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

Fukui Prefecture · Kinki

Michi-no-Eki Natasho

道の駅 名田庄

A mountain rest stop on the western Saba Kaido where you can eat wild yam soba and take home Natasho pickles.

Updated Michi-no-Eki JournalRead in Japanese

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph

Location
Ohi Town, Oi District
Road
National Route 162
Hours
9:00–18:00
Indicative hours for March through November. Winter closing is also listed as 17:00; hours vary by season.
Parking
Cars: 37 / Large vehicles: 3
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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.

Eat first
Wild yam soba

Go to Yottei-tei first at lunchtime. It is closed Wednesdays and serves until 15:00 on weekdays, or 16:00 on weekends and public holidays.

Take home
Natasho pickles, wild yam soba, and heshiko

Look for seasonal vegetables and rice too; time any items needing refrigeration to suit your return trip.

Short detour
Calendar Museum

Within walking distance of the station; a cultural stop that works on a rainy day or an adults' trip.

Seasonal highlights
Minami River cherry blossoms, Hoshi no Fiesta, and the Natasho Trail

In spring and from summer into autumn, nearby events can affect traffic and parking.

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph
Takumi Miyasaka's suggested order

Eat, shop, and continue the journey at this modest station

Natasho is no flashy, large roadside station. Your stop works best if you decide whether to eat soba first or browse the pickles and seasonal vegetables first. On a National Route 162 journey, have wild yam soba, choose some Natasho pickles, then add the Calendar Museum or Minami River if time allows. That simple plan suits this station.

Lunch

Plan around Yottei-tei's opening hours to reduce the chance of missing lunch.

Shopping

Natasho pickles and wild yam products let you take home a taste of the area, even on a brief stop.

Detour

Choose the Calendar Museum, cherry trees, or Hachigamine according to the weather and time available; the station becomes a starting point for a longer outing.

Highlights

Michi-no-Eki Natasho is a small roadside station on National Route 162 between the Kyoto area and Wakasa. It is no large complex, but even a short stop offers a taste of the area: eat Natasho soba made with wild yam at the neighboring Yottei-tei restaurant, then choose Natasho pickles, wild yam soba, heshiko (salted, fermented fish), or seasonal vegetables at the PR Hall. Add the Calendar Museum, cherry trees along the Minami River, or Hachigamine Family Travel Village to make a mountain drive connecting local food, culture, and nature.

  • #Wild yam soba
  • #Natasho pickles
  • #Western Saba Kaido
  • #National Route 162
  • #Calendars and stars
  • #Motorcycle touring
Why I like it

Reasons to stop here

01

Wild yam is the reason to eat here

At the neighboring Yottei-tei, the main attraction is soba made with Natasho wild yam. Choices include grated daikon, chilled zaru, herring, mixed vegetable tempura, and curry soba. It works for a light lunch or a meal before crossing the mountain pass.

02

Take home Natasho pickles and wild yam products

The PR Hall stocks Natasho pickles, wild yam soba, heshiko, rice, and seasonal vegetables. Think of it as a place to choose mountain village staples rather than a large souvenir store.

03

Walk into the home of calendars and stars

The Calendar Museum is within walking distance, with exhibits on Natasho's onmyodo traditions and calendar culture. Even if you came mainly to eat, another 30 minutes to an hour makes the visit more distinctly local.

04

A useful stop on National Route 162

On the mountain road linking Obama with Miyama and Keihoku in Kyoto, you can use the toilets, park, get a light meal, and shop in one stop. The layout also suits a motorcycle or bicycle break.

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 or motorcycle ride from Obama toward Miyama or Keihoku

Make soba the focus of a Route 162 lunch stop

The roadside station itself is mainly for shopping and a break, so head for neighboring Yottei-tei for lunch. Wild yam soba there, followed by Natasho pickles or wild yam soba from the PR Hall, gives even a short stop a local character.

Park, use the toilets, eat at Yottei-tei, then visit the PR Hall.

Check opening status on Wednesdays, in winter, and toward evening; avoid relying on the restaurant alone.

An adults' drive, a trip with grandparents, or a day unsuited to long outdoor activities

On a rainy day, combine soba and the Calendar Museum for a cultural half-day

After lunch, the Calendar Museum explains why Natasho is called the 'home of calendars and stars.' Exhibits about descendants of Abe no Seimei and the study of calendars add a cultural reason to visit this small mountain stop.

Michi-no-Eki Natasho → Yottei-tei → Calendar Museum.

The Calendar Museum is normally closed Wednesdays too, so both it and the soba restaurant may be shut on the same day.

A day for photography or a little walk with children or a dog

In spring, add a short walk among the Minami River cherry trees

The Natasho area has cherry blossom spots along National Route 162 and the Minami River. After shopping at the station, head to the Odayaka cherry tree avenue for a short riverside walk and a sense of the mountain village in spring.

Michi-no-Eki Natasho → Odayaka cherry tree avenue. Parking at a designated facility is the practical option.

Peak bloom varies by year. Keep the riverside walk short if sun or wind makes it uncomfortable.

Camping, trekking, or a visit connected with the Natasho Trail

On an outdoor day, use the station to stock up before or after Hachigamine

When heading to Hachigamine Family Travel Village or the Natasho Trail, use the station as an earlier stop for food and supplies. Drinks, small souvenirs, and a toilet break here make the onward mountain leg easier.

From the Obama interchange area → Michi-no-Eki Natasho → toward Akinaikan → Hachigamine Family Travel Village.

On event or trail race days, nearby parking arrangements change; plan separately from an ordinary station stop.

Hours

Opening hours

Roadside station PR Hall
March to November 9:00–18:00 / December to February 9:00–17:00

Ohi Town's tourism page also lists closing at 18:30 and no summer closure. Check the official schedule for your visit date.

Yottei-tei soba restaurant
10:00–15:00 (until 16:00 on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays)

Closed every Wednesday. Opening days may change during long holiday periods; check the official operating schedule.

Toilets and parking
24 hours

Indicative hours from the Kinki Regional Development Bureau's roadside station listing.

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 0–1
★★☆☆☆

Suited to a brief break around feeding or diaper changes

The site is compact and is not an indoor play destination. Use the toilets and parking, and try to avoid the busiest meal time.

Ages 2–3
★★☆☆☆

Works as a break if the wait for soba is short

Dining and shopping are the focus here; the Minami River area or Hachigamine is better for active play.

Ages 4–6
★★★☆☆

Easier to enjoy with a meal, a sweet treat, and a short walk

Break for wild yam soba or soft serve, then take a brief walk by the cherry trees or river in good weather.

Elementary school age
★★★★☆

Pair with the Calendar Museum or Hachigamine for learning and outdoor play

Abe no Seimei, calendars, stars, rivers, and camping can make this a detour for summer holidays or a school research project.

Food

Wild yam soba is the focus. With small children, check the menu and crowding before settling in.

Outdoor play

Add the Minami River, cherry tree avenue, or Hachigamine Family Travel Village for more time outdoors.

Rainy day

This cultural facility is within walking distance; note its Wednesday closure.

Before or after a long drive

A useful break before or after the mountain road.

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

Natasho Hoshi no Fiesta

A summer festival dating from the former Natasho village era. For 2026, it was announced for August 14 in front of the former Akinaikan, with live music, fireworks, and matsuage torch raising planned. Check Ohi Town tourism information for the next date.

Natasho Trail Running Race

A race on the Natasho Trail connecting the area near Michi-no-Eki Natasho with Hachigamine Family Travel Village. The 2026 race took place on September 6, with check-in moved to the Convention Hall entrance. On race day, staff direct visitors around the station and the parking and traffic routes differ from usual.

Cherry trees along the Minami River

In spring, cherry tree avenues along National Route 162 and the Minami River embankment are highlights. They offer a seasonal walk a few minutes' drive beyond the station.

Local feel

Reasons to return

Practical ideas and things to consider when spending time here.

For lunch, head to neighboring Yottei-tei rather than the station building

Many visitors combine shopping at the roadside station with a meal at the neighboring soba restaurant. The PR Hall is for shopping; make Yottei-tei the focus of a lunch break.

Wild yam soba, mackerel soba, and sweets bring local flavor to a short stop

Wild yam soba's grated yam texture, mackerel soba recalling the Saba Kaido, and wild yam gelato or soft serve are frequent talking points. The shopping area is modest, so enjoy a few specialties rather than expecting a large food complex.

Source: Tourism association articles and travelogue trends

Wednesday closures and seasonal hours can make late lunch difficult

Wednesday closures are listed for the station, Yottei-tei, and the Calendar Museum. Hours differ among official and tourism listings, so treat them as guides and check ahead if you plan a late lunch or Wednesday visit.

With children, add the Calendar Museum, Minami River, or Hachigamine

The station centers on shopping and food rather than long play. Young children may enjoy a short break; elementary school children can combine it with the Calendar Museum or Hachigamine.

Spring blossoms, a summer festival, and an autumn trail race change the surroundings

Cherry trees bloom along the Minami River in spring, Hoshi no Fiesta takes place in summer, and Natasho Trail events draw visitors in early autumn. Parking and traffic can change on event days.

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.

  • For lunch, arrive early enough for Yottei-tei's opening hours.
  • On Wednesdays, closures at the station, soba restaurant, and Calendar Museum often coincide; avoid making the meal and museum your only goals.
  • Treat wild yam gelato and seasonal vegetables as a chance to see what is available that day.
  • Motorcycles and bicycles have convenient rest facilities, but allow some flexibility in choosing a parking space at weekend lunchtime.
  • Cherry trees along the Minami River in spring, Hoshi no Fiesta in summer, and the trail race in September change the flow of visitors nearby.
  • Winter listings show earlier closing; check road surface conditions and snow on National Route 162 too.
  • For a longer play stop with children, add Hachigamine Family Travel Village or a riverside walk.
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.

  • Soba noodles
    Wild yam soba
    See restaurant menu
  • Pickles
    Natasho pickles
    Varies by product
  • Sweet treat
    Wild yam gelato
    Varies with 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.

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph
Lunch

Wild yam soba (including grated daikon, chilled zaru, herring, and mixed vegetable tempura soba)

For a meal that tastes of Natasho, make neighboring Yottei-tei your main stop.

Yottei-tei is open 10:00–15:00 (until 16:00 on weekends and public holidays) and closed Wednesdays. Avoid a late lunch.

Something sweet

Wild yam gelato and soft serve ice cream

Even without sitting down in the restaurant, a sweet snack can give a brief stop a Natasho flavor.

Availability varies by day; choose them if you find them.

Classic souvenirs

Natasho pickles, wild yam soba, and wild yam cookies

For food gifts to eat at home. Pickles and dried noodles are easy to take along on the drive back.

Pickles come in different flavors; buy selectively for someone whose tastes you do not know.

Local ingredients

Seasonal vegetables, rice, and heshiko (salted, fermented fish)

Browse that day's produce as at a farm shop. This also suits a supply stop before camping.

On some days, fresh produce is easier to choose earlier in the day.

Shop farther afield

Natasho Shokai products at Akinaikan

Go there if you want to shop beyond the station or see more Natasho pickles.

It requires a drive from the station and has different hours; arrive before it closes.

Access

Location and surroundings

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1
Roadside station
Michi-no-Eki Natasho

A mountain rest stop on the western Saba Kaido where you can eat wild yam soba and take home Natasho pickles.

Open in Google Maps
2
Soba and lunch
Natasho Soba Restaurant Yottei-tei

For wild yam soba, make the restaurant next to the station your first lunch stop.

Open in Google Maps
3
Camping and nature activities
Hachigamine Family Travel Village

Stock up at the station before heading to Natasho's forest and river outdoor base.

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

Natasho Soba Restaurant Yottei-tei
Soba and lunch
Natasho Soba Restaurant Yottei-teiJapanese guide
Adjacent to the stationA short walk

A lunch break built around wild yam soba, or a day when you want to eat during your station visit.

History and culture
Ohi Town Calendar MuseumJapanese guide
Within walking distance of the stationAbout a 5-minute walk

Rainy days, a short adults' sightseeing stop, or a learning detour for elementary school children and older.

Natasho Cherry Tree Avenue (Odayaka Cherry Tree Avenue)
Nature and walking
Natasho Cherry Tree Avenue (Odayaka Cherry Tree Avenue)Japanese guide
About 10 minutes by car from the stationAllow about 20–40 minutes for a walk

Spring photography, a short change of pace for children or dogs, or a light walk after eating.

Hachigamine Family Travel Village
Camping and nature activities
Hachigamine Family Travel VillageJapanese guide
About 30 minutes by car from the stationHalf a day to an overnight stay

Camping, river play, trekking, or a visit connected with the Natasho Trail.

Natasho Akinaikan
Local products and shopping
Natasho AkinaikanJapanese guide
About 15 minutes by car from the stationAllow about 20–30 minutes for shopping

Buying more Natasho pickles or wild yam products, before or after heading toward Hachigamine.

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Updated 2026-09-30Explore the nationwide map →