Skip to content
Michi-no-Eki JournalMap
Conceptual illustration

Nagano Prefecture · Kanto

Michi-no-Eki Shinetsu Sakae

道の駅 信越さかえ

On Route 117 near the prefectural border, take home a concentrated taste of this snowy village: ripe tomatoes, mountain vegetables and handmade soba.

Updated Michi-no-Eki JournalRead in Japanese

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph

Location
Sakae Village, Shimominochi District
Road
National Route 117
Hours
8:30–17:00
Open 8:30–17:00 from April through November and 9:00–17:00 from December through March. Hours differ by outlet; check official updates and social media for temporary closures.
Parking
Cars: 29 / Large vehicles: 4
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 on arrival
Choose the restaurant or farm shop first

For lunch, look at handmade soba or Tomaju Curry; for shopping, start with tomato juice and the mountain vegetables and other produce.

If shopping
Start with tomato juice

Salted and unsalted varieties and stock levels vary. Check official updates if you plan to buy by the case or arrange shipping.

For something sweet
Egoma and dark sugar syrup soft serve

Sakae Soft generally runs from 9:00 to 16:30; hours can be shortened on cleaning days.

Heading farther afield
Morimiyanohara Station or a hot spring

With little time, see the record-snowfall marker; with more, continue to Kitano Tenman Onsen or toward Akiyamago.

Visiting in winter
Allow extra time for roads and opening hours

This is a heavy-snow area. Even on the national route, snowfall, road conditions and temporary closures can change travel times.

Koharu's detour notes

At this small station, decide what to eat and buy before you stop.

Koharu Nanjo sees Shinetsu Sakae as a place to choose the flavors of Sakae first: a case of tomato juice, a handmade soba lunch, or a sweet pause with egoma and dark sugar syrup soft serve. Near the prefectural border on Route 117, these choices make a drive toward Akiyamago or Tsunan more than a journey between places.

Shopping

Ripe tomatoes, mountain vegetables, rice and mushrooms: browse what has arrived this season.

Restaurant

Handmade soba and Tomaju Curry make a Sakae-flavored lunch break easy.

Next stops

Continue to Morimiyanohara Station, a hot spring or the ski area to get a sense of this snowy village.

Highlights

Michi-no-Eki Shinetsu Sakae is a roadside rest stop on National Route 117 near the border with Tsunan, Niigata Prefecture. Matatabi local products hall, Katakuri farm shop, a restaurant and Sakae Soft are together here. The flavors of this heavy-snow village range from ripe-tomato juice and Tomaju Curry to handmade soba from locally grown buckwheat, mountain vegetables, Sakae-grown Koshihikari rice and soft serve with egoma (perilla seed) and kuromitsu (dark sugar syrup). Koharu Nanjo recommends it as a place to choose the tastes of Sakae before heading into Akiyamago or onto the Iiyama Line, rather than as a large tourist complex. Deciding whether to eat lunch, shop, have a sweet or continue to a hot spring makes even a short stop more rewarding.

  • #Sakae Village
  • #National Route 117
  • #Prefectural-border drive
  • #Ripe tomatoes
  • #Tomato juice
  • #Tomaju Curry
  • #Handmade soba
  • #Mountain vegetables
  • #Sakae Soft
  • #Heavy-snow region
  • #Morimiyanohara Station
  • #Akiyamago
Why I like it

Reasons to stop here

01

The restaurant and farm shop showcase Sakae's flavors

Ripe-tomato juice, Tomaju Curry, handmade soba from local buckwheat, soba with mountain vegetables, miso rice balls and soft serve with egoma and dark sugar syrup: this is a small roadside station with very specific reasons to eat and shop.

02

A convenient break near the prefectural border

This stop works well before or after travel on Route 117 toward Iiyama, Tsunan and Tokamachi, or toward Akiyamago. Parking is limited, so focusing on your main purpose helps at lunchtime or on busy seasonal shopping days.

03

The surrounding area reveals life in a snowy village

There is the marker for Japan's greatest recorded snow depth at Morimiyanohara Station, Sakae Club Ski Area in winter, hot springs and Akiyamago. Exploring beyond the roadside station leaves a stronger impression of Sakae's mountain and snow-country life.

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 lunch break on National Route 117

Choose a lunch with Sakae flavors

Handmade soba, Tomaju Curry or a set meal at the restaurant brings Sakae into even a short break. On weekends and holidays from spring through autumn, the outdoor soba and udon stand is another option for mountain vegetable soba or miso rice balls.

National Route 117 → roadside station → restaurant or stand → farm shop.

The restaurant, stand and Sakae Soft have different days and hours and may sell out; arriving early around lunchtime makes the stop easier.

A brief, shopping-focused stop

Take home tomato juice

The main draw is straight juice from fully ripe tomatoes. Look at the tomato juice, Tomaju Curry and seasonal vegetables together to take home flavors from Sakae's fields.

Matatabi products hall → Katakuri farm shop → back to the car.

Salted juice can sell out and shipping eligibility can change, so check official updates before buying in bulk.

A 10-minute detour after lunch

See the scale of snowfall at Morimiyanohara Station

At Morimiyanohara Station, a short drive away, a marker shows the 7.85 m snowfall recorded there, Japan's greatest recorded snow depth. It turns the idea of a snowy village into a visible height.

Roadside station → Morimiyanohara Station → return to National Route 117.

In winter, allow extra time for walking, finding parking and any train connection.

Adult travelers, rainy days and winter breaks

Add a hot spring for a half-day visit

Continuing to Kitano Tenman Onsen, Gakumon no Yu, turns a meal and shopping stop into a longer Sakae break. It is also a way to warm up before or after heading toward Akiyamago.

Roadside station → Kitano Tenman Onsen → Akiyamago or the Iiyama Line area.

Check day-bathing admission hours, closures and winter road conditions shortly before visiting.

Before or after snow play and skiing

Combine the stop with skiing in winter

Nearby Sakae Club Ski Area is a nearby winter destination for experiencing Sakae's snow. Plan a snack before skiing, a sweet on the way back and perhaps a hot spring to shape the day.

Roadside station → Sakae Club Ski Area → hot spring or National Route 117.

The season, lifts, shuttle and snow conditions change each winter.

Hours

Opening hours

Matatabi products hall and Katakuri farm shop
Apr–Nov 8:30–17:00 / Dec–Mar 9:00–17:00

Normally closed Tuesdays. No regular closing days were announced for July 2026.

Restaurant
Apr–Nov 10:00–16:00 last order / Dec–Mar 10:30–16:00 last order

Seasonal dishes, sellouts and temporary closures are possible.

Sakae Soft
9:00-16:30

Hours can be shortened for cleaning and similar work.

Soba and udon stand
Selected Wednesdays, weekends and holidays, spring–autumn

May close for operational reasons. Mountain vegetables may be unavailable depending on the season.

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
★★★☆☆

Use this as a restroom and shopping break during a drive, rather than relying on it for nursing or diaper-changing facilities. Lunch is easier before the crowds arrive.

Ages 2–3
★★★☆☆

Plan a short shop or soft-serve stop instead of expecting a large playground. It suits a quick break out of the car.

Ages 4–6
★★★★☆

Soba, curry and soft serve give children food choices. After eating, the tall marker at Morimiyanohara Station helps explain how snowy this area gets.

Elementary school age
★★★★☆

Tomato juice and mountain vegetables can lead to learning about Japan's greatest recorded snow depth, the Iiyama Line and the ski area. Prioritize road conditions and warm clothing in winter.

A brief stop rather than a place to play all day

Think of it as a short stop for food, shopping, restrooms and a sweet treat.

Arrive early for lunch

Parking is limited, so arriving early helps if lunch is your main purpose.

Bring sturdy shoes and a warm layer in winter

In this heavy-snow area, footwear and warm clothing matter even for the short walk from parking to the shops.

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 updates

Monthly opening days, temporary closures, shortened Sakae Soft hours and mail-order sellouts can all affect a visit.

Katakuri farm shop

Seasonal arrivals of mountain vegetables, asparagus, tomatoes and mushrooms change what is worth browsing.

Soba and udon stand

Open on some Wednesdays, weekends and holidays from spring through autumn. Useful for a light meal of mountain vegetable soba or miso rice balls.

Nearby events

Events around Akiyamago, Sakae Club Ski Area and Morimiyanohara Station pair well with shopping and a meal here.

Local feel

Reasons to return

Practical ideas and things to consider when spending time here.

Tomato juice is the leading favorite

Both official information and patterns in traveler reviews frequently mention Sakaemura Tomato Juice. If shopping is your goal, check its stock and shipping availability before browsing the vegetables.

Source: Official website and traveler review trends

Soba and Tomaju Curry make lunch distinctive

The restaurant also has set meals and ramen, but first-time visitors may remember Sakae best through handmade soba, mountain vegetables and Tomaju Curry.

Source: Official restaurant menu

Plan around a small parking area

There are spaces for 29 standard cars and four large vehicles. At lunchtime, during fall foliage season or on days when shoppers seek mountain vegetables or tomatoes, choosing either a meal or shopping as your main goal makes the stop easier.

Source: Kanto Michi-no-Eki information and traveler review trends

The Chikuma River and border scenery enrich a short stop

This is near the prefectural border, where the Chikuma River on the Nagano side continues as the Shinano River in Niigata. Step out of the car and take in the valley around you as well as the shops.

Source: Tripadvisor and Jalan traveler review trends

Plan for Sakae's changing seasons

Spring brings mountain vegetables; summer, tomatoes and other produce; autumn, mushrooms and trips toward the foliage; and winter, snow, hot springs and skiing. The role of this stop changes with the season.

Source: Official farm shop and Sakae tourism information
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 Matatabi products hall, Katakuri farm shop and Sakae Soft announced no regular closing days for July 2026. Check official updates and Instagram for temporary closures or shortened hours before setting out.
  • The restaurant's last order is generally 16:00, with service starting at 10:00 from April through November and 10:30 from December through March.
  • The soba and udon stand generally opens on selected Wednesdays, weekends and holidays from spring through autumn. Check its opening days if you want mountain vegetable soba.
  • Sakae Soft generally opens 9:00–16:30. Cash-only notices have been posted, so bring some cash if a sweet treat is your main goal.
  • Winter travel here means heavy snow. Even on National Route 117, snowfall, road surfaces and snow clearance can change travel times.
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 and souvenir
    Sakaemura Tomato Juice
    Sold on site; shipping available across Japan
  • Restaurant
    Sakaemura Tomaju Curry
    Around ¥1,100
  • Restaurant
    Handmade tempura zaru soba (chilled noodles)
    Around ¥1,500
  • Light meal, spring through autumn
    Mountain vegetable soba or udon
    Around ¥650 when the stand is open
  • Sweet treat
    Egoma and dark sugar syrup soft serve
    Around ¥400
  • Farm shop
    Mountain vegetables, asparagus and Sakae-grown Koshihikari rice
    Varies by season and supply
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.

Sakae's signature products

Sakaemura Tomato Juice / Tomaju Curry

Look here first whether you are shopping only or eating at the restaurant. Salted and unsalted versions and stock vary.

Restaurant staples

Handmade soba / tempura zaru soba / Sakae ramen / set meals

For a fuller lunch break. Local buckwheat flour and seasonal ingredients make a satisfying meal before sightseeing.

Outdoor light meals

Mountain vegetable soba / mountain vegetable udon / miso rice balls

Options for a quick bite when the stand opens, such as weekends and holidays from spring through autumn.

Sweet treats

Sakae Soft / egoma and dark sugar syrup topping / seasonal juices

A treat for children or a change of pace after a meal. Cash-only notices have been posted, so carrying some change is sensible.

Farm shop

Mountain vegetables / asparagus / sweet corn / Sakae-grown Koshihikari rice / mushrooms

Stock changes substantially with the season. Cooks will find especially good reasons to take something home.

Access

Location and surroundings

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

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

1
Roadside station
Michi-no-Eki Shinetsu Sakae

On Route 117 near the prefectural border, take home a concentrated taste of this snowy village: ripe tomatoes, mountain vegetables and handmade soba.

Open in Google Maps
2
Railway and snow-country culture
Morimiyanohara Station: Japan's Record Snowfall Marker

A 7.85 m marker makes Sakae's heavy snowfall tangible on a short detour.

Open in Google Maps
3
Snow play and skiing
Sakae Club Ski Area

A nearby ski area where you can experience snowy Sakae through winter recreation.

Open in Google Maps
4
Tourist information and local culture
Sakae Akiyamago Tourism Association and Kizuna Earthquake Recovery Memorial Hall

A place to connect roadside-station food and information with onward travel to Akiyamago and around the village.

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

Railway and snow-country culture
Morimiyanohara Station: Japan's Record Snowfall MarkerJapanese guide
About 600 m from the roadside stationAbout 2 minutes by car / 8 minutes on foot

For a 10-minute taste of Sakae after a meal, learning with elementary-school-age children or a talking point on a winter trip.

Day-use hot spring
Kitano Tenman Onsen, Gakumon no YuJapanese guide
About 8 km from the roadside stationAbout 12–15 minutes by car

For adult travelers, rainy days, winter drives and a break before or after heading toward Akiyamago.

Snow play and skiing
Sakae Club Ski AreaJapanese guide
About 3 km from the roadside stationAbout 5–8 minutes by car

For winter skiing or snow play, a hot spring afterward, and sweets or shopping at the roadside station.

Tourist information and local culture
Sakae Akiyamago Tourism Association and Kizuna Earthquake Recovery Memorial HallJapanese guide
About 700 m from the roadside stationAbout 2 minutes by car / 10 minutes on foot

For choosing a route to Akiyamago, hot springs, mountain roads or other village sights based on the day's weather.

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 2026-09-11Explore the nationwide map →