Fukushima Prefecture · Tohoku

Michi-no-Eki Banya

道の駅番屋

At about 800 m in Tateiwa, stop for 100% buckwheat soba, pickled red turnip and soba soft serve before heading toward Oze, Maezawa or Takatsue.

Updated 2026-09-30Michi-no-Eki Journal Read in Japanese

Location

Minamiaizu Town, Minamiaizu District

Road

National Route 352

Hours

9:00–16:30

The official site lists the restaurant's last orders at about 11:00–15:00. A tourism listing gives 8:00–17:00 for the station; check the latest notice.

Parking

Cars: 30 car spaces / Large vehicles: 2 large-vehicle spaces

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.

First, get organized

Toilets and restaurant hours

On mountainous National Route 352, decide early whether to take a break and eat here.

If eating

Tateiwa juwari soba

Lunch is the restaurant's main service; plan around last orders at approximately 11:00–15:00.

For something sweet

Soba soft serve

Even without time for a full meal, this is a quick taste of Banya.

If shopping

Pickled red turnip

A Tateiwa specialty; aim for local flavors in this compact shop.

If continuing on

Maezawa and Takatsue

Drive on to the bent-house village, buckwheat fields or ski resort for a longer outing.

Shunsuke's Banya note

A place to reset the family's pace midway through a mountain drive.

Shunsuke Kuramochi does not oversell Banya as a major destination. Its small size lets you park, use the toilets and quickly choose a meal or sweet treat. Before children grow restless, pick up a little local flavor in red turnip or soba and head toward Maezawa or Takatsue. That light touch helps on National Route 352.

Highlights

Michi-no-Eki Banya is a small roadside station in the mountains of Minamiaizu Town's Tateiwa area, along National Route 352. It is no sprawling complex, but Tateiwa soba, pickled red turnip, dumplings with gyoja-ninniku wild garlic and soba soft serve give you good reasons to eat and shop here. Guide Shunsuke Kuramochi sees it as a place to sort out a meal and toilet stop before the latter part of a mountain drive. Pair the stop with Maezawa's traditional magariya bent-house village, the Takatsue buckwheat fields, Aizu Kogen Takatsue Ski Resort or Yunohana Onsen for a detour rooted in Minamiaizu.

#Minamiaizu Town
#Tateiwa
#National Route 352
#Tateiwa soba
#Juwari soba (100% buckwheat noodles)
#Pickled red turnip
#Gyoja-ninniku wild garlic
#Soba soft serve
#Maezawa Magariya Village
#Takatsue buckwheat fields
#Aizu Kogen Takatsue Ski Resort
#Yunohana Onsen

Practical information

Registration number: 福島-22
Prefecture: Fukushima Prefecture
Municipality: Minamiaizu Town, Minamiaizu District
Road: National Route 352
Telephone: 0241-78-2785
Closed days: Generally closed Tuesdays and Thursdays, and over New Year; seasonal notices vary.
Station stamp: Available

Address

4 Banya, Minamiaizu-machi, Minamiaizu-gun, Fukushima Prefecture (福島県南会津郡南会津町番屋4番地)

Facilities

Shop
Restaurant
Toilets
Priority-access toilet
Parking
Large-vehicle parking
EV rapid charger
Public Wi-Fi
Tourist information
Terrace seating
30 seats

External links

Facility informationBackground information (Japanese)www.kanko-aizu.com (Japanese guide)www.aizukougen.jp (Japanese guide)www.tif.ne.jp (Japanese guide)okuaizu.store (Japanese guide)gokujo-aizu.com (Japanese guide)www.instagram.com (Japanese guide)

Why I like it

Reasons to stop here

Small enough to choose a meal and toilet stop quickly

The tourism association calls it a small and charming roadside station. For a mountain drive, it suits a quick sequence of parking, toilets, restaurant and shop without a long walk around a large facility.

Make Tateiwa soba the centerpiece of your stop

The official page shows locally grown Tateiwa buckwheat, the restaurant's 11:00–15:00 last-order guide and photographs of buckwheat fields. From juwari soba, made entirely with buckwheat flour, to Banya-age fried sobagaki buckwheat dumplings and soba soft serve, you can build a stop around buckwheat.

Take home Tateiwa flavors: red turnip and wild garlic

The Minamiaizu tourism association introduces pickled red turnip as a Tateiwa specialty. The Aizu Kogen guide also lists dumplings with gyoja-ninniku wild garlic. The shop is modest, so seek out products that carry the local character.

A preparation stop before Maezawa, Takatsue and Yunohana

Nearby are Maezawa Magariya Village, Aizu Kogen Takatsue Ski Resort, the Takatsue buckwheat fields and Yunohana Onsen. If you miss restaurant hours, a shop and toilet stop before the next destination is still a practical plan.

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.

Mountain-road drives

Decide on lunch before heading toward Oze or deeper into Minamiaizu

On a day entering Tateiwa via National Route 352, check Banya's toilets, restaurant and shop first to make the rest of the drive easier. If you arrive in time for juwari soba, have lunch here; otherwise switch to soba soft serve or shopping.

National Route 352 → Banya → Maezawa Magariya Village or the Takatsue area.

The restaurant is mainly a lunchtime option. Check the latest opening days and last-order time on the official site or Instagram.

Toddlers through elementary-school children

With children, plan a meal, toilets and a quick sweet treat

This is not a station with a large play area. With children, try the toilets soon after parking, then soba or dumplings if meals are being served, or soba soft serve for a shorter stop. On rainy days, the indoor shop and restaurant also allow a short break.

Parking → toilets → restaurant or soba soft serve → next destination.

There is little space for extended play; pair the stop with Maezawa Furusato Park or the Takatsue area.

Local culture

See snowy-region life at Maezawa Magariya Village

Try Tateiwa soba and red turnip at Banya, then drive to Maezawa Magariya Village. The food and traditional buildings together turn a drive through rural Minamiaizu into a more meaningful detour.

Banya → Maezawa Magariya Village → Yunohana Onsen.

Maezawa Magariya Village closes for part of winter; check its open season before planning.

Seasonal scenery

From late August to early September, head to the buckwheat fields

At the Takatsue buckwheat fields, white flowers spread across fields at about 1,000 m elevation. After eating soba at Banya, visiting during bloom links the food with its landscape.

Banya → Takatsue buckwheat fields → Aizu Kogen Takatsue area.

Check peak bloom, illumination, rain cancellations and drone restrictions.

Snowy roads and skiing

In winter, use Banya for a short stop before or after skiing

On the way to Aizu Kogen Takatsue Ski Resort, use Banya for toilets, drinks and a moment to assess road conditions, rather than relying solely on a meal. If it is open on your return, warm soba makes a good finish.

Banya → Aizu Kogen Takatsue Ski Resort / Yunohana Onsen on the way back.

In winter, check closing days, New Year hours and icy roads first.

Hours

Opening hours

Michi-no-Eki Banya

9:00-16:30 LO

Official-site listing; the tourism association gives 8:00–17:00.

Restaurant menu

11:00-15:00 LO

Watch for limited dishes, price changes and closing days.

Closing days

Generally Tuesdays and Thursdays

The official site lists Tuesdays and Thursdays in both summer and winter, plus New Year closures.

New Year period

Approximately December 29–January 1

Some listings say December 31–January 1; check the latest notice.

Family

Visiting with children

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

Ages 1 and under

★★★☆☆

It is a short move from the car park to the toilets and an indoor break.

Keep the stop brief; at busy restaurant times, plan to carry your child.

Ages 2–3

★★★☆☆

Soba soft serve or a short meal break is manageable.

Use it as a stop on the way to the next park, village or onsen, rather than for playground time.

Ages 4–6

★★★★☆

Family members can share soba, dumplings and sweets, with a toilet break too.

After eating, move on to Maezawa Magariya Village or the buckwheat fields to keep the outing varied.

Elementary-school children

★★★★☆

Connecting local food with nearby history and seasonal scenery can be educational.

Pair skiing in winter, or the buckwheat fields and bent-house village in summer and autumn.

Rainy days

Take a short break in the indoor shop and restaurant. For a longer outing, check whether Maezawa Magariya Village is open or consider the onsen.

With a dog

Some visitors report using the terrace with dogs, but follow on-site guidance and consider the weather. Do not count on indoor access.

Winter roads

This is a mountain area at about 800 m. Check for winter tires, icy roads and changes to opening hours first.

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

Official Instagram

Use it to check recent changes to opening hours, shop products and temporary notices.

Aizu Kogen Tateiwa Summer Festival

A nearby event in late July. Fireworks day can change traffic and parking conditions.

Takatsue buckwheat fields

Mid-August to early September bloom and illumination can shape the purpose of a trip.

Aizu Kogen Takatsue Ski Resort

In winter, plan a Banya stop around snowfall, opening days and road conditions.

Local feel

Reasons to return

Practical ideas and things to consider when spending time here.

Read restaurant and station hours separately

The official page lists 11:00–15:00 last orders near the Banya heading and 9:00–16:30 last orders in its information section; the tourism association lists 8:00–17:00. For lunch, aim for the restaurant period and check the latest notice.

Small size helps on a mountain-road break

Reviews and travel accounts describe a small roadside station with relatively few souvenirs. Its compact layout can be convenient for a quick toilet, soba, soft-serve and shop stop.

Source: 4travel, Tripadvisor and travel-account trends

Soba soft serve and wild-garlic dumplings stand out in visitors' memories

Multiple reviews mention soba soft serve, chilled zaru soba and gyōja-ninniku wild-garlic dumplings. When food is being served, these three offer a distinctly Banya meal.

Source: Michi-no-Eki reviews and Tabelog trends

With a dog, consider the terrace weather

A travel review describes a visit with a pet on the terrace. Heavy rain, strong wind or cold can make it impractical, so check the weather and local guidance before planning a terrace stop with a dog.

Source: Tripadvisor visitor-account trends

The seasons change the nearby outings most

Food and a break are Banya's year-round draw. Nearby seasonal options are Maezawa Magariya Village from spring through autumn, the buckwheat fields in late August and Takatsue Ski Resort in winter.

Source: Minamiaizu Town Tourism and Products Association and Fukushima Travel

Plan for temperature changes and snowy roads at about 800 m

The tourism association describes this area as above 800 m. Summer coolness can be welcome, while winter visits require checking closing days and icy roads.

Source: Minamiaizu Town Tourism and Products Association

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.

For lunch, aim for the restaurant's approximate 11:00–15:00 last-order window.
The official site, tourism association and prefectural tourism page differ on opening hours and closing days. Check the official site and Instagram for the latest notices.
The shop is modest in size. Look for local flavors such as pickled red turnip, soba and gyōja-ninniku wild garlic.
Because Banya is on mountainous National Route 352, check icy roads, snowfall and New Year closures before a winter visit.
With children, use this as a short toilet, meal and sweet-treat stop before moving on to nearby places.
Terrace comfort and visits with a dog depend on the weather. Avoid relying on outdoor seating in cold, strong wind or rain.
Check each year's bloom and illumination notices for the Takatsue buckwheat fields, and winter closure dates for Maezawa Magariya Village.

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
Tateiwa juwari soba (100% buckwheat)
Last orders around 11:00–15:00
Specialty
Banya-age fried sobagaki (buckwheat dumplings)
Limited menu; check availability
Meal
Gyoja-ninniku wild garlic dumplings
Check whether the restaurant is serving them
Sweet treat
Soba soft serve
Good for a driving break
Shopping
Pickled red turnip
A Tateiwa specialty to take home