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Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph

Nagano Prefecture · Kanto

Michi-no-Eki Megami no Sato Tateshina

道の駅 女神の里たてしな

A rest stop on National Route 142 where apples, rice and Tateshina beef offer a taste of rural Tateshina before the drive up to the highlands.

Updated Michi-no-Eki JournalRead in Japanese

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph

Location
Tateshina Town, Kitasaku District
Road
National Route 142
Hours
9:00–18:00
For Nonki-mura, the official homepage and Shinshu Tateshina Tourism Association list 9:00–18:00 from Golden Week through December 30 and 9:00–17:00 from January 5 through April. The official shop page instead lists 9:00–17:00 on weekdays and 8:30–18:00 on weekends and public holidays, so the official pages disagree. Nonkitei is open 11:00–15:00. Golden Week is the holiday period in late April and early May; check the shop directly if timing matters.
Parking
Cars: 66 / Large vehicles: 23
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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.

First thing on arrival
Browse the farm shop's seasonal shelves

Take a look at apples, rice, local sake, cider, Tateshina beef, vegetables and processed foods. Even a short shopping stop offers a taste of Tateshina.

If stopping for lunch
Nonkitei is open 11:00–15:00

Choices include a Tateshina beef yakiniku rice box, a sukiyaki set meal, the Nonkitei set meal and apple curry. If your trip depends on eating here, check official notices for group bookings or temporary closures.

With children
Take care of food and toilets first

This is a place for a compact stop for shopping, food and rest, rather than hours of play. It works well for regrouping before heading into the highlands.

For food to take home
Apples, Tateshina rice, local sake and Tateshina beef

Seasonal goods can move quickly, so an earlier visit gives you a better choice when looking for something specific.

For a short break
Look over the fields toward the Asama mountain range

The tourism association also highlights this as a scenic viewpoint. On a clear day, a few minutes outdoors between drives can make the stop memorable.

For a half-day outing
Add Gongen no Yu or Tsuganeji Temple

Choose either a day ending at an onsen hot spring bath or one with flowers and temple grounds. Both are nearby detours in the rural area.

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph
Highlights

Megami no Sato Tateshina is a roadside station worth pausing at before heading to Lake Shirakaba or Lake Megami. The Tateshina Nonki-mura farm shop stocks rice grown in Tateshina, apples, vegetables, local sake, cider and Tateshina beef. At the Nonkitei restaurant, choices include a Tateshina beef yakiniku rice box, a Tateshina beef sukiyaki set meal, the Nonkitei set meal and apple curry. This is not a stop built around large play equipment for a long stay. Parking, toilets, shopping, food and views of the Asama mountain range are close together, making it convenient for families and adults alike to regroup before climbing into the highlands. Yakiniku is grilled meat; sukiyaki is a sweet-savory beef hot pot.

  • #Nagano Prefecture
  • #Tateshina Town
  • #National Route 142
  • #Nonki-mura
  • #Nonkitei
  • #Tateshina beef
  • #Apples
  • #Tateshina rice
  • #Asama mountain range
  • #Gateway to the Shirakaba Highlands
Why I like it

Reasons to stop here

01

See Tateshina's seasons in the farm shop

Nonki-mura's shelves reflect a town known for apples and rice. Alongside fruit and vegetables, look for Tateshina-grown rice, local sake, cider, Tateshina beef, jam and sweets. Shopping alone makes a worthwhile stop even without a meal. The selection changes with spring mountain vegetables, early-summer plums and blueberries, and autumn apples and mushrooms.

02

Nonkitei makes Tateshina beef an accessible lunch choice

Nonkitei is a lunch-focused restaurant open 11:00–15:00. Its everyday-priced choices include a Tateshina beef yakiniku rice box, a sukiyaki set meal, the Nonkitei set meal, tempura with cold soba noodles and apple curry. Stop for lunch before climbing toward Lake Shirakaba, or settle in with warm noodles on the way back. Yakiniku is grilled meat and sukiyaki is beef simmered in a sweet-savory sauce.

03

An easy place to regroup before or after a highland outing

The station is listed as about 35 minutes by car from Lake Shirakaba, about 25 minutes from Lake Megami, and easy to reach from Saku-minami Interchange via National Route 142. Parking, toilets, shopping and lunch are in one place, so families can attend to children's needs, drivers can rest and everyone can pick up food for dinner. On clear days, the Asama mountain range and fields add to even a short break.

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.

Outbound highland drive

Have lunch and shop before heading up to Lake Shirakaba or Lake Megami

Before climbing into the highlands, lunch at Nonkitei and drinks, fruit, rice, bread or prepared foods for the next morning from Nonki-mura can make the rest of the journey easier. It is a practical, distinctly Tateshina break before the larger sightseeing stops.

Saku-minami Interchange area or National Route 142 → Megami no Sato Tateshina → Lake Megami or Lake Shirakaba area.

Nonkitei mainly serves lunch. If you will arrive around 15:00, leave room to focus on the cafe or shopping instead.

Days when meal times do not fit; a short break on the return drive

Take Tateshina's flavors home on a shopping-only stop

The farm shop stocks Tateshina-grown rice, apples, vegetables, local sake, cider, Tateshina beef, sweets and jam. Even without visiting the restaurant, choosing seasonal fruit, rice or sake makes the stop feel rooted in Tateshina.

Park → toilets → browse Nonki-mura → take in the Asama mountain range view → depart.

The availability of seasonal produce and bento varies by date and quantity. Visit earlier when looking for a particular item.

Families with preschoolers; breaks before or after highland sightseeing

Keep a family stop short to make the next drive easier

There is no large playground for a long stay, but toilets, food, shopping and a brief look at the scenery fit easily into a short stop. Eat before children get sleepy, or pick up just some fruit on the return journey.

Toilets → restaurant or cafe → shopping → back to the car is a simple order to follow.

For a longer outdoor play plan, add nearby Tsuganeji Temple or a highland nature spot according to the weather.

Days with time until evening; easing driving fatigue

Make a relaxed half-day with a nearby hot spring

Tateshina Onsen Tateshina no Sato Gongen no Yu is a day-use hot spring bath a short drive from the station. Shop at the farm store, eat lunch at Nonkitei and finish with an evening bath to enjoy rural Tateshina even without climbing into the highlands. An onsen is a Japanese hot spring bathing facility.

Megami no Sato Tateshina → Gongen no Yu. It is listed as closed on Thursdays, so check opening days if the bath is your main goal.

Nearby walks, seasonal flowers and more time in nature

Visit Tsuganeji in spring or continue into the highlands on a clear day

Nearby Tsuganeji Temple offers cherry blossoms and katakuri wildflowers in spring. With more time, continue to Gosensui Nature Park or Nagato Farm. Eating and shopping at the station first reduces the time spent searching for a meal while driving.

Megami no Sato Tateshina → Tsuganeji Temple, or toward Lake Megami, Gosensui Nature Park and Nagato Farm.

The highland route gains elevation, and seasons and weather affect openings and conditions. Carry an extra layer in spring and autumn, and check road conditions in winter.

Hours

Opening hours

Tateshina Nonki-mura
Golden Week–December 30: 9:00–18:00 / January 5–April: 9:00–17:00

These are the hours listed on the official homepage and by the tourism association; Thursdays are listed as closed from January 5 through April. The official shop page instead says weekdays 9:00–17:00 and weekends and public holidays 8:30–18:00. Call ahead for arrivals in the 8:00 hour or late afternoon. Golden Week falls in late April and early May.

Nonkitei restaurant
11:00-15:00

Closed over New Year and on the same regular closure days as Nonki-mura; it may also close for group bookings.

Cafe corner
Irregular outside busy periods

Official information lists irregular closures and a New Year closure. Check whether it is open if you are coming for Shinano Sweet apple soft-serve or apple pie.

Tateshina beef bento
Advance-order sales around the 29th of each month

Sale dates change in official notices; telephone reservations are listed. A bento is a packed meal.

From Saku-minami Interchange
About 20 minutes by car

The official directions lead from Saku-minami Interchange along National Route 142 toward Tateshina.

Family

Visiting with children

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph

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

Age 1 or under
★★★☆☆

A convenient place to combine toilets, a short rest and shopping.

This is not a place for long play. Check signs on site for any nursing or diaper-changing facilities your family needs.

Ages 2–3
★★★☆☆

Suitable for a short walk before or after eating and shopping.

For room to run, visit a nearby attraction. Hold hands in the shop and take care around breakables and merchandise shelves.

Ages 4–6
★★★★☆

Children can explore local food by looking at apples, rice, vegetables and Tateshina beef.

A full meal at the restaurant before heading into the highlands can help avoid hunger during the drive.

Elementary school age
★★★★☆

Pair the stop with Tsuganeji Temple, Gongen no Yu or Gosensui Nature Park for a half-day beyond shopping.

For a highland trip, account for temperature changes and walking distances; bring an extra layer and drinks.

Toilets

A useful basic facility for a break along National Route 142. Using the toilets first can make a busy stop easier.

Food

Nonkitei is generally open 11:00–15:00. At a later hour, plan to focus on shopping; the cafe corner operates irregularly outside busy periods.

Outdoor play

The station itself is not a large playground. Pair it with nearby temples and shrines, a hot spring or highland nature for a fuller outing.

Rainy days

The farm shop and Nonkitei can fill the stop, though views and nearby walks are less appealing than on a clear day.

Rest

Ideas for a restful stop

  1. 1
    Choose a parking space

    Large vehicles also use this station, so consider traffic flow and walking distance when parking.

  2. 2
    Check toilets and opening hours first

    The restaurant mainly serves lunch, and farm shop hours vary by season. Checking first can save unnecessary walking.

  3. 3
    Buy heavy goods last

    Rice, sake and Tateshina beef can make for a heavy load. Browse first and pick them up at the end.

  4. 4
    Watch for Thursday closure on hot spring days

    Gongen no Yu is listed as closed on Thursdays. Check its opening day before heading there after 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

Event space

The facility guide lists an event space. On event days, parking and dining may be busier, so check official notices before traveling.

Restaurant and light-meal area

The restaurant and light-meal areas can be joined to provide up to 80 seats, with information about accommodating bus tours and other groups.

Tateshina beef bento

Advance-order sales around the 29th of each month are a popular recurring event. Sale dates can differ from regular service days, so check the official notices.

Local feel

Reasons to return

Practical ideas and things to consider when spending time here.

A handy gateway to the highlands

Travel accounts and reviews often mention this as a rest stop on the way to the Tateshina Highlands, Lake Shirakaba and Lake Megami. It is particularly useful for eating, shopping and using the toilets before moving on, rather than as the main sightseeing destination.

Source: Travel review trends

Nonkitei is useful where dining choices are sparse

There is no large restaurant district nearby, so a dining room with a broad menu is valuable. Choices narrow if you miss lunch; arrive earlier in the lunch period if Tateshina beef is your goal.

Source: Dining review trends

The farm shop's seasonal produce keeps changing

Official notices give detailed updates on arrivals of mountain vegetables, plums, blueberries, other vegetables and souvenirs. Look at the shop as a way to discover Tateshina's changing seasons, rather than expecting the same shelves year-round.

Source: Official notices

Treat the end-of-month beef bento as a separate plan

The Tateshina beef bento is a popular advance-order item with substantial cumulative sales. It is appealing when a sale date fits your itinerary, but it is not a bento available at all times. Check the notice for the date.

Source: Official Tateshina beef bento information

A brief scenic reward on clear days

The tourism association highlights the view of the Asama mountain range. The station has no long walking trail of its own, so take a few minutes outside on a clear day; in rain, focus on shopping and food.

Source: Shinshu Tateshina Tourism Association

With children, use the stop to prepare for the next leg

Although the station appears in baby and child-oriented guides, it is not a place for a full day of play. Combine food, toilets and a short spell outdoors, then continue into the highlands or to a hot spring or temple walk.

Source: Travel media and review trends
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.

  • Nonkitei is generally open 11:00–15:00. Arriving around lunchtime works best if you want its Tateshina beef yakiniku rice box or sukiyaki set meal.
  • Nonki-mura is listed as open 9:00–18:00 from Golden Week through December 30 and 9:00–17:00 from January 5 through April, with Thursday closures in the latter period. The official pages give differing hours; for an early or late visit, plan around the earlier closing time and confirm directly. Golden Week falls in late April and early May.
  • Official notices continued to update produce arrivals and temporary closures in 2026. Check once before leaving for bento, mountain vegetables, fruit or closure information.
  • Parking is listed as 66 standard-car spaces, 23 large-vehicle spaces and 4 spaces for people with disabilities. Tour buses and events can change how busy it feels, so allow a little time even for a short stop.
  • Weather and temperature can differ between the station and the Lake Shirakaba or Lake Megami highlands. Bring an extra layer in spring and autumn, and check road conditions in winter.
  • Save heavy purchases for last. If buying rice, sake, Tateshina beef or fruit, think through your route back to the car to keep the break relaxed.
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.

  • Nonkitei
    Tateshina beef yakiniku rice box
    JPY 1,400
  • Nonkitei
    Tateshina beef sukiyaki set meal
    JPY 1,650
  • Nonkitei
    Apple curry
    JPY 1,180
  • Advance-order sale
    Tateshina beef bento
    JPY 1,400
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.

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph
A substantial lunch

Tateshina beef yakiniku rice box, Tateshina beef sukiyaki set meal, ginger pork set meal, tempura rice bowl

For lunch before heading toward Lake Shirakaba. An accessible choice of Tateshina beef gives this stop its local character. Yakiniku means grilled meat; sukiyaki is beef simmered in a sweet-savory sauce.

Nonkitei is generally open 11:00–15:00. Allow extra time on crowded days or days with group bookings.

A lighter meal

Cold zaru soba noodles, mountain vegetable and mushroom soba, burdock tempura soba, ramen, cafe corner

For a lighter meal while driving, or a quick meal shared with children.

Food to take home

Tateshina-grown rice, apples, seasonal vegetables, local sake, cider, Tateshina beef, jam and sweets

Take a taste of Tateshina home from the farm shop even without visiting the restaurant. Look for apples in autumn and plums or blueberries in early summer.

An end-of-month treat

Tateshina beef bento

A special packed meal sold by advance reservation around the 29th of each month. If the date fits your trip, it may be worth making the station a destination.

Follow official notices for the sale date and how to reserve.

Something sweet and a break

Shinano Sweet apple soft-serve; cafe corner

A handy short stop for a change of pace with children or when you miss the lunch period.

The cafe corner is listed as operating irregularly outside busy periods, with irregular days off.

Access

Location and surroundings

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1
Roadside station
Michi-no-Eki Megami no Sato Tateshina

A rest stop on National Route 142 where apples, rice and Tateshina beef offer a taste of rural Tateshina before the drive up to the highlands.

Open in Google Maps
2
Temple and seasonal flowers
Tsuganeji Temple

Add spring cherry blossoms, katakuri wildflowers and quiet rural surroundings at Tateshina's flower temple.

Open in Google Maps
3
Historic walk
Ashida-juku Honjin

A short rural Tateshina walk that adds a glimpse of the old Nakasendo road.

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

Tateshina Onsen Tateshina no Sato Gongen no Yu
Day-use hot spring bath
Tateshina Onsen Tateshina no Sato Gongen no YuJapanese guide
About 10 minutes by carA short drive from the station

For a relaxed afternoon after lunch and shopping. Thursdays are listed as closed, so confirm opening if the bath is your main goal.

Tsuganeji Temple
Temple and seasonal flowers
Tsuganeji TempleJapanese guide
About 8 minutes by carA short drive through the rural area from the station

For spring flowers, a quiet temple walk or a little time outside after lunch. Comfortable walking shoes help when looking for low-growing flowers.

Ashida-juku Honjin
Historic walk
Ashida-juku HonjinJapanese guide
About 5 minutes by carA nearby historic detour from the station

For adults who want a short walk beyond the farm shop and meal. In rain, it is easy to switch to shopping at the station instead.

Gosensui Nature Park
Nature walk
Gosensui Nature ParkJapanese guide
About 35–45 minutes by carA half-day route farther into the highlands

For clear days, adults and elementary school children able to walk. It is listed as closed from late October to late April, so check the season before going.

Nagato Farm
Farm and food experiences
Nagato FarmJapanese guide
About 35–45 minutes by carA detour farther into the Shirakaba Highlands

For families, visitors with dogs, and anyone wanting farm soft-serve or other food experiences on a clear day. Shop and restaurant hours are listed as variable.

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Updated 2026-09-30Explore the nationwide map →