Nagano Prefecture · Chubu
道の駅 信州平谷
A rest stop in the mountains along National Route 153 where you can enjoy a hot spring bath, shop at a market, and have lunch in Hiraya Village.
Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph
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Eat, shop, play, take in the view or rest. Choose from the station’s strengths to suit your day.
Pause in the mountains along National Route 153. Snacks also suit a break before or after a bath.
Hours are generally 10:00–20:00, with last admission at 19:00. Check Wednesday closures and temporary notices before visiting.
Try soba, gohei mochi (grilled rice cakes), soba with maitake mushroom tempura, or horse sashimi. If you miss the lunch service, switch to snacks.
Look for Hiraya Village's specialty corn and seasonal vegetables. In summer, a cooler bag helps on the return drive.
Choose flowers within walking distance, snow play a few minutes away by car, or a viewpoint about 20 minutes away by car according to the weather and season.
Chiho Fujishiro sees this station as a place to decide the order of your meal and bath. Start with parking and the toilets, browse seasonal vegetables at the market, then eat lunch if the restaurant is serving; otherwise have a snack or go to the hot spring. There are summer flowers, winter skiing, and Mount Takane views to add, but knowing that you can finish with a bath lets you keep the day's plans relaxed.
Michi-no-Eki Shinshu Hiraya brings together Shinshu Hiraya Onsen Himawari no Yu, the Himawari Ichiba farm market, the Himawari Tei restaurant, and the Himawari Land snack and rest area for drivers on National Route 153. In this village at around 920 m elevation, summer brings corn and sunflowers, winter brings skiing and illuminations, and spring and autumn offer detours to Mount Takane and the Sanshu Kaido route. Before stopping, decide whether to add shopping, a bath, or a short nearby walk to a toilet break or lunch.
Himawari no Yu's main attractions are its sodium bicarbonate hot spring baths and open-air garden bath. You can make a brief toilet stop, but a bath offers a pause in a drive along National Route 153. Plan for details such as a ¥100 coin for the locker and a fee for the hair dryers.
Visit Himawari Ichiba for vegetables, seasonal fruit, and Hiraya Village's specialty corn. At Himawari Tei, choices include soba buckwheat noodles, gohei mochi (grilled rice cakes with sauce), horse sashimi, and soba with maitake mushroom tempura. Lunch service is fairly short; if the restaurant is busy, Himawari Land's snacks give you another option.
In summer, sunflower fields, a sunflower maze, and a heated pool draw families. In winter, visitors stop for a bath a few minutes from Hiraya Kogen Ski Area, see the illuminations, and check snowy road conditions. At this highland station, plan around the roads as carefully as the seasonal attractions.
Spend your time at the station or add somewhere nearby. These ideas help you plan around your companions and the weather.
After parking, use the toilets and browse the market, then have lunch or a snack before the hot spring. Rehydrate at Himawari Land after bathing, whether you are heading toward Iida or Toyota.
Parking → toilets → Himawari Ichiba → Himawari Tei or snacks → Himawari no Yu
Last admission to the hot spring is generally 19:00. Check Wednesday closures, temporary closures, and equipment notices before setting out.
The sunflower maze behind the village office is a possibility in early August; Himawari Pool runs from mid-July through the end of August. Eat at the station first, then choose either the flowers or pool to keep a hot-weather day manageable.
Lunch and toilets at the station → sunflower maze or pool → hot spring or snack break
Check each year's pool notices for swim-cap requirements and any closure of the long slide. Peak flowering also varies.
The station is a few minutes by car from Hiraya Kogen Ski Area, so you can return for a bath and food after skiing. With children, change clothes first, then bathe and eat a snack; leave early enough to account for icy roads and darkness.
Ski area → roadside station parking → Himawari no Yu → Himawari Land
Wednesday closures, snow, and icy roads can affect winter plans. Check official notices and road conditions together.
Eat and use the toilets at the station before taking the Takane forest road to the Mount Takane lookout pavilion. The view over Hiraya Village is best on a clear day. Leave the hot spring for afterward to rest following the mountain drive.
Roadside station → Mount Takane lookout pavilion → roadside station hot spring
The forest road closes in winter and may close at other times. Consider fog, wind, and early dusk, and turn back if conditions are poor.
Last admission is 19:00. Generally closed every Wednesday, with holiday opening.
Arrive early if you want seasonal vegetables or corn.
Orders generally close at 13:45. Hours may change for lodging or banquet service and temporary closures.
The snack counter takes last orders at 19:00; its start time changed to 11:00 on July 16, 2026.
The 2026 season ran July 18–August 31, with last admission at 17:00, and has ended. The pool is closed from September to early July.
Stars show the editorial recommendation for each age group on a five-point scale. Read the reasons alongside each rating.
Works as a rest stop if you keep the bath and meal visits short.
Avoid long baths and busy periods; use the parking, toilets, and rest area first. Check the facility's current information for baby facilities.
Pool and sunflower season make it easier to plan an outing.
At this age, switching from a long restaurant wait to snacks and a short market visit may work better. Check pool safety and what to bring.
Well suited to the summer sunflower maze and pool, or winter snow play.
Add one seasonal destination instead of expecting all the play to happen at the station. Dress warmly after the hot spring.
Can range further to the pool, ski area, and Mount Takane viewpoint.
A Mount Takane visit depends on the weather and forest-road conditions. In winter, the ski area and hot spring are a short drive apart.
Bring swimwear, towels, and swim caps. Check each year's notices about no rentals and any slide closure.
Himawari Tei has fairly short lunch hours. Switch to snacks if children become hungry before a table is available.
When there is snow or ice, aim to leave before dark after the hot spring.
The sunflower maze and fields look different depending on flowering. Check updates from the tourism association before going.
The parking area is fairly large, but traffic flow can change at weekend lunchtime or during events. Take a break before shopping or bathing.
The restaurant mainly serves lunch. If there is a wait, you can switch to snacks, browse the market first, or rest after a bath.
Last admission is generally 19:00. In winter or rain, allow for driving time and road conditions after bathing.
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.
A summer-holiday option for families. The 2026 season ran from July 18 through August 31; it is closed from September to early July. Bring a swim cap to use the pool.
See Hiraya Village's summer flowers within walking distance. Check the tourism association for flowering and event dates.
Seasonal winter lights near the hot spring suit a short walk after bathing. Dress warmly and check the ground conditions.
Small events often pair with a hot spring visit, such as Children's Day festivities, Respect for the Aged Day, bath discounts, and sales fairs.
Practical ideas and things to consider when spending time here.
Visitor accounts often mention the spacious open-air bath and the smooth feel of the skin afterward. This is a place to enjoy as a hot spring stop, as well as a market. Allowing time for a bath may be more memorable than rushing in only for food or shopping.
Himawari Tei mainly serves lunch and may close temporarily or pause service. If you arrive late, change the order of your visit: eat snacks at Himawari Land, shop at Himawari Ichiba, or bathe first.
During summer vacation, the heated pool and sunflower maze are key outings, while the farm market offers corn. Even in this cool highland area, sunshine can be strong; see the flowers first, then return for an indoor break or bath.
Close to Hiraya Kogen Ski Area, this is a useful bathing stop after snow play. In winter, check Wednesday closures and snow conditions before leaving. If you have a long drive after bathing, consider departing before dark.
The Mount Takane lookout pavilion offers views over Hiraya Village in good weather. Whether the forest road is open, as well as closures, fog, and wind, can change the experience. Eat and use the toilets at the station, then decide whether to go up or turn back.
Kokean Kaeru -Scale- (苔庵介る-Scale-), a moss terrarium workshop, is within walking distance of the station. Pair a craft activity with the hot spring and snacks for a rainy or hot day.
Opening and closure days, individual businesses and facilities for children or dogs can affect your plans.
Specialities, places to eat, sweets and bakeries can all give you a reason to stop. Check individual menus for current prices and availability.
A meal, a sweet treat, market shopping or something to take away: choose a focus for the day instead of trying everything at once.
If you can arrive between 11:00 and 13:59, check the restaurant first. Bathing afterward leaves room to relax after eating.
Temporary closure or a preparing-for-service notice is possible.
Good for a day when you do not need to leave immediately after bathing, and an alternative if you miss restaurant hours.
The snack counter runs 11:00–19:00 for last orders (from July 16, 2026).
Shop for a taste of this highland village's seasons. In summer, consider your travel time home and the temperature inside the car.
On a day with the pool or sunflower maze, keep meals short and make time for toilets and drinks between activities.
After skiing, prioritize staying warm. Decide whether to eat before the drive gets dark or make the hot spring your only stop.
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A rest stop in the mountains along National Route 153 where you can enjoy a hot spring bath, shop at a market, and have lunch in Hiraya Village.
A sunflower field within walking distance of the station that captures Hiraya Village in summer.
After snow play, return to a hot spring bath a few minutes away: a natural winter pairing in Shinshu Hiraya.
A highland viewpoint overlooking Hiraya Village, best added on a clear day.
A moss terrarium workshop within walking distance of the station for rainy or hot days.
Good for a brief summer flower visit before returning to the hot spring or market.
Good for a bath and snack after winter snow play.
Good for adding a view before or after a hot spring visit on a fine day.
Good for a quiet activity before or after bathing on a rainy or hot day.
Send your travel companions a possible stop.
