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Shiga · Kinki

Michi-no-Eki Aguri no Sato Ritto

道の駅 アグリの郷栗東

Watch the Shinkansen and take home rolled sushi, tofu, bread, gelato, and Ritto figs. This small roadside station is packed with local farm flavors.

Updated Michi-no-Eki JournalRead in Japanese
Location
Ritto City
Road
Prefectural Route 145 | Kataoka–Ritto Line
Hours
9:00–17:30
The tourism association lists 9:00–17:30, until 18:00 on weekends and public holidays, and closing at 17:00 from November through February. The Kinki roadside station association lists 9:00–18:00 and says hours vary by facility and season.
Parking
Cars: 41 / 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.

First thing on arrival
Check the rolled sushi, tofu, and farm shop first

Parking is limited compared with larger stations, so check for the foods you want early. Deciding what to take home makes the rest of the visit easier to plan.

If you want a meal
Tofu or soba at the restaurant

Meal service hours can change. If you arrive late for lunch, consider snacks or takeout as well.

If you want something sweet
Ritto fig gelato

Flavors made with seasonal farm produce are part of the fun. On a hot day, plan to finish your gelato before returning to the car.

If you are with children
Make the Shinkansen view part of your break

This is better for watching trains between a meal, toilet break, and shopping than for a visit centered on a large playground.

If you are shopping to take home
Ritto rice, vegetables, and processed foods

Choose both everyday farm shop goods and processed foods suited to a trip souvenir.

If you want to explore further
Head for the Old Tokaido or Ritto's horse country

Add Old Wachusan Honpo, Anyoji Temple, or the Yokogamine viewpoint to see Ritto's history and horse racing culture.

Highlights

Michi-no-Eki Aguri no Sato Ritto is a food, farm processing, shopping, and rest stop on Prefectural Route 145, convenient from the Ritto Interchange. Its workshops make Wariki makizushi (rolled sushi), Maruppo tofu from Ritto soybeans, bread, mochi rice cakes, and handmade gelato. The farm shop sells local vegetables, Ritto rice, and seasonal fruit. Another draw is the Shinkansen: trains on the elevated tracks can be seen from the restaurant and parking area, making this a useful short stop for families and rail fans. Parking is modest, so if you are coming for a meal and shopping, consider visiting outside the midday peak and leave time for the Old Tokaido, Ritto's horse culture, or the Yasu River area nearby.

  • #Shiga Prefecture
  • #Ritto City
  • #Prefectural Route 145
  • #Shinkansen views
  • #Wariki makizushi rolled sushi
  • #Maruppo tofu
  • #Ritto figs
  • #Gelato
  • #Bread workshop
  • #Farm shop
  • #24-hour toilets
Why I like it

Reasons to stop here

01

A small station filled with working food workshops

Tofu, mochi, bread, and gelato workshops surround the farm shop, so you can sense the food being made as well as buy it. This is not a place for a long stay around large play equipment or an expansive square, but it packs a lot of food to eat and take home into a small space. Even a brief stop gives you a taste of Ritto's farm produce processing.

02

Look for Wariki makizushi and Maruppo tofu by midday

The Ritto City Tourism Association highlights Wariki makizushi, a locally made rolled sushi from the creative workshop, and Maruppo tofu, made using whole Ritto-grown soybeans. For a sit-down meal, try the restaurant; for food to take away, check the local products and prepared foods first. If you have a particular item in mind, choosing it by around midday is safer than arriving late.

03

A Shinkansen sighting changes the feel of a rest stop

The station's Shinkansen view guide says trains can be watched from the restaurant and parking area. A few minutes looking out while waiting for food or after shopping can be an attraction for children and rail fans. Running information for special trains such as Doctor Yellow changes, so check current signs or official notices.

04

Ritto figs and seasonal produce give you a reason to shop

Ritto City's public information describes handmade gelato flavors using Ritto figs and other locally grown seasonal produce. Look for fruit from summer into autumn, mochi near year-end, and tofu and bread throughout the year. What is worth buying changes with the season, making a return visit appealing.

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 into Ritto from the Meishin Expressway or National Route 8

Turn a short break near Ritto IC into a food stop

Close to the Meishin Expressway's Ritto Interchange and on Prefectural Route 145, this station is easy to include as a detour. Rather than a large destination for a long stay, it works well for a quick toilet break, farm shop visit, and rolled sushi, tofu, or gelato. The driver can use the parking and toilets while companions browse the farm shop and sweets.

Ritto Interchange / National Route 8 area → Aguri no Sato Ritto → Moriyama, Kusatsu, or central Ritto.

There are fewer parking spaces than at large roadside stations. At weekend lunchtime, leave room to switch from a planned restaurant meal to shopping or a snack.

A short break with preschool or elementary school children, or rail fans

Use the Shinkansen view to refresh children on a journey

Seeing Shinkansen trains on the elevated tracks from the restaurant or parking area is an easy-to-appreciate strength of this station. It is not a place for long sessions on playground equipment, but waiting for a train before or after eating, using the toilet, or shopping can refresh a journey.

Park → toilets → farm shop or meal → Shinkansen view → gelato.

Train passages and notices about special trains vary by day. Enjoy a sighting if one happens.

A day when you want both a meal and food for dinner

Have tofu and rolled sushi for lunch, then stock up at the farm shop

Maruppo tofu, Wariki makizushi, bread, mochi, local vegetables, and Ritto rice make the station's food feel close to the everyday table. You can choose something to eat after getting home as well as travel souvenirs, making even a nearby drive rewarding.

Restaurant meal → local products and farm shop → gelato → journey home.

Prepared foods, bread, and seasonal products may run low later in the day. Go early if you want something specific.

A quiet detour or a short outing on a rainy or hot day

Extend the trip into Old Tokaido history for an easy half-day

Add Old Wachusan Honpo or Tohozan Anyoji Temple and you can see Ritto's past as an Old Tokaido town. A light lunch at the farm-focused station and one historic stop make a manageable outing.

Aguri no Sato Ritto → Old Wachusan Honpo / Anyoji Temple → central Ritto.

Visits to Old Wachusan Honpo may depend on special openings, reservations, or inquiries. Check its opening arrangements before making it your destination.

Adults interested in horse racing culture or in what makes Ritto distinctive

Experience Ritto's horse culture from a distance

The JRA Ritto Training Center is generally closed to public visits, but Ritto City introduces the Yokogamine viewpoint as a place to overlook it. After eating at the roadside station, take in a distant view of Ritto's horse racing landscape.

Aguri no Sato Ritto → Yokogamine viewpoint / Konze area.

The training center is not normally open for visits. For events or tours, follow JRA's official recruitment information.

Hours

Opening hours

Roadside station, farm shop, and local products
9:00-17:30

These hours are a guide. Sources differ, including closing at 18:00 on weekends and public holidays or at 17:00 in winter. Follow official and on-site notices.

Restaurant
Meals mainly at lunchtime

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism lists 9:00–18:00 and breakfast from 9:00–11:00. Check the restaurant's notices for meal service.

Toilets, parking, and public telephone
24 hours

The ministry's Kinki Regional Development Bureau roadside station guide lists these as available 24 hours.

New Year holidays
Closed January 1–4

These dates are a guide. Check official notices, including seasonal announcements about New Year mochi sales.

Family

Visiting with children

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

Age 1 and under
★★★☆☆

Suitable for toilets, brief shopping, and using the restaurant. Information describes consideration for aisle width and steps; focusing on a few errands may be easier than a long stay.

The ministry’s guide lists a baby bed. Locate the toilets first when it is crowded.

Ages 2–3
★★★☆☆

The Shinkansen view and gelato can provide a change of pace. This is a short-break stop, rather than a destination for a large playground.

Hold hands when moving through the parking area or by the road, and keep train-watching waits short.

Ages 4–6
★★★★☆

Watching the Shinkansen, choosing bread or gelato, and buying rolled sushi or tofu make an enjoyable sequence.

If there is a wait at the restaurant during peak meal times, shopping first may help everyone stay comfortable.

Elementary school age
★★★★☆

The Shinkansen view can be the main attraction for rail fans. Ritto figs and tofu also introduce children to local ingredients.

For a longer play session, add a park outside the station or somewhere along the Yasu River.

Diaper changing

The ministry’s guide lists a baby bed. Check signs on site for its current location.

Rainy days

You can eat and shop indoors, but keep outdoor train-watching brief.

Outdoor play

The station suits a short break better than prolonged outdoor play. Consider somewhere such as Yasu River Riverside Park.

Rest

Ideas for a restful stop

  1. 1
    Park close to the facilities and keep the visit short

    It is easier if you do not assume the parking area has the space of a large station. Using the toilets, farm shop, and restaurant in that order can limit walking.

  2. 2
    If the restaurant is busy, choose food to take away

    If waiting for a restaurant table is tiring, you can buy rolled sushi, bread, tofu, or prepared foods to take home instead.

  3. 3
    Consider the attention given to steps and aisle widths

    Shiga Biwako tourism information describes attention to steps and aisle widths inside the facility. Shopping may be easier outside crowded periods.

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 notices

Current notices cover food and retail events such as the Tanabata fair, New Year mochi reservations, and seasonal products. Check the dates: these are seasonal events, not permanent offerings.

Official Instagram

A useful place to check strawberries, gelato, farm shop goods, and temporary notices when deciding what to buy that day.

Shinkansen views

Information about special trains such as Doctor Yellow changes quickly. Check station signs or official notices rather than assuming a particular train will appear.

Local feel

Reasons to return

Practical ideas and things to consider when spending time here.

At lunchtime, check both the restaurant and prepared foods

Reviews and accounts of visits often mention a lively restaurant at lunchtime and take-home foods such as rolled sushi and bread. If dining in is difficult because of crowds, switching to prepared foods or bread still lets you enjoy the station's specialties.

Source: Trends in Jalan and Tabelog reviews and accounts of visits

Ritto's horse country: plan around the training center being closed to ordinary visits

The Ritto Training Center is generally closed to the public; parent-child tours and similar opportunities are available only when applications are announced. Enjoy the Yokogamine viewpoint or an official event instead of assuming you can enter the center.

Source: Ritto City Tourism Association, JRA, and Ritto City horse culture information
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.

  • Prepared food / local specialty
    Wariki makizushi rolled sushi
    Check in store
  • Tofu workshop / dining
    Maruppo tofu
    Check in store
  • Seasonal sweet
    Ritto fig gelato
    Seasonal availability; check in store
  • Bread workshop
    Handmade bread
    Check in store
  • Mochi workshop
    Mochi rice cakes / New Year mochi
    Seasonal reservations; check in store
  • Farm shop
    Ritto rice / local vegetables
    Availability and market price vary
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.

Main take-home foods

Wariki makizushi rolled sushi / mackerel sushi varieties / prepared foods

These are good ways to bring home a taste of Aguri no Sato Ritto, even after a short visit. They can serve as dinner after you get home, making the shopping especially useful.

Popular prepared foods vary by time of day. Check by around midday for the best chance.

Eat at the station

Maruppo tofu / soba / udon / set meals

Enjoy tofu made from Ritto-grown soybeans and foods processed at the station as a restaurant meal. Pair it with the Shinkansen view for a more enjoyable break.

Meal service hours and menus can change. For a late lunch, consider the shop or a snack too.

Sweets

Ritto fig gelato / gelato made with seasonal farm produce

Gelato is an easy way to sample a Ritto specialty. It makes a simple end to a break for children and adults alike.

Seasonal flavors have changing sales periods. Check official or in-store notices for the flavor you want.

Morning or midday snacks

Bread workshop / mochi workshop / foods made from local rice

Choose bread to eat in the car or mochi rice cakes to share after getting home. Even without a restaurant meal, the shopping makes a worthwhile stop.

Try to visit before bread and mochi products begin selling out.

For your table at home

Local vegetables / Ritto rice / tofu / seasonal fruit

Shop for everyday meals as well as souvenirs. Vegetables, tofu, and rolled sushi can make dinner after the drive easier.

Farm shop deliveries vary with the season and weather.

Access

Location and surroundings

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1
Roadside station
Michi-no-Eki Aguri no Sato Ritto

Watch the Shinkansen and take home rolled sushi, tofu, bread, gelato, and Ritto figs. This small roadside station is packed with local farm flavors.

Open in Google Maps
2
Old Tokaido / historic building
Old Wachusan Honpo (旧和中散本舗)

After enjoying food at Aguri no Sato Ritto, take a quiet detour into Ritto's Old Tokaido history.

Open in Google Maps
3
Viewpoint / Ritto horse culture
Yokogamine Viewpoint and distant view of Ritto Training Center (横ヶ峯展望所)

See the normally closed Ritto Training Center as part of the landscape of this horse-racing town.

Open in Google Maps
4
Riverside park
Yasu River Riverside Park (野洲川河川公園)

Add outdoor play on the broad Yasu River floodplain after a stop focused on food and shopping.

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5
Temple / garden
Tohozan Anyoji Temple (東方山安養寺)

After food and farm shopping, visit a quieter side of Ritto connected with the Magari campaign.

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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.
Nearby

Places to visit nearby

Old Tokaido / historic building
Old Wachusan Honpo (旧和中散本舗)Japanese guide
About 10 minutes by carAbout 4 km

For a day when you want to add one Old Tokaido history stop after dining and shopping

Illustrative photo, not taken at Yokogamine Viewpoint and distant view of Ritto Training Center (横ヶ峯展望所)
Illustrative image
Viewpoint / Ritto horse culture
Yokogamine Viewpoint and distant view of Ritto Training Center (横ヶ峯展望所)Japanese guide
About 25 minutes by carToward Konze

For a day when you want to appreciate Ritto's horse culture while respecting the usual ban on public visits

Illustrative photo, not taken at Yasu River Riverside Park (野洲川河川公園)
Illustrative image
Riverside park
Yasu River Riverside Park (野洲川河川公園)Japanese guide
About 10 minutes by carApproximately 2–4 km

For a day when children or a dog still have energy after train-watching and shopping

Temple / garden
Tohozan Anyoji Temple (東方山安養寺)Japanese guide
About 10 minutes by carAbout 4 km

For a day when you want one calm historic walk after a meal

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