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

Aichi Prefecture · Chubu

Michi-no-Eki Donguri no Sato Inabu

道の駅 どんぐりの里いなぶ

A stop on an Inabu drive where you can combine a hot spring, rice-flour bread and mountain-village experiences.

Updated Michi-no-Eki JournalRead in Japanese

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph

Location
Toyota City
Road
National Route 153
Hours
9:00–17:00
These are Donguri Yokocho's approximate weekday hours. On weekends and public holidays it stays open until 18:00; check the hot spring's reduced hours.
Parking
Cars: 108 / Large vehicles: 12
My stamp

Record this station in your journal

Records are saved in this browser. Visited stations receive a stamp and count towards your nationwide progress.

Nationwide progress
— / 1,238 stations
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.

Start with the basics
Restrooms and Yokocho opening hours

For a break on National Route 153, park and check the restrooms, Yokocho and meal options in that order. If bathing is your main aim, check the official notice first: reduced hot-spring hours are currently posted.

For a meal
Donguri Shokudo and rice-flour bread

Have lunch at the dining hall; if it is busy, switch to rice-flour bread or takeaway. Bread and castella are popular, so avoid counting on a late-afternoon visit for a particular item.

For shopping
Vegetables, Mineasahi rice and mountain foods

Browse local vegetables, rice, pickled mountain burdock and blueberry products. If you have a long trip home, consider cooling and the temperature inside your car.

With children
A quick meal, then the workshop

Keep meals and shopping short rather than planning a long play stop at the station. On rainy or hot days, an activity at Donguri Kobo can anchor the day.

For a seasonal outing
Oidaira Park or the icefall

Consider autumn leaves, the winter icefall or Oshiyama's early-morning sea of clouds from autumn to early winter. Check mountain weather, road ice and crowds on event days.

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph
Minato's detour notes

Plan the family's needs first, then add a taste of Inabu.

Minato Miyasaka sees more here than a rest stop with a hot spring. Decide first on children's restroom needs, meals and a rainy-day option, then add rice-flour bread, vegetables, a workshop activity, autumn leaves or the icefall. Even when family members want different things, they can split up within or close to Donguri no Sato Inabu.

Highlights

Michi-no-Eki Donguri no Sato Inabu is a mountain-village roadside station on National Route 153 with a hot spring. At Donguri Yokocho, shop for rice-flour bread, Inabu castella sponge cake, local vegetables, Mineasahi rice and processed mountain foods. Next door, Donguri Kobo offers goheimochi-making and woodcraft experiences; goheimochi is grilled rice on a skewer with a savory sauce. Combine lunch and shopping with an evening bath at Donguri no Yu. In season, add autumn leaves at Oidaira Park or the icefall at Yusui Hiroba for a family half-day outing.

  • #Inabu hot spring
  • #Donguri Yokocho
  • #Rice-flour bread
  • #Goheimochi-making experience
  • #National Route 153
  • #Autumn leaves and icefall
Why I like it

Reasons to stop here

01

Shopping and a hot spring in one stop

Buy rice-flour bread and vegetables at Donguri Yokocho, then ease your driving fatigue at the neighboring Donguri no Yu hot spring. Food, shopping and bathing are close together at this mountain-road stop, making rainy-day plans easier to manage.

02

Take home a taste of Inabu

Inabu is known as a rice-flour region. Look for rice-flour bread, Inabu castella sponge cake, Mineasahi rice, pickled mountain burdock and blueberry products. Visit Yokocho earlier in the day for a better choice of items that may sell out or run low.

03

A starting point for seasonal sights nearby

From the station, choose the nearby Busetsu Castle Ruins on foot or an activity at Donguri Kobo; in autumn visit Oidaira Park, in winter the icefall at Yusui Hiroba, and from autumn to early winter the sea of clouds at Oshiyama. Allow for mountain roads and possible ice when planning.

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 30–45 minute driving break

Make a Route 153 break more rewarding at Yokocho

Use the restrooms first, then browse Donguri Yokocho for rice-flour bread, vegetables, rice and processed mountain foods. Even without a sit-down meal, bread, castella and drinks for a car break give you a taste of Inabu.

Parking → restrooms → Donguri Yokocho → bakery and produce shop → departure

Yokocho is generally open daily from April through November and generally closes Thursdays in winter. Check official notices around winter Thursdays, New Year and inspection days.

A half-day stay from midday to evening

From lunch to a hot spring, with options for the family

Keep lunch simple at the dining hall or bakery, shop, then head to Donguri no Yu. Family members can split between bathing, more shopping and resting, then meet again at the station.

Lunch → shopping at Yokocho → Donguri no Yu → head home

Since March 20, 2026, Donguri no Yu has announced reduced hours until further notice: reception opens at 11:00, last admission is 19:00 and it closes at 20:00. Do not plan around regular hours alone.

Families with preschool and elementary-school children

Make Donguri Kobo the focus on a rainy day

When outdoor play is difficult, consider making goheimochi or udon noodles, small woodcraft items or bird calls at neighboring Donguri Kobo. Some activities require reservations or run only on set dates; check available sessions before arrival rather than relying on a same-day inquiry.

Lunch at Yokocho → Donguri Kobo activity → souvenirs at Yokocho → hot spring or head home

Activities range from about 90 minutes to three hours. A short craft suits younger children; making goheimochi works well when adults join in.

Seasonal drives for autumn leaves, an icefall or a sea of clouds

Add one scenic stop in autumn or winter

See autumn leaves at Oidaira Park or the Busetsu Castle Ruins, the winter icefall at Yusui Hiroba, or the sea of clouds at Oshiyama on a suitable early morning. Eat and use the restrooms at the station, then choose one destination so mountain-road travel and sunset do not make the day rushed.

Station → Oidaira Park or Busetsu Castle Ruins → Yokocho shopping → hot spring

Prepare for icy roads and snow in Inabu's winter. The icefall and sea of clouds depend on conditions; keep the hot spring or Yokocho as another option.

Hours

Opening hours

Donguri Yokocho
April–November: weekdays 9:00–17:00, weekends and public holidays 9:00–18:00; December–March: 9:00–17:00

Open daily April–November; closed Thursdays December–March (the following day if Thursday is a public holiday). Closed December 27–January 1. Due to equipment work, the food stalls Oiden Yana No. 2, Teuchi Soba Korokoro, Mori no Agemono-ya and Mori no Ice Cream-ya are closed September 28–29, 2026.

Inabu Onsen Donguri no Yu
11:00–20:00 until further notice

Reduced hours continue from March 20, 2026: last admission 19:00; closes 20:00. Last admission to the low-temperature sauna is 17:00, and last orders at Donguri-tei are 19:00. Closed Thursdays (the following day if a public holiday) and December 27–January 1. Normally listed hours are weekdays 10:00–21:00 and weekends/public holidays 9:30–21:00.

Donguri Kobo
9:00-17:00

Generally closed Thursdays and at New Year. Some activities require booking or run only on specified days.

Tourist information center
10:00-16:00

A place to ask about sightseeing and buy a seasonal-design castle seal for the Busetsu Castle Ruins.

Parking
Generally available all day

Tourism information lists 108 standard-car spaces, three accessible spaces, 12 large-vehicle spaces and 32 motorcycle spaces.

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
★★★☆☆

Useful for a short nursing, diaper-change and meal break.

The hot spring can help adults unwind, but bathing time, changing and water temperature may be demanding with an infant. A brief stop at Yokocho and the restrooms may be easier.

Ages 2–3
★★★★☆

Bread or sweets can keep children content; a workshop activity gives you an option on rainy days.

Short rounds of eating and shopping work better than letting children run around the station. Choose a workshop activity and duration that will hold their interest.

Ages 4–6
★★★★☆

Making goheimochi or trying woodcraft can become a memorable part of the trip.

Packing the hot spring, dining hall and workshop together can be tiring, so choose one main aim. For autumn or winter scenic stops, consider footing and cold weather.

Elementary-school children
★★★★★

The workshop, castle ruins, autumn leaves and icefall offer opportunities to learn and walk outdoors.

Adding the Busetsu Castle Ruins or Oidaira Park makes more of the day than a food stop alone. For the winter icefall or Oshiyama, prioritize equipment and road conditions.

Before eating

At peak lunch time, combine rice-flour bread with shopping rather than relying only on a dining-hall table; this can shorten the wait.

Rainy day

Making goheimochi or udon takes longer. For young children, also check dates for shorter crafts.

Hot spring

For an evening visit, shop at Yokocho before bathing to avoid its closing time.

Outdoor walk

Oidaira Park and the Busetsu Castle Ruins are rewarding seasonal stops, but ground conditions change after rain and in winter.

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

Donguri Yokocho's large covered area

Hosts events such as summer festivals that young children can join. Its position alongside the shops suits short visits.

Donguri no Yu

Some events accompany a hot-spring visit, such as discounted admission for Respect for the Aged Day. Check age-verification requirements and reception hours.

Donguri Kobo

A base for the Lunar Calendar Hina Festival and hands-on programs. Pair it with the station for rainy-day or family activities.

Multipurpose parking area and nearby town center

On days with the Hina Market, photo rallies or autumn-leaf festival shuttle buses, seasonal events change the usual flow of visitors.

Local feel

Reasons to return

Practical ideas and things to consider when spending time here.

Check the hot spring's reduced-hours notice before its regular schedule

Tourism sites still list regular hot-spring hours, but the official homepage announces reduced hours from March 20, 2026 until further notice. If the hot spring is your main aim, plan evening shopping around last admission at 19:00 and closing at 20:00.

Source: Donguri no Sato Inabu official website

Hot-spring reviews often focus on recovering from a drive

Visitor posts commonly mention drives from the Nagoya area, traffic toward Korankei and bathing to ease fatigue. If you bathe at the end of a sightseeing day, consider Yokocho's closing time and the drive still ahead.

Source: Jalan.net visitor-review trends

For children, pair the station with the workshop

Donguri Kobo offers goheimochi and udon-making, small woodcraft and bird-call activities, making it a destination in rain or heat. Some require reservations or run on set dates, so check available slots in advance.

Source: Toyota City and Tourism Toyota's Donguri Kobo information

On event days, visitors spread into the surrounding town

For the Lunar Calendar Hina Festival, venues extend across Donguri Kobo, the roadside station area, Iida Kaido and Zuiryuji Temple. On Hina Market and photo-rally days, visits may last longer than a routine break; allowing for simple parking and meals makes walking around easier.

Source: Tourism Toyota's 2026 Inabu Lunar Calendar Hina Festival information

Oshiyama's sea of clouds is a more demanding detour

You can drive close to Oshiyama and walk a short distance to the summit, but a sea of clouds is never guaranteed, even on early mornings from autumn to early winter. Winter ice warnings also matter. For an easy family add-on, favor Oidaira Park or the Busetsu Castle Ruins; save Oshiyama for a morning when you have the right equipment.

Source: Tourism Toyota's Oshiyama sea-of-clouds 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.

  • Donguri no Yu has announced reduced hours from March 20, 2026 until further notice. For an evening bath, check last admission and closing time first.
  • Donguri Yokocho's food stalls Oiden Yana No. 2, Teuchi Soba Korokoro, Mori no Agemono-ya and Mori no Ice Cream-ya are closed September 28–29, 2026 for equipment work. Plan another meal option on those two days.
  • Yokocho's closing-day pattern changes between April–November and December–March. Have another food and shopping option on Thursdays, around New Year and during inspections.
  • Popular items such as rice-flour bread and Inabu castella may not last until late afternoon. If you want a particular item, visit Yokocho first.
  • Some Donguri Kobo activities require reservations or run only on set dates. If it is your main rainy-day plan, check the activity and duration before arrival.
  • The autumn leaves at Oidaira Park and icefall at Yusui Hiroba vary with season and weather. Plan for winter tires and warm clothes in winter Inabu.
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.

  • Bakery
    Rice-flour bread
    A popular product made with Inabu rice flour; visit early before it sells out.
  • Sweets and souvenirs
    Inabu castella sponge cake
    A notice says the matcha variety is in short supply; expect to find it mainly in the shop.
  • Shopping
    Mineasahi rice
    A local Inabu rice souvenir; consider its weight and your journey home.
  • Processed mountain foods
    Pickled mountain burdock and blueberry products
    Regional souvenirs also featured in the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's roadside-station guide.
  • Meal
    Donguri Shokudo's Yokocho set meal
    Typically includes Suehiro udon containing rice flour and mountain-vegetable rice mixed with ancient grains.
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
Sit down for lunch

Donguri Shokudo

Good for a seated meal before or after the hot spring. Around lunchtime on holidays, leave room to switch to bread or takeaway if the dining hall is busy.

A light bite in the car

Rice-flour bread and Inabu castella

A good choice for a short break. If children are hungry, you can pick something at Yokocho and return to the car.

For products such as matcha castella with a low-stock notice, check the shop rather than counting on online or consignment sales.

Buy for dinner

Local vegetables, Mineasahi rice and pickled mountain burdock

Bring something home for the dinner table. A cooler bag helps if you will leave groceries in the car for a while in summer or during a hot-spring visit.

Make and eat something

Goheimochi-making at Donguri Kobo

For a day when you want to make food, not just buy it. The activity takes longer, so avoid packing it too tightly between lunch and a bath.

A pause after the hot spring

Drinks and sweets

Watch Yokocho's closing time after your bath. In the evening, buying snacks before bathing may be more practical.

Access

Location and surroundings

Driving directions from your location
Open in your map appOpen in Google Maps
Explore stations near 豊田市 (Japanese guide)
Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph

If the map does not load, open it in Google Maps

1
Roadside station
Michi-no-Eki Donguri no Sato Inabu

A stop on an Inabu drive where you can combine a hot spring, rice-flour bread and mountain-village experiences.

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

Activities and rainy days
Donguri KoboJapanese guide
Next to the station; a very short walkA very short walk

Good for rainy or hot days, or when you want to add an activity for children. Check booking requirements and scheduled dates first.

History and short walks
Busetsu Castle RuinsJapanese guide
About a 5-minute walk from the stationShort walk

For a little walk after eating, a history detour with elementary-school-age children or older, or a short autumn-leaf walk.

Nature and autumn leaves
Oidaira ParkJapanese guide
About 5–10 minutes by carAutumn walk

For autumn leaves, a walk along the Nagura River, or one nature stop before or after the hot spring.

Nature and winter scenery
Yusui Hiroba IcefallJapanese guide
About 5–10 minutes by carShort winter walk

For adding one winter view when you have winter tires, warm clothes and suitable footwear.

Nature and viewpoints
Oshiyama Sea of CloudsJapanese guide
About 25–35 minutes by carEarly-morning detour

Best for adults with time and suitable gear on early mornings from autumn to early winter. Avoid forcing it into a short family break.

Share

Send your travel companions a possible stop.

Share on XShare on LINE

Send a correction

Let us know if information on this page, such as hours or closing days, is incorrect. Our editors will review your message before updating the guide.

We use your submission only to review and improve our content and to reply about your message.

Updated 2026-09-30Explore the nationwide map →