Skip to content
Michi-no-Eki JournalMap

Yamagata Prefecture · Tohoku

Michi-no-Eki Shiroi Mori Oguni

道の駅 白い森おぐに

Five kilometers east of the Niigata Prefecture border, this Route 113 roadside station is a stop for mountain vegetables, mushrooms and takakibi udon.

Updated Michi-no-Eki JournalRead in Japanese
Location
Oguni Town, Nishiokitama District
Road
National Route 113
Hours
09:00–18:00
These are the direct sales shop hours shown on the official site. Restaurant Aiai is listed as 11:00–15:00. Oguni Town and Yamagata Prefecture tourism listings also give 17:00 as the shop closing time and 11:30–14:00 for the restaurant. Hours vary by facility and season.
Parking
Cars: 158 / Large vehicles: 20
My stamp

Record this station in your journal

Records are saved in this browser. Visited stations receive a stamp and count towards your nationwide progress.

Nationwide progress
— / 1,238 stations
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
Takakibi zaru udon

Restaurant Aiai’s specialty, best for a day when you arrive within its lunch hours.

Have a quick bite
Mountain vegetable soba or tama konnyaku at Buna Chaya

Choose a local flavor quickly, even if your stop falls outside the main mealtime.

Take something home
Mountain vegetables, mushrooms and the Shiroi Mori brand

Local produce and souvenirs are gathered at the Shiroi Mori no Kumasan direct sales shop.

A road trip stop
5 km east of the Niigata Prefecture border

About five minutes by car toward Niigata from Oguni Station, useful on a Route 113 journey between Yamagata and Niigata.

A winter stop
Beside Yokone Ski Area

This is a heavy snow region. Winter hours may be shorter, so check road conditions first.

Riho’s stopover note

Take care of toilets and mountain produce before the prefectural border.

Riho Makabe sees this station as a place to handle several family needs at once while traveling between Yamagata and Niigata, rather than as a large sightseeing complex. The toilets are open 24 hours, the shop has mountain vegetables and mushrooms, and food choices include takakibi udon and mountain vegetable soba. Planning the order of stops helps families with children keep the visit short.

Highlights

Michi-no-Eki Shiroi Mori Oguni is on National Route 113 in Oguni Town, about a five-minute drive toward Niigata from Oguni Station. Its Shiroi Mori no Kumasan direct sales shop stocks local mountain vegetables, mushrooms, pickles, local sake, and Shiroi Mori branded rice and processed foods. Restaurant Aiai serves the local specialty takakibi zaru udon—chilled udon made with sorghum—while Buna Chaya offers a quick meal of mountain vegetable soba or tama konnyaku, balls of simmered konjac. The toilets and parking are available 24 hours, and there is a rapid EV charger. The station adjoins Yokone Ski Area in a heavy snow region, so check road conditions before a winter stop.

  • #Mountain vegetables
  • #Mushrooms
  • #Takakibi udon
  • #Shiroi Mori no Kumasan
  • #Buna Chaya
  • #Yokone Ski Area
  • #National Route 113
Why I like it

Reasons to stop here

01

Shop for Oguni mountain produce at Shiroi Mori no Kumasan

This direct sales shop opened in summer 2019. The east side has a souvenir area with sweets from Oguni Town and Yamagata Prefecture. The west side carries fresh vegetables and mountain vegetables, processed foods under the Shiroi Mori brand, rice grown with snowmelt water, and traditional vine crafts. Tent stalls also operate on Saturdays and Sundays.

02

Eat at Restaurant Aiai, or stop for a quick bite at Buna Chaya

Log cabin-style Restaurant Aiai serves its specialty takakibi zaru udon, chilled sorghum udon made with local ingredients. At Buna Chaya, popular choices are tempura soba, mountain vegetable soba, tama konnyaku (simmered konjac balls) and rice balls, offering local food even on a short stop.

03

Near the Niigata border, with 24-hour toilets and parking

About 5 km east of the Niigata Prefecture border, the station has 24-hour public toilets and parking for 158 standard vehicles, 20 large vehicles and 8 vehicles using accessible spaces. There is also an information corner, a rapid EV charger and an AED, making it a useful stop between Yamagata and Niigata.

04

A station beside Yokone Ski Area in a heavy snow region

The station adjoins Yokone Ski Area and serves as a base for skiing and snowboarding in winter. This is a heavy snow region, and the light-meal counter is listed as having shorter winter hours. Check road conditions and opening hours before stopping.

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 while traveling between Yamagata and Niigata

Stop for the toilets and mountain produce on Route 113

Parking and toilets are available 24 hours, so you can stop at any time. During business hours, browse mountain vegetables, mushrooms, pickles and sweets at Shiroi Mori no Kumasan. Add tama konnyaku or rice balls from Buna Chaya for a taste of Oguni even on a short visit.

Parking → toilets → Shiroi Mori no Kumasan → Buna Chaya → departure

The official site lists the direct sales shop as closing at 18:00, while town and prefectural listings say 17:00. Arrive early if stopping in the evening.

Days when you pass around lunchtime

Make Restaurant Aiai’s takakibi udon your lunch

Restaurant Aiai is listed as open 11:00–15:00 and serves its specialty takakibi zaru udon made with local ingredients. After eating, browse the mountain vegetables and mushrooms at the direct sales shop before departure to combine lunch and shopping in one stop.

Parking → Restaurant Aiai → Shiroi Mori no Kumasan → departure

Another listing gives restaurant hours of 11:30–14:00 and says it closes on Tuesdays. On Tuesdays or if you arrive late, consider Buna Chaya for a light meal, subject to its hours.

Hours

Opening hours

Shiroi Mori no Kumasan direct sales shop
9:00〜18:00

Official site hours; Oguni Town and Yamagata Prefecture listings say it closes at 17:00.

Restaurant Aiai
11:00〜15:00

Official site hours; another listing gives 11:30–14:00 and Tuesday closure.

Buna Chaya light-meal counter
9:00〜17:00

Oguni Town listing; closing time is listed as 16:00 in winter.

Parking and toilets
24 hours

Public toilets and parking are available 24 hours.

Family

Visiting with children

Toilets open 24 hours

Public toilets and parking are available 24 hours. An accessible toilet and a baby changing bed are listed.

Restaurant hours and closing day

Restaurant Aiai operates at lunchtime and is listed as closed on Tuesdays. If it is closed, consider Buna Chaya’s light meals, subject to its hours.

Check winter road conditions first

The station adjoins Yokone Ski Area in a heavy snow region. Shorter winter business hours are listed.

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

Parking and community plaza

Oguni Town’s ordinance designates the plaza as part of the roadside station. The town’s tourism information page sometimes announces events held at the station.

Yokone Ski Area

This ski area adjoins the roadside station, which can serve as a base for skiing and snowboarding in winter.

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 official site lists the direct sales shop as 9:00–18:00; Oguni Town and Yamagata Prefecture listings give 9:00–17:00. Arrive early for an evening stop.
  • Restaurant Aiai is listed as 11:00–15:00. Another listing gives 11:30–14:00 and Tuesday closure, so aim for around midday if coming for lunch.
  • Buna Chaya’s light-meal counter is listed as 9:00–17:00, or until 16:00 in winter.
  • The station closes on January 1 and has approximately 3–5 additional temporary closure days each year.
  • Parking and toilets are available 24 hours. There is a rapid EV charger and an AED.
  • The station adjoins Yokone Ski Area in a heavy snow region. Check Route 113 road conditions before a winter 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.

  • Local specialty meal
    Takakibi zaru udon (chilled sorghum udon)
    Check the notice at Restaurant Aiai
  • Light meal
    Tempura soba and mountain vegetable soba
    Check the notice at Buna Chaya
  • Light meal
    Tama konnyaku (simmered konjac balls) and rice balls
    Check the notice at Buna Chaya
  • Direct sales
    Mountain vegetables and mushrooms
    Selection varies by season
  • Souvenirs
    Pickles, local sake and sweets
    Check prices at the direct sales shop
  • Regional brand
    Shiroi Mori branded rice, processed foods and vine crafts
    Check prices at the direct sales shop
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.

Make it lunch

Takakibi zaru udon

Restaurant Aiai’s specialty is the main food choice here if you can arrive during lunch hours.

Another listing gives 11:30–14:00 and Tuesday closure.

Keep it light

Tempura soba, mountain vegetable soba, tama konnyaku and rice balls

These are popular Buna Chaya items, suited to a stop outside the main mealtime.

The light-meal counter is listed as having shorter hours in winter.

Take food home

Mountain vegetables, mushrooms, pickles, local sake and sweets

Choose from the souvenir section and the Shiroi Mori brand section at Shiroi Mori no Kumasan.

The selection of mountain vegetables and mushrooms changes with the season. Plan separately for the driver and passengers when buying alcohol.

Explore the regional brand

Shiroi Mori branded rice, processed foods and vine crafts

On the west side of the shop, look for Oguni products such as rice grown with snowmelt water and traditional vine crafts.

Access

Location and surroundings

Driving directions from your location
Open in your map appOpen in Google Maps
Explore stations near 小国町 (Japanese guide)

If the map does not load, open it in Google Maps

1
Roadside station
Michi-no-Eki Shiroi Mori Oguni

Five kilometers east of the Niigata Prefecture border, this Route 113 roadside station is a stop for mountain vegetables, mushrooms and takakibi udon.

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.
Share

Send your travel companions a possible stop.

Share on XShare on LINE

Send a correction

Let us know if information on this page, such as hours or closing days, is incorrect. Our editors will review your message before updating the guide.

We use your submission only to review and improve our content and to reply about your message.

Updated 2026-09-30Explore the nationwide map →