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Aichi Prefecture · Chubu

Michi-no-Eki Horai Mikawa Sangoku (道の駅鳳来三河三石)

道の駅鳳来三河三石

A small Okumikawa roadside stop for gohei mochi, plum flavors, and a walk to Mankoji's garden.

Updated 2026-09-30Michi-no-Eki Journal Read in Japanese

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph

Location

Shinshiro City

Road

National Route 257

Hours

9:00–17:00

The shop is open 9:00-17:00. Official Instagram and other notices give approximately 11:00-14:30 for the dining room. Hours may change; check official notices for the day.

Parking

Cars: 43 / Large vehicles: 0

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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 bite

Sangoku gohei mochi

The sweet-salty walnut-miso sauce is the draw. This grilled rice snack gives even a brief stop a local flavor.

At lunchtime

Plum-and-egg udon or soba

The dining room mainly operates around lunchtime; arrive early enough if a meal is your main reason to stop.

To take home

Plum products and locally grown vegetables

Pick up dried salted plums, plum jam, plum sweets, or seasonal vegetables for a taste of Horai.

For a walk

Mankoji Garden (満光寺庭園)

A historical stop just by the roadside station. Allow a little time to enjoy the garden quietly.

To unwind

Horai Yu-Yu Arena (鳳来ゆ～ゆ～ありいな)

Continue toward Yuya Onsen to turn the drive into a half-day outing with a hot-spring bath.

For nature

Atera no Nanataki Falls (阿寺の七滝)

The falls are about a 15-minute walk from the parking area. Plan footwear and check the weather.

Highlights

Horai Mikawa Sangoku is a small roadside station, rather than a large complex. Stop on National Route 257 for Sangoku gohei mochi, grilled rice on a stick with walnut-miso sauce, plum-and-egg udon or soba, plum juice or lemonade. Browse locally sold vegetables and Horai souvenirs, then walk north to Mankoji temple's garden, associated with Tokugawa Ieyasu. Even a short break offers food, shopping, and a glimpse of local history.

#Aichi Prefecture
#Shinshiro City
#National Route 257
#Okumikawa
#Gohei mochi
#Plums
#Soba and udon
#Farm produce shop
#Mankoji Temple
#Horai

Why I like it

Reasons to stop here

One gohei mochi makes this feel like a stop in Okumikawa

Sangoku gohei mochi is a local specialty: grilled rice shaped rather like mitarashi dango dumplings and coated with walnut-miso sauce. Even without a full meal, pairing one with plum juice or lemonade makes this more than a restroom stop.

The small scale makes the dining room and shop easy to use

This compact station makes it simple to browse the farm produce, consider plum-and-egg udon or soba or mushroom soba in the dining room, and pick up a few souvenirs. Its size helps when you cannot spend long away from your Route 257 drive.

A walk to Mankoji's garden sets this stop apart

Just north of the station is Mankoji, with a garden and stories associated with Tokugawa Ieyasu. A short walk after eating gives the stop a sense of Okumikawa's history.

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 drive toward Hamamatsu-Inasa or Shinshiro around lunchtime

Make a short Route 257 break a food stop

Park, browse plum products and vegetables in the shop, and have a gohei mochi. If timing allows, add plum-and-egg udon or soba in the dining room. The small station makes a 15- to 40-minute break easy to plan.

On National Route 257. From the Shin-Tomei Expressway's Shinshiro Interchange, connect via Routes 151 and 257.

The dining room mainly opens at lunchtime, and the station closes on Thursdays. Check official social media or shop notices if the meal is the main purpose of your trip.

Adults seeking a detour; garden and history enthusiasts

Walk to Mankoji for a quiet pause after eating

Mankoji is just north of the station. The story of Tokugawa Ieyasu and a rooster, an Aichi Prefecture-designated scenic garden, and the Kakimoto Castle ruins bring local history together within a short walk. A stroll after food and shopping changes the feel of this stop.

Michi-no-Eki Horai Mikawa Sangoku → Mankoji Garden → Kakimoto Castle ruins if time allows.

Mankoji is a small temple with limited parking. Visit quietly, watch your footing, and check its closing time.

A drive lasting into the evening, or a day when you want a bath before heading home

Continue toward Yuya Onsen and finish with a bath

If lunch and shopping are not enough, adding Horai Yu-Yu Arena makes a half-day trip. It has hot-spring baths, a pool, and training facilities, with options for families and adults.

About 20 minutes by car from the station toward Yuya Onsen, with riverside scenery along the way.

As of 2026, Shinshiro City warns that fuel supply conditions may cause changes to opening hours or temporary closures. Check official information before going for a bath.

Nature walks, Sengoku-period history, or a half-day drive

Add the falls or Nagashino to an Okumikawa drive

Atera no Nanataki Falls is about a 15-minute walk from its parking area; the Nagashino Castle Ruins Historic Preservation Museum offers a shorter encounter with Sengoku-period history. Use the station as a food and shopping base, then add either nature or history.

Choose Atera no Nanataki for nature or the Nagashino Castle Ruins Historic Preservation Museum for history. Both require a car from the station.

At the falls, check footing and conditions after rain. For the museum, check Tuesday closures and changed summer hours.

Hours

Opening hours

Shop

9:00-17:00

The official website, Okumikawa Tourism Navi, and Aichi Now give the same hours.

Dining room

Approximately 11:00-14:30

Check official Instagram and other notices. These hours differ from the shop's, so come at lunchtime if you want a meal.

Regular closure

Thursday

Open on public holidays. Notices also list a year-end/New Year closure from December 28 to January 1.

Mankoji

8:00-16:30

A suggested donation applies to the garden. Temple events and weather may affect visiting conditions.

Family

Visiting with children

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

Ages 1 and under

★★★☆☆

A diaper-changing table and multipurpose restroom are listed, but this is a place for a brief stop rather than a playground.

Aichi Now's accessibility information does not list a nursing room. Consider feeding in your car if needed.

Ages 2-3

★★★☆☆

Useful for a meal and restroom break, but do not expect a large play area or major play equipment.

Watch steps and footing if walking to Mankoji.

Ages 4-6

★★★☆☆

Gohei mochi and juice can make a pleasant break; children able to manage a short walk can also enjoy Mankoji or the Kakimoto Castle ruins.

Choose suitable shoes if adding the separate walk to the falls.

Elementary school age

★★★★☆

The dining room, Mankoji, Atera no Nanataki Falls, and the Nagashino Castle Ruins Historic Preservation Museum make a useful introduction to nature and history.

Pair the station with nearby attractions rather than planning a long play session at the station itself.

Plan a break, rather than a playground visit

There is no large play structure or indoor play area; focus on food, restrooms, and a short walk.

Choose shoes for the falls or castle ruins

Atera no Nanataki is about a 15-minute walk from its parking area. With small children, check weather and footing.

Rest

Ideas for a restful stop

1
Park near the building and shop briefly
This small station lists 43 parking spaces. Take care when entering or leaving in busy periods; a short visit to the shop and restrooms works well.
2
Time the dining room visit for lunch
For udon or soba, check the dining room's hours separately from the shop's to avoid missing a meal.
3
Do not rush Mankoji
The garden is for quiet viewing. Check the closing time, steps, and footing. If tired, a shop break alone is enough.
4
Check opening details before adding the hot spring
Horai Yu-Yu Arena is convenient, but temporary changes have been announced as a possibility. Check before departure if a bath is the purpose of your trip.

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

Seasonal goods in the shop

The selection of plum products, locally grown vegetables, fruit, and Horai souvenirs depends on what has arrived.

Dining room operation

The dining room mainly opens for shorter lunchtime hours than the shop. Official Instagram may announce year-end or temporary operating arrangements.

Nearby events

A visit may be paired with events outside the station, such as the Nagashino Nobori Festival, autumn leaves on Mount Horaiji, or events toward Yuya Onsen.

Seasonal scenery

Weather, autumn foliage, and water levels change the experience at Atera no Nanataki, Mount Horaiji, and around Yuya Onsen.

Local feel

Reasons to return

Practical ideas and things to consider when spending time here.

Many visitors stop for gohei mochi and dumplings

Reviews often describe quick stops for mitarashi dango, sweet soy-glazed dumplings, or gohei mochi. Even without a seated meal, a sweet-salty snack can be the highlight here.

Source: Trends in Jalan, Yahoo! Maps, and travel reviews

Soba and gohei mochi make a good lunch break

Travel accounts and food reviews mention adding gohei mochi to soba. On arrival, you can choose between a snack and a full lunch.

Source: Trends in Tabelog, Tripadvisor, and 4travel reviews

The small station can feel lively when riders and drivers stop together

At this small station, overlapping motorcycle and car breaks can make holidays feel busy. For a quieter meal, consider a time just outside the lunch peak.

Source: Trends in Jalan and map reviews

Mankoji offers a quiet finish to the station visit

Accounts of Mankoji Garden recall quiet moments viewing it from the veranda and the stories associated with Ieyasu. Pairing the garden with the station's food adds depth to an Okumikawa visit.

Source: Trends in Okumikawa Tourism Navi and travel reviews

Treat Atera no Nanataki as a walk, rather than a quick stop

The falls are about a 15-minute walk from the parking area, and footing may be a concern after rain. Wear walking shoes rather than treating it as a casual stroll in sandals.

Source: Trends in Okumikawa Tourism Navi, Aichi Now, and travel reviews

The hot spring is convenient, but check for changes in 2026

Horai Yu-Yu Arena toward Yuya Onsen is a possible final stop by car. Shinshiro City also warns that fuel supply conditions may cause sudden changes in hours or temporary closure.

Source: Official Shinshiro City and facility 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 shop generally opens 9:00-17:00 and closes on Thursdays. It opens on public holidays; notices list a December 28-January 1 closure.
Dining room hours are approximately 11:00-14:30. If visiting for gohei mochi or dumplings, check official Instagram for temporary changes too.
Okumikawa Tourism Navi lists 43 parking spaces. This is not a large station, so allow time to enter and leave around busy holiday lunchtimes or when many riders stop.
Aichi Now lists multipurpose and Western-style toilets, a diaper-changing table, and Wi-Fi. It does not list a nursing corner or stroller rental.
Mankoji closes at 16:30, after opening at 8:00; the suggested garden donation is about ¥100 per person. Temple parking is limited, so walk quietly if pairing it with the station.
Atera no Nanataki is about a 15-minute walk from its parking area. Listed car parking is ¥300. After rain or in midsummer, consider footing and heat.
Hours and closure days at Horai Yu-Yu Arena's bathing and sports facilities may change. In 2026, Shinshiro City warns of sudden changes due to fuel supply.

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.

Snack
Sangoku gohei mochi
See the shop menu
Dining room
Plum-and-egg udon or soba
See the shop menu
Drink
Plum juice
See the shop menu
Drink
Lemonade made with Shinshiro-grown lemons
See the shop menu
Souvenirs
Dried salted plums, plum jam, and plum sweets
See prices in the shop
Shopping
Horai fu and local vegetables
Varies by season and availability

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.

One local specialty

Sangoku gohei mochi

Gohei mochi, grilled rice with walnut-miso sauce, is the quickest way to sample this station's specialty. Even without entering the dining room, its sweet-salty taste makes a memorable driving break.

Availability varies by time of day and opening day.

Make it lunch

Plum-and-egg udon or soba / mushroom soba

Plum-and-egg udon or soba is a straightforward choice for tasting Horai's local plums in a meal. Reviews also mention pairing soba with gohei mochi.

Dining room hours are approximately 11:00-14:30. Arriving too far outside the lunch peak may leave fewer meal options.

A sweet-tart drink

Plum juice / lemonade

Plum drinks or drinks made with Shinshiro-grown lemons make a refreshing driving break, especially on a hot day or after a meal.

The selection changes with the season and supplies.

Take something home

Dried salted plums / plum jam / plum sweets / Horai fu / locally grown vegetables

Even this small shop has Horai plum products, local vegetables, and woodcrafts. Horai fu is a regional wheat-gluten food; choose something that recalls the area once home.

The selection of directly sold produce may be better in the morning on some days.

Pair it with a nearby walk