lunch menu availability is limited by time. You can aim for beef stewed in local beer while leaving room to switch to soft-serve or shopping at the produce market.

Source: Official restaurant guide and notices

The hot spring makes rainy days and tired return journeys easier

Mizusawa Onsenkan is a day-use hot spring on the station grounds, with a sauna, large rest room, private rooms and Wi-Fi listed. Even when outdoor plans are cut short, meals, shopping and bathing can fill the stop.

Source: Nishikawa Town guide to Mizusawa Onsenkan

Plan children's play beyond the station grounds

The station suits toilet breaks, nursing, meals and shopping. For children who want to move around, the Lake Gassan Water Culture Museum or Yumiharidaira Park may make a more satisfying destination.

Source: Nishikawa Town tourism and child-raising information

Dog-friendly rest stops expanded in 2026

An outdoor dog run opened in Felicia Park at Michi-no-Eki Nishikawa in April 2026. For small and medium-sized dogs, it makes it easier to combine a short exercise break, foot washing and shopping by different members of a group.

Source: Nishikawa Town dog-run guide

Allow for changing seasons and road conditions toward Gassan

Nishikawa's tourism guide notes that autumn colors peak at different times near the Gassan pair lift and around the station. Snow in winter, mountain vegetables in spring, river play and highland outings in summer, and mushrooms in autumn all change how to use the same stop.

Source: Nishikawa Town Gassan 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.

  • The shop, produce market and restaurant are generally open 9:00–17:00. Follow official notices for temporary closures or shorter hours.
  • Mizusawa Onsenkan has different hours and closing days from the main station. Check its second-Tuesday closure each month (open on a public holiday, with another day closed), seasonal hours and Friday/Saturday extension before planning a visit.
  • From spring to early summer, mountain vegetables, and in autumn, mushrooms, can be easier to choose earlier in the day. In the evening, plan to pick from what remains.
  • For Yumiharidaira Park or other Gassan-area destinations, consider elevation changes and weather. Even summer evenings can be cool; in winter, prioritize snowfall and road conditions.
  • The outdoor dog run is for small and medium-sized dogs and cannot be used in rain. Follow rules on leads, vaccination and cleaning up after dogs, and use it for a short stop.
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
    Beef stewed in local beer
    Check the lunch menu for availability
  • Sweet treat
    Local beer soft-serve ice cream
    Contains Gassan Beer wort; nonalcoholic
  • Shopping and dining
    Gassan Beer
    Brewery on site; pair it with a meal if you are not driving
  • Farm produce market
    Wild mountain vegetables (edible foraged greens), Gassan bamboo shoots and mushrooms
    The main produce changes from spring through autumn
  • Take-home goods
    Gassan natural spring water and processed foods
    Alongside specialties from Nishikawa Town and elsewhere in Yamagata Prefecture
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.

A full lunch

Beef stewed in local beer; dishes with wild mountain vegetables or mushrooms

The Gassan Beer beef stew is a signature option. Aim for lunch hours, with the snack counter as an alternative if the restaurant is crowded.

A quick sweet treat

Local beer soft-serve ice cream

It contains beer wort but is nonalcoholic. Drivers and children can choose it, and it suits a break when a full meal feels too much.

Buy to take home

Wild mountain vegetables, Gassan bamboo shoots, mushrooms and Gassan natural spring water

Choose seasonal mountain foods for dinner. The produce market is especially worth checking first from spring to early summer and in autumn.

Consider the temperature and your journey home with fresh produce. A cooler bag helps in summer.

For adults

Gassan Beer

Non-drivers can enjoy it with a meal; drivers can take it home. The on-site brewery adds a local touch.

After the hot spring

Drinks and a light snack

The shop and snack counter are close enough to revisit after Mizusawa Onsenkan. With children, check dining hours before bathing to avoid a long wait.

Access

Location and surroundings

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1
Roadside station
Michi-no-Eki Nishikawa

Mountain vegetables from Mount Gassan, local beer and a hot spring: turn a Route 112 rest stop into a short stay in Nishikawa.

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

Day-use hot spring
Mizusawa OnsenkanJapanese guide
On the station grounds; a very short walkA very short walk

After food or shopping, use the hot spring and large rest room to recover from an outing toward Gassan.

Nature and learning
Lake Gassan Water Culture MuseumJapanese guide
About 15–20 minutes by carShort stop

Good when children need more to do than the station offers, or when you want to add a brief view of Lake Gassan.

Park and outdoor play
Mount Gassan and Yumiharidaira ParkJapanese guide
About 30–40 minutes by carHalf-day outing

On a clear day when children want to be active, have lunch and use the toilets at the station before going.

Day-use hot spring
Oisawa Onsen YuttarikanJapanese guide
About 25–35 minutes by carCombine with an Oisawa-area visit

After river play or a nature walk around Oisawa, separate shopping at the station from a hot spring visit.

Dog-friendly rest stop
Michi-no-Eki Nishikawa Outdoor Dog RunJapanese guide
On the station grounds; a very short walkShort break

On a drive with a dog, stop briefly for exercise before or after shopping. Check the rules and skip it in rain.

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Updated 2026-09-29Explore the nationwide map →