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

Gifu Prefecture · Chubu

Michi-no-Eki Dainichidake

道の駅 大日岳

Stop at a small roadside station on National Route 156 beneath Mount Dainichigatake for soft serve made with Hirugano Kogen milk.

Updated Michi-no-Eki JournalRead in Japanese

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph

Location
Gujo City
Road
National Route 156
Hours
9:00–17:00
Both the local products shop and the café and light-meal counter are listed as open 9:00–17:00. The station closes every Thursday and has a winter closure period.
Parking
Cars: 29 / Large vehicles: 7
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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 to try
Soft serve made with Hirugano Kogen milk

Both the operator and the prefectural tourism site feature it as the station's signature item.

For a bite to eat
Light meals such as ramen and curry

The café and light-meal counter is small. It is better suited to a quick bite than a substantial lunch planned around this stop.

For shopping
Hirugano Kogen brand dairy products and local vegetables

Listed products include milk, Camembert cheese, pudding, Hirugano tofu, and Hirugano Kogen daikon radish.

For a break
Free rest area and information corner

Wireless LAN and a public telephone are also listed, making this a useful place to pause during a mountain drive.

Check first
Thursday and winter closures

The station closes for winter. Check whether it is open from December through early spring.

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

It works well when you know you are stopping at a small station.

Gakuto Sakakibara sees this as a brief break after leaving Takasu IC for National Route 156. It is not a station for browsing a large shopping hall. Have one Hirugano Kogen milk soft serve and pick up a dairy product or some local vegetables. Take the children to the toilet, then continue into the higher-elevation section. That is about the right scale for this stop. The station closes in winter, though, so from December into early spring, first check whether it is open.

Highlights

Michi-no-Eki Dainichidake is a small roadside station on National Route 156 in Takasu-cho, Gujo City, at the foot of 1,709 m Mount Dainichigatake. Its local products shop and café and light-meal counter are listed as open 9:00–17:00. Soft serve made with Hirugano Kogen milk, local vegetables, and light meals such as ramen and curry are the main draws. Gakuto Sakakibara recommends checking the Thursday closure and winter shutdown before stopping here on a drive near Takasu IC on the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway.

  • #Hirugano Kogen milk
  • #Soft serve
  • #Mount Dainichigatake
  • #National Route 156
  • #Takasu-cho, Gujo City
  • #Winter closure
Why I like it

Reasons to stop here

01

A practical break on the mountain stretch of National Route 156

Parking is listed for 29 standard cars and 7 large vehicles, alongside public toilets, a free rest area, an information corner, and a snow-chain fitting and removal area. It is a straightforward place to get out of the car and reset on a drive through higher elevations.

02

The station's small size shapes the visit

The operator describes it as Japan's second-smallest roadside station. You can take in the shop and light-meal counter in one circuit, choose what to buy quickly, and estimate the time you will need. It is not a place designed for a long stay.

03

Enjoy Hirugano Kogen dairy here or take some home

Soft serve made with Hirugano Kogen milk is the signature item. The prefectural tourism site also lists fresh milk, Camembert cheese, pudding, Hirugano tofu, and Hirugano Kogen daikon under the Hirugano Kogen brand. Choose one thing to eat in the car and another to open at home.

04

A place connected to Mount Dainichigatake and the headwaters of the Nagara River

Mount Dainichigatake, which gives the station its name, rises to 1,709 m. Gifu Prefecture's official tourism site calls this a station at the headwaters of the Nagara River. Knowing where you are along the route adds meaning to a simple rest stop.

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 connecting the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway and National Route 156

Build in a break near Takasu IC

Both the prefectural tourism site and the Gujo City Tourism Federation put the station about 7 minutes by car from Takasu IC on the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway. After leaving the expressway, a quick circuit of the toilets, soft-serve counter, and shop makes a natural break.

Takasu IC → National Route 156 → Michi-no-Eki Dainichidake

The shop and light-meal counter are open 9:00–17:00 and closed on Thursdays. They will not be open if you pass early in the morning or late in the day.

A break of 30 minutes or less

Stop briefly for soft serve and shopping

The station is small enough to see what is available in one circuit. Have a Hirugano Kogen milk soft serve and take home a dairy product or local vegetable for a taste of the area even on a short stop.

Park → toilets → light-meal counter → local products shop → depart

This is not a destination for a long stay; a lengthy break may leave you wanting more to do.

A long drive on National Route 156

Pause before or after a mountain-road stretch

Along with parking for 29 standard cars and 7 large vehicles, listings include a snow-chain fitting and removal area, free rest area, information corner, and wireless LAN. It is a useful place to check your equipment and how you feel before or after a higher-elevation stretch.

Michi-no-Eki Dainichidake → north or south on National Route 156

The station closes for part of winter, when you cannot rely on it as a rest stop.

Travel from December through April

From winter into early spring, check whether it is open first

The station closes for winter. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism lists December 1–March 31, while the operator lists December to mid-April; dates can change by year. Check the current opening status before planning the order of your stops.

Check opening status → National Route 156 → Michi-no-Eki Dainichidake

Plan an alternative rest stop during the closure: station facilities, including the roadside-station stamp, may be unavailable. The stamp is a souvenir impression collected at Japanese roadside stations.

Hours

Opening hours

Local products shop
9:00-17:00

Closed every Thursday (open on public holidays). There is also a winter closure period.

Café and light-meal counter
9:00-17:00

This is a small counter. Check the day's on-site notices for the menu and last order time, which may differ from closing time.

Winter closure
December through early spring

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism lists December 1–March 31; the operator lists December to mid-April. Check before visiting, as dates vary by year.

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
★★☆☆☆

Usable for a toilet break and quick shopping, but little infant-specific equipment is listed.

The national Michi-no-Eki association lists no baby bed. If you need a diaper change or a place to breastfeed, consider facilities before or after this stop as well.

Ages 2–3
★★★☆☆

The size is about right for a soft-serve break and a quick circuit of the shop.

No play equipment or indoor play area is listed. It suits a short pause outside the car.

Ages 4–6
★★★☆☆

A short visit can hold their interest, but the station alone will not fill much time.

Allow a brief stop here and make somewhere else the main destination of the day.

Primary school age
★★★☆☆

An age when you can connect the stop to Mount Dainichigatake and the headwaters of the Nagara River.

The station sits below 1,709 m Mount Dainichigatake, and the prefectural tourism site calls it a station at the headwaters of the Nagara River. Both offer a reason to open a map together.

Toilets

A ramp and four accessible parking spaces are also listed. Check on-site signs and official information for use at night and in winter.

Infant facilities

According to the national Michi-no-Eki association listing. No nursing room is listed either, so consider other stops along the route if needed.

Food

It is best not to make this station the only option for a family meal.

Outdoor activities

Do not plan this stop as a place for children to run around.

Pets

Check with the operator or follow on-site signs before entering with a pet.

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 Instagram

Opening days, the start and end of the winter closure, and seasonal product arrivals are announced on the official Instagram account. It is the most current listed place to check shortly before a visit.

Takasu–Hirugano Tourism Web

This is the site of the operator, the Takasu Tourism Association cooperative. It lists opening hours, regular closure days, and products sold.

Winter closure

The station closes for a period from winter into early spring, with dates shifting by year. Its opening status can determine your route during this season.

Local feel

Reasons to return

Practical ideas and things to consider when spending time here.

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.

  • Opening hours are 9:00–17:00; the regular closure is every Thursday (open on public holidays). The shop and light-meal counter will be closed if you pass early in the morning or late in the day.
  • The station closes for winter. The listed periods differ: December 1–March 31 (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism) and December to mid-April (operator). Dates vary by year, so check before visiting.
  • Parking is listed for 29 standard cars, 7 large vehicles, and 4 accessible spaces. Some listings give 45 standard-car spaces instead, so the published counts differ. Allow extra time when it may be busy.
  • No baby bed is listed. When traveling with a small child, consider rest stops before and after this station as well.
  • The station is about 7 minutes by car from Takasu IC on the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway, convenient for a route connecting the expressway and National Route 156.
  • Prices, menus, and products can change. If you have something specific in mind, check the official Instagram account and operator's site first.
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
    Soft serve made with Hirugano Kogen milk
    Check official information for current price and availability
  • Meal
    Ramen
    Check official information for current price and availability
  • Meal
    Curry
    Check official information for current price and availability
  • Quick bite
    Fries and nuggets
    Check official information for current price and availability
  • To take home
    Hirugano Kogen brand dairy products
    Milk, Camembert cheese, pudding, and more; selection varies by season
  • To take home
    Local vegetables and Hirugano Kogen daikon radish
    Availability varies by season
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 quick taste of the area

Soft serve made with Hirugano Kogen milk

Both the operator and the prefectural tourism site feature this signature item. Even on a short visit, it gives you a taste of the area.

A light meal

Ramen and curry

These are listed at the café and light-meal counter. It closes at 17:00 and is closed on Thursdays, so avoid relying on it for a late lunch.

Something to snack on

Fries, nuggets, and drinks

Useful when you want something between meals. It also suits a short break with children.

Something to take home

Hirugano Kogen milk, Camembert cheese, pudding, and Hirugano tofu

These are grouped as Hirugano Kogen brand products; starting with the dairy selection makes it easy to choose.

Seasonal produce

Local vegetables and Hirugano Kogen daikon radish

Gujo specialties and local vegetables are listed for sale. The selection changes with the season, so choose from what is available.

Access

Location and surroundings

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Roadside station
Michi-no-Eki Dainichidake

Stop at a small roadside station on National Route 156 beneath Mount Dainichigatake for soft serve made with Hirugano Kogen milk.

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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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Updated 2026-09-30Explore the nationwide map →