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Michi-no-Eki JournalMap
Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph

Gifu Prefecture · Chubu

Michi-no-Eki Clair Hirata

道の駅 クレール平田

A Kaizu rest stop on Route 23 beside the Nagara River, with morning-picked vegetables and kusa mochi rice cakes.

Updated Michi-no-Eki JournalRead in Japanese

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph

Location
Kaizu City
Road
Gifu Prefectural Route 23 (Kitagata–Tado Line)
Hours
8:00–18:00
Gifu Prefecture and the national Michi-no-Eki association list 8:00–18:00 from April to October and 8:00–17:00 from November to March. Kaizu City lists 8:00–17:00 year-round. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's Chubu office lists the farm shop and tenants at 8:00–17:00, with last orders at 16:30. Closing times therefore differ among official listings. Parking and toilets are available 24 hours. Check current official information before an evening visit.
Parking
Cars: 21 / Large vehicles: 17
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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.

See first
Morning-picked vegetables at the farm shop

Vegetables picked that morning by local farmers are the main draw; the selection changes with the season.

Local flavor
Kusa mochi (mugwort rice cakes)

Gifu Prefecture's tourism guide lists these as a souvenir. Availability varies by day.

For a meal
KAIJU CAFE

A light-meal and dessert café focused on local ingredients. It is listed as closed every Tuesday.

For shopping
Trees and seedlings

The farm shop also stocks trees and seedlings delivered by growers, giving you something besides vegetables to take home.

For a short stop
24-hour toilets and a free rest area

Parking and toilets are open 24 hours for a brief stop while traveling on Route 23.

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph
Taketo's stopover notes

One item from the farm shop, one breather in the rest area: a Route 23 stop.

Taketo Hirose sees this station as a break in a drive across the plains rather than a place for a long stay. Look for morning-picked vegetables and kusa mochi, then pause at KAIJU CAFE or the rest area. When traveling with family, 24-hour parking and toilets are useful. As this is not a station with playground equipment, leave active play for the next stop.

Highlights

Michi-no-Eki Clair Hirata is a roadside station in Kaizu City on Gifu Prefectural Route 23, beside the Nagara River. Its farm shop sells vegetables picked that morning by local farmers and trees and seedlings delivered by growers. Gifu Prefecture's tourism guide lists kusa mochi, mugwort-flavored rice cakes, as a souvenir. The building has KAIJU CAFE, which focuses on local ingredients, a free rest area and an information corner. Parking and toilets are available 24 hours. Taketo Hirose suggests it as a place to add a farm-shop purchase and a short break to a drive across the plains, ten minutes from Gifu-Hashima Interchange on the Meishin Expressway.

  • #Nagara River
  • #Morning-picked vegetables
  • #Kusa mochi (mugwort rice cakes)
  • #KAIJU CAFE
  • #Gifu Prefectural Route 23
Why I like it

Reasons to stop here

01

A practical stop built around the farm shop for a drive across the plains

This is a place to shop, eat something light and take a short break, centered on its farm produce shop, rather than a large destination for a long stay. Kaizu City says the shop carries fresh vegetables picked that morning as well as various trees and seedlings delivered by growers. Walking around the whole shop reveals more of the area's produce than looking only at the vegetables.

02

Add a locally sourced meal at KAIJU CAFE

KAIJU CAFE, a tenant in the station building, serves food and desserts with a focus on local ingredients and sharing the region's character. It is listed as closed every Tuesday, or the following day if Tuesday is a public holiday. Check the day before planning a meal around it. There is also an ice cream outlet.

03

24-hour parking and toilets make a useful Route 23 stop

Gifu Prefecture lists parking for 21 small vehicles, 17 large vehicles and two accessible spaces; the toilets are open 24 hours. The station is a ten-minute drive from Gifu-Hashima Interchange on the Meishin Expressway, making it a convenient break before or after driving across the Kiso Three Rivers plain.

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 driving across the Kiso Three Rivers plain

Start a drive across the plains from Gifu-Hashima Interchange

It is a ten-minute drive from Gifu-Hashima Interchange on the Meishin Expressway. At the start of the drive, look for morning-picked vegetables and kusa mochi at the farm shop, then use the toilet before joining Route 23. Shopping first avoids having to plan around the shop's closing time on your return.

Gifu-Hashima Interchange → Michi-no-Eki Clair Hirata → Route 23

The farm shop's selection varies by season and time of day. Come earlier if morning-picked vegetables are the goal.

A day with a long drive

Take a midday café break

Have a light meal or dessert made with local ingredients at KAIJU CAFE, then stretch in the free rest area. Even on a day when the café is closed, the farm shop and ice cream outlet may give you another reason to stop; check their current opening status.

Park → toilet → KAIJU CAFE → farm shop → depart

Tenants are listed as closed every Tuesday, or the following day if Tuesday is a public holiday. They also close over New Year.

A stop of 30 minutes or less

Bring home just one local item on a short stop

If time is short, choose either kusa mochi or morning-picked vegetables. Parking, using the toilet and visiting the shop can still leave you with a taste of Kaizu and the Nagara River area to take home.

Park → toilet → farm shop → depart

The listed parking capacity for ordinary cars is modest. Decide on one priority to keep the stop simple.

On a longer journey

Use it as an overnight or early-morning break

Parking and toilets are available 24 hours. When the shop and café are closed, you can still plan a rest stop beside Route 23.

Route 23 → Michi-no-Eki Clair Hirata (break) → resume journey

Only parking and toilets are available 24 hours. Meals and shopping are limited to business hours.

Hours

Opening hours

Farm produce shop
8:00–18:00 (until 17:00 from November to March)

Kaizu City and the Chubu regional transport office both list 8:00–17:00 year-round. Check current official information for an evening visit.

KAIJU CAFE and tenants
8:00-17:00

The Chubu regional transport office lists last orders at 16:30. Tenants are listed as closed on Tuesdays (or the following day if Tuesday is a public holiday).

Parking and toilets
24 hours

Gifu Prefecture lists these as available 24 hours.

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.

Under 1 year
★★☆☆☆

Works for a brief stop using the 24-hour toilets and indoor rest area.

Official and municipal listings do not specify a nursing room or diaper-changing station. Be prepared to change diapers in your vehicle and keep the stay short.

Ages 2–3
★★★☆☆

A walk around the farm shop, a sweet treat and a return to the car can make a manageable stop.

No play-equipment-focused facility is listed at the station. Use the shop and ice cream as a break, then leave active play for the next stop.

Ages 4–6
★★★☆☆

Good for shopping while showing children the vegetables, trees and seedlings.

Morning-picked vegetables, trees and seedlings offer a chance to talk about what grows locally. The car park is not large, so watch for moving vehicles.

Elementary-school age
★★★☆☆

A stop that can prompt conversation about the Nagara River and the Kiso Three Rivers plain.

Its setting beside the Nagara River gives you something to discuss. It works better as a break in the journey than as the day's main activity.

Toilets

Gifu Prefecture lists the toilets as open 24 hours, useful for an urgent stop while traveling.

Facilities for very young children

Neither the Kaizu City nor national Michi-no-Eki listings specify these facilities. Bring what you need for changing diapers in the car.

Indoor rest

On a rainy or hot day, you can keep the break indoors without adding an outdoor walk.

Accessible facilities

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s Chubu Regional Development Bureau lists these facilities. Check on-site signs for their current availability.

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

Farm produce shop

Morning-picked vegetables, trees and seedlings are the main draw; the stock changes with the seasons.

KAIJU CAFE

Opening days and menu items can change. Check business days before visiting for a meal.

Information corner

A place for information about the Kaizu area, useful when you have not yet decided on the next stop.

Local feel

Reasons to return

Practical ideas and things to consider when spending time here.

The farm shop defines this station

Kaizu City highlights a popular farm shop selling fresh morning-picked vegetables and a range of trees and seedlings delivered by growers. Walking around the shop, rather than stopping without a plan, gives you a sense of the station's character.

Source: Kaizu City, “Michi-no-Eki Clair Hirata”

Closing times differ, so shop first in the evening

Gifu Prefecture and the national Michi-no-Eki association list 8:00–18:00 from April to October and 8:00–17:00 from November to March. Kaizu City lists 8:00–17:00 year-round, as does the Chubu regional transport office for the farm shop and tenants. If visiting in the evening, do your shopping and toilet break first rather than counting on a meal.

Source: Gifu Prefecture Road Maintenance Division; Kaizu City; Chubu Regional Development Bureau; National Michi-no-Eki Association

Plan around the café's Tuesday closure

Kaizu City lists KAIJU CAFE and the ice cream outlet as closed every Tuesday and over New Year. Gifu Prefecture says the restaurant closes on Tuesdays, or the next day if Tuesday is a public holiday. Choose a day accordingly if a meal is the main purpose.

Source: Kaizu City; Gifu Prefecture Road Maintenance Division

24-hour parking and toilets support a rest stop

Gifu Prefecture lists parking for 21 small vehicles, 17 large vehicles and two accessible spaces, with toilets open 24 hours. Because ordinary-car capacity is modest, keeping your stop focused may be easier at busy times.

Source: Gifu Prefecture Road Maintenance Division, Clair Hirata

Ten minutes from Gifu-Hashima Interchange for a drive across the plains

Gifu Prefecture's tourism guide puts it ten minutes by car from Gifu-Hashima Interchange on the Meishin Expressway. Beside the Nagara River on flat land, it is an easy break on a drive without mountain roads.

Source: Gifu Prefecture official tourism site, Gifu Travel Guide
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.

  • Closing times of 17:00 and 18:00 appear in official listings; a 19:00 time is also mentioned but remains unconfirmed. Check current official hours just before an evening visit.
  • KAIJU CAFE and other tenants are listed as closed on Tuesdays (or the following day if Tuesday is a public holiday). Check the day when planning a meal.
  • Gifu Prefecture lists 21 small-vehicle spaces, 17 large-vehicle spaces and two accessible spaces. The Chubu regional transport office gives a different ordinary-car count, so allow extra time during busy periods.
  • Parking and toilets are available 24 hours. The shop and café operate only during business hours, so use the station as a rest stop after closing.
  • It is a ten-minute drive from Gifu-Hashima Interchange on the Meishin Expressway. Its flat setting beside the Nagara River suits a route without mountain roads.
  • Come early if you want morning-picked vegetables. The selection changes with the season, so see what is available instead of fixing on one item.
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 flavor
    Kusa mochi (mugwort rice cakes)
    Availability differs between the farm shop and café
  • Farm shop highlight
    Morning-picked vegetables
    Selection changes with the season
  • Café using local ingredients
    KAIJU CAFE light meals and desserts
    Check current official information for the menu
  • Sweet treat
    Ice cream
    Check on-site information for availability that day
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
Choose one local taste

Kusa mochi (mugwort rice cakes)

Gifu Prefecture's tourism guide lists these as a souvenir. Picking one can make even a brief visit memorable. Availability varies, so check the shop.

Eat something light

KAIJU CAFE light meals and desserts

This locally focused café suits a day when you want a light meal. It is listed as closed on Tuesdays, so check the day if the café is your main meal stop.

Pause for something sweet

Ice cream

An option when a full meal is too much. Combine it with an indoor rest for a useful break even on a short stop.

Take something home

Morning-picked vegetables, trees and seedlings

Vegetables picked that morning by local farmers are the main attraction, alongside trees and seedlings delivered by growers. Choose something you can use at home to make this a shopping stop rather than simply passing through.

When closing time is uncertain

Shopping at the farm shop

Published closing times differ: official listings give 17:00 or 18:00, while a 19:00 time is also mentioned without confirmation. If arriving late, check current hours and prioritize shopping and a toilet break instead of relying on a meal.

Access

Location and surroundings

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Roadside station
Michi-no-Eki Clair Hirata

A Kaizu rest stop on Route 23 beside the Nagara River, with morning-picked vegetables and kusa mochi rice cakes.

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Food outlets and the market on the station grounds share the station pin. Nearby places are separate destinations to combine with your visit.
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