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Kanagawa Prefecture · Kanto

Michi-no-Eki Yamakita

道の駅 山北

Before heading to Lake Tanzawa, pause for river fish tempura and Ashigara tea. This small roadside station gives you a delicious reason to stop on a West Tanzawa drive.

Updated Michi-no-Eki JournalRead in Japanese
Location
Yamakita Town, Ashigarakami District
Road
Prefectural Route 76 | Yamakita–Fujino Line
Hours
9:00–17:00
Shop and restaurant hours. Parking and toilets are available 24 hours.
Parking
Cars: 27 / Large vehicles: 1
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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.

Eat first
Furo Tenju or Furo soba

River fish and vegetable tempura give you a taste of Yamakita in one dish.

Take home
Ashigara tea and yuzu kosho

Tea and yuzu seasoning make it easy to take a little of the region home, even on a short stop.

If it is sunny
Lake Tanzawa and Shasui Falls

Use the station as a rest stop, then make a short trip to the lakeside or waterfall.

On busy days
Focus on the shop

If the restaurant is busy, souvenirs and light meals can keep your plans flexible.

Kazama’s detour notes

At this small station, it pays to decide what to eat before you arrive.

Yamakita does not rely on a large shop or restaurant. Choose something that tastes of this mountain-and-water town first: river fish tempura, Ashigara tea, or yuzu kosho made with Yamakita yuzu. Eat and shop before rushing to Lake Tanzawa, then add the hot spring or waterfall on the way back. On a weekend drive, it is a place to slow down for a taste of the area.

Whether you eat Furo Tenju or only buy Ashigara tea, the stop feels distinctly Yamakita.

Highlights

Michi-no-Eki Yamakita is a rest stop on Prefectural Route 76 toward Lake Tanzawa, Nakagawa Onsen and West Tanzawa. It is a small facility, but a good place to browse Ashigara tea and yuzu kosho made with Yamakita yuzu in the shop, try Furo Tenju or Furo soba in the restaurant, and, in good weather, continue to Lake Tanzawa or Shasui Falls. Furo Tenju is a rice bowl topped with tempura; yuzu kosho is a citrus-and-chili seasoning. Allow for limited seating and parking at lunchtime, and keep a shop-only stop as a satisfying option.

  • #Gateway to West Tanzawa
  • #Furo Tenju tempura rice bowl
  • #Ashigara tea
  • #Yamakita-grown yuzu
  • #Lake Tanzawa drive
  • #River fish dishes
Why I like it

Reasons to stop here

01

Furo Tenju and Furo soba with river fish and vegetable tempura

At the restaurant, look for Furo Tenju or Furo soba, combining river fish such as yamame trout with seasonal vegetable tempura. Items fried after ordering may take a little longer, but even a short break offers a taste of this mountain-and-water town.

02

Browse Ashigara tea, yuzu kosho and mountain produce in the shop

The Kanto Michi-no-Eki guide also features Ashigara tea and yuzu kosho made with Yamakita yuzu. Rather than a large shopping trip, pick one thing to take home: tea, miso, monaka wafer sweets or local vegetables.

03

A rest stop linking Lake Tanzawa, Nakagawa Onsen and Shasui Falls

The town’s driving route goes from Shasui Falls via Michi-no-Eki Yamakita to Lake Tanzawa. Eat and use the toilets here, then choose a relaxed detour to the lakeshore or hot springs.

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 day heading toward Lake Tanzawa or Nakagawa Onsen

Eat and prepare before entering West Tanzawa

From the Tomei Expressway’s Oi-Matsuda Interchange, take National Route 246 and then Prefectural Route 76. Stop here for the toilets and a meal. After Furo Tenju or Furo soba, you can spend more of your time at Lake Tanzawa enjoying the scenery or walking.

Oi-Matsuda Interchange area → Michi-no-Eki Yamakita → Lake Tanzawa or Nakagawa Onsen

Allow time for seats and parking at lunchtime. If the restaurant is busy, a shop-focused stop is easier.

A short break, a rainy day, or companions who are not in a hurry to eat

Take home a taste of Yamakita with a shopping stop

Browse Ashigara tea, yuzu kosho made with Yamakita yuzu, miso, monaka sweets and local vegetables, then choose something to open at home. Browsing the compact shop carefully suits this station better than rushing around a large facility.

Park → shop → toilets → depart

Produce and seasonal items vary with deliveries. Keep more than one possible purchase in mind.

A sunny drive for adults or a day for photography

Connect the waterfall and lake on a half-day drive

Following the town’s driving route, cool off at Shasui Falls, eat at the roadside station, then continue to Lake Tanzawa for a connected tour of Yamakita’s waterside scenery. Add Nakagawa Onsen Buna-no-Yu on the return leg for a hot-spring finish.

Shasui Falls → Michi-no-Eki Yamakita → Lake Tanzawa → Nakagawa Onsen Buna-no-Yu

Parking around the hot spring can get busy in summer, and weather changes the experience of the lakeshore and mountain roads.

Families with elementary-school children or a break during a long drive

Keep stops short with children and add outdoor play

The station is better for a quick meal, shopping and toilet break than extended play. If the weather is good, children who need to move can continue to an easy-to-understand waterside destination such as the Lake Tanzawa shore or Shasui Falls.

Michi-no-Eki Yamakita → Lake Tanzawa shore or Shasui Falls → return trip

Keep young children close in the parking area and when crossing roads. Choose outdoor walks with footwear and heat precautions in mind.

Hours

Opening hours

Shop and restaurant
9:00〜17:00
Parking and toilets
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.

Age 1 and under
★★★☆☆

Better for toilets and brief shopping than nursing or a long stay.

The shop and restaurant are small, so a short visit while carrying a baby may be easier.

Ages 2–3
★★★☆☆

Keep the sequence of eating, shopping and returning to the car short.

Rather than letting children run around the station, head to a waterside stop after eating.

Ages 4–6
★★★★☆

Fun for children ready to talk about river fish tempura, the lake and the waterfall.

Share an adult’s Furo Tenju or pick an Ashigara tea sweet to make food part of the outing.

Elementary-school age
★★★★☆

Pair it with Lake Tanzawa, Shasui Falls or the D52 locomotive nearby.

Continue to Yamakita’s waterside sites or railway park for a half-day outing, rather than ending at the station.

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

Shop and light meals after renovation

The station was reported to have reopened after renovations in late 2025. Shop and restaurant hours are approximately 9:00–17:00; check official and tourism association notices for events or closures.

Nakagawa Onsen Buna-no-Yu summer operations

For July 18–August 23, 2026, all-day bathing tickets were not sold, and August 31 was announced as the only August closure. Check the latest notice before continuing from the station to the hot spring.

D5270 maintenance run

A maintenance run of the D5270 steam locomotive at Yamakita Town Railway Park was scheduled for July 15, 2026. The park is a little way from the station and can be a stop for families with elementary-school children.

Ono-yama and West Tanzawa nature information

As of July 2026, notices mentioned temporary toilet arrangements at the summit of Ono-yama and cautions about bears and other hazards. Check current notices before hiking or taking a longer walk.

Local feel

Reasons to return

Practical ideas and things to consider when spending time here.

Ashigara tea and Yamakita yuzu make shopping easier to focus

Look for items to use at home such as Ashigara tea, yuzu kosho, miso, local sweets and produce. Choosing a few things suits this shop better than expecting a large souvenir store.

Source: Kanto Michi-no-Eki and local guides

Some visitors find the parking area small; take care crossing the road

Reviews mention the riverside view as well as limited parking and the need for care near the road. With children or older companions, take time to choose a space and move in and out safely.

Source: Visitor accounts in Michi-no-Eki search listings

Its location works well as a break on a waterside drive

Yamakita Town’s Lake Tanzawa driving route also goes from Shasui Falls through the roadside station to Lake Tanzawa. A stop before or after the waterfall and lake makes more sense than planning a long stay at the station alone.

Source: Yamakita Town driving route

Check summer crowds and rules around the hot spring and river

Nakagawa Onsen Buna-no-Yu posts summer notices about parking congestion and visitor rules. Before driving there from the station, check how wet clothing is handled and the ban on waiting for parking on the road.

Source: Yamakita Town and Yamakita Tourism Association

Check toilets and nature notices before a mountain walk

Ono-yama and West Tanzawa can have notices about temporary arrangements after toilet problems and about bears. Even if you restock at the station, check the latest mountain-area information separately.

Source: Yamakita Tourism Association and Yamakita Town notices
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 Furo Tenju or Furo soba, aim a little outside the lunchtime peak.
  • If the restaurant is crowded, shop for Ashigara tea or yuzu kosho instead.
  • Use the toilets and get drinks here before heading toward Lake Tanzawa.
  • With children, head to the lakeside or falls for activities instead of a long stay inside the station.
  • In summer, check parking congestion and visitor rules near Buna-no-Yu and river-play areas in advance.
  • Before entering Ono-yama or West Tanzawa, check current information on toilets, bears and hiking trails.
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
    Furo Tenju
    A specialty of river fish and seasonal vegetable tempura over rice. Check same-day availability.
  • Restaurant
    Furo soba and Furo udon
    An option for a lighter river fish meal.
  • Souvenir
    Ashigara tea
    A tea souvenir associated with Yamakita; the shop selection varies by season.
  • Processed food
    Yuzu kosho made with Yamakita yuzu
    A citrus-and-chili seasoning that brings Yamakita’s aroma to your table at home.
  • Sweets and souvenirs
    Tanzawa boar monaka and local sweets
    A small edible reminder of the hot springs and Tanzawa. Monaka are filled wafer sweets.
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 the specialty

Furo Tenju, Furo soba, Furo udon

For a memorable Yamakita meal centered on river fish and vegetable tempura.

Keep it light

Soba, udon, curry, light meals

When you want a manageable meal before continuing to Lake Tanzawa or the hot springs.

Tea and sweets

Ashigara tea, Tanzawa boar monaka, local sweets

Even without a restaurant meal, shopping can leave you with a taste of Yamakita.

Take home condiments

Yuzu kosho made with Yamakita yuzu, miso, processed foods

To revisit the trip at your dinner table at home.

An option when busy

Produce, sweets, drinks, a short shopping stop

Switching from waiting for a table to shopping can help keep your schedule on track.

Access

Location and surroundings

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1
Roadside station
Michi-no-Eki Yamakita

Before heading to Lake Tanzawa, pause for river fish tempura and Ashigara tea. This small roadside station gives you a delicious reason to stop on a West Tanzawa drive.

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

Lake and drive
Lake Tanzawa and Miho DamJapanese guide
About 10 minutes or 4 km by carEasy to add briefly after a meal at the station

After Furo Tenju or shopping, extend the day to lakeside views and Yamakita’s waterside scenery.

Waterfall and walk
Shasui FallsJapanese guide
About 10–15 minutes by carA short walk before or after the station

For a day when you want to walk beside Yamakita’s water as well as eat. Good for summer coolness, a powerful view after rain, or photography.

Day-use hot spring
Nakagawa Onsen Buna-no-YuJapanese guide
About 20–25 minutes by carOn the return from the Lake Tanzawa area

For a bath and rest after a lakeside walk or drive. Check summer congestion and visitor rules first.

Views and hiking
Ono-yamaJapanese guide
Around 30 minutes by carFor a day with at least half a day to spare

Refuel at the station before heading for views or a mountain walk. Plan for weather and equipment; this is more than a quick detour.

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Updated 2026-09-30Explore the nationwide map →