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Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph

Shiga Prefecture · Kinki

Roadside Station Ibuki no Sato

道の駅 伊吹の里

A roadside station where you can enjoy views of Mount Ibuki alongside foothill vegetables, milk sweets, and local heirloom soba.

Updated Michi-no-Eki JournalRead in Japanese

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph

Location
Maibara City
Road
Prefectural Route 40 | Sando–Motosu Line
Hours
9:15–17:00
The direct-sale market lists 9:15 a.m.–5:00 p.m. on its official website. The Kinki Regional Development Bureau lists an extension to 5:30 p.m. in July and August, but the official site does not mention it; confirm summer hours on the official site or by phone. The dining hall’s general official listing gives 10:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m. on weekdays and 10:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Its own page also lists a 10:00 a.m. opening. The Kinki Regional Development Bureau lists last orders at 2:00 p.m. on weekdays and 3:00 p.m. on holidays, with closing at 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. respectively.
Parking
Parking is listed for 30 standard cars, 2 large vehicles, and 2 spaces for people with disabilities. Toilets, parking, and public telephones are available 24 hours.
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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.

Start here
Seasonal vegetables at Mori no Tami

Look first at the seasonal shelves for mountain vegetables, grapes, figs, new rice, Ibuki daikon, and other produce to decide what to buy.

For a meal
Honami dining hall or Ibukino soba

Have a set meal at the station, or allow a little more time for nearby Ibuki heirloom soba. Check when the dining hall stops serving before lunch.

For sweets
Milk Farm Ibuki

Ibuki milk soft-serve and other dairy products make an easy short stop after shopping at the station.

For the view
Second-floor terrace and Mount Ibuki

In good weather, take in the mountain view first; on rainy or foggy days, focus on shopping and food.

For a detour
Herbal bath, Mishima Pond, or the Driveway

With climbing restrictions in place, use an officially open route if heading toward the summit, or spend time at a foothill bath or park.

Takumi’s detour notes

Look at the foothill produce before going from the dining hall to sweets.

Takumi Sawatari sees this station as a place to gather foothill flavors in a short time, as well as a gateway to Mount Ibuki. Browse the day’s vegetables at Mori no Tami, savor rice and miso at Honami dining hall, then continue to the neighboring Milk Farm or Ibuki heirloom soba. A little thought about the order of eating turns a break into a distinctly Maibara detour.

Highlights

At the foot of Mount Ibuki, Roadside Station Ibuki no Sato is a small food stop combining a direct-sale market, Honami dining hall, freshly baked bread, and hands-on classes. The market changes with the seasons: mountain vegetables in spring; grapes and figs in summer; new rice and persimmons in autumn; and Ibuki daikon radish in winter. Add neighboring Milk Farm Ibuki and nearby Ibukino soba restaurant, and even a short stop can bring home the flavors of Maibara and Ibuki. As climbing from the mountain foot remains restricted, plan separately for a stop to enjoy the view, a trip on the Driveway when officially open, or a foothill detour to an herbal bath or Mishima Pond.

  • #Mount Ibuki
  • #Direct-sale produce market
  • #Ibuki daikon radish
  • #Ibuki milk
  • #Ibuki heirloom soba
  • #Herbs
Why I like it

Reasons to stop here

01

Start at the direct-sale market to see what is in season at the foot of Mount Ibuki

At the heart of Shunsai no Mori is Mori no Tami, a direct-sale market for local farm and forest produce, prepared foods, and processed products. Look for mountain vegetables in spring; grapes and figs in summer; new rice, seedless Hiranetanashi persimmons, and broccoli in autumn; and strawberries and Ibuki daikon in winter. The shelves show what is in season around Mount Ibuki that day.

02

Make a food route of the dining hall, bread, dairy, and soba

Honami dining hall serves set meals centered on local vegetables, rice, and miso. Bread loaves and seasonal rolls baked in the second-floor bakery are sold on the first floor. With neighboring Milk Farm Ibuki and nearby Ibukino soba restaurant, you can choose lunch, sweets, or food to take home according to the crowds that day.

03

For Mount Ibuki, distinguish enjoying the view, going up, and staying at the foot

The second-floor terrace and surrounding area offer broad views of Mount Ibuki. Climbing from the Maibara-side foot remains restricted after trail collapses. If you are heading toward the summit, check the Ibukiyama Driveway’s operating information. For a foothill day, consider the herbal bath, Mishima Pond, or Green Park Santo.

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 short break en route toward Nagahama or Sekigahara

Take home the flavors of Ibuki in 30 minutes

After parking and using the toilets, choose seasonal vegetables and processed products at Mori no Tami. Grated Ibuki daikon dressing, foothill soba, and bakery products are easy ways to take Ibuki flavors with you even if you skip the dining hall.

Parking → toilets → Mori no Tami → bread and processed foods → departure

Fresh-produce stocks vary by season and time of day. In summer, a cooler bag gives you more shopping options.

A weekend drive centered on food

Combine a set-meal lunch with milk sweets

Eat a set meal made with local vegetables, rice, and miso at Honami dining hall, then visit Milk Farm Ibuki. Adding rich dairy sweets makes it a broader food experience at the foot of Mount Ibuki.

Honami dining hall → Mori no Tami → Milk Farm Ibuki

The dining hall lists 2:00 p.m. on weekdays and 3:00 p.m. on weekends as approximate service end times; the published hours conflict, so confirm before a late lunch. Eat first if arriving after midday, with bread or dairy as alternatives when it is busy.

A half-day detour for adults

Extend the stop to heirloom soba and a foothill stroll

After browsing the station’s seasonal vegetables and souvenirs, go to Ibukino for Ibuki heirloom soba, a locally maintained buckwheat variety. After eating, visit the Ibuki Herbal Village Culture Center or Mishima Pond to connect soba, herbs, and mountain scenery.

Station → Ibukino soba restaurant → Ibuki Herbal Village Culture Center → Mishima Pond

The soba restaurant and bathing facility may have closures, private bookings, or seasonal schedules. Check each official site before leaving.

A drive focused on Mount Ibuki

Separate a day to view Mount Ibuki from a day to go up it

Mount Ibuki feels close from the station, but climbing from its foot is restricted. If you want to walk near the summit, check the Ibukiyama Driveway’s opening, weather, and flowering information. Use the station to stock up on food and use the toilets before or after.

Rest and shop at the station → check Ibukiyama Driveway information → summit parking area

Fog, strong winds, road closures, and whether evening driving is offered can change plans. Respect the climbing restrictions and use only officially open routes.

Families with preschool and elementary-school children

Keep the station stop short with children and play at Green Park

At the station, keep the toilet, meal, bread, and sweets stops brief. For active play, head to Green Park Santo beside Mishima Pond, with its interaction lawn, obstacle course, campground, and other activities.

Lunch and shopping at the station → Milk Farm Ibuki → Green Park Santo

The station is mainly for shopping and eating. For longer play, check the weather and operating status of the park and outdoor facilities separately.

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 a toilet break and brief shopping, but offers little reason for a long stay.

A baby bed and multipurpose toilet are listed. Keep the visit short when the dining hall or market is crowded, and follow on-site signs for details of nursing and diaper-changing facilities.

Ages 2–3
★★★☆☆

Bread, pudding, or soft-serve can provide a small goal for the visit.

The station has many products and is not a place to run around. For active play after a meal, moving to Green Park Santo may be easier for parents too.

Ages 4–6
★★★★☆

You can make a visit of seeing Mount Ibuki, eating milk sweets, and choosing seasonal vegetables.

Talk about the mountain view and seasonal produce such as daikon or figs. Hands-on classes require reservations and have group-size conditions, so confirm in advance if they are the main purpose.

Elementary-school children
★★★★☆

Soba, herbs, and Mount Ibuki’s restrictions can become a lesson about the area.

Ibuki heirloom soba, the herbal bath, and birds at Mishima Pond become more interesting as you explore beyond the station. The ban on climbing from Mount Ibuki’s foot also makes a useful safety discussion.

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

Mountain Vegetable Festival

The official notice announced the 2026 event for April 19, with mountain vegetables including tara shoots, koshiabura, bracken, and kogomi fern. The next date has not been announced; check official notices in spring.

Hands-on classes

Reservation-based options include plant dyeing, kokedama moss-ball making, miniature andon lantern making, and soba making. Group-size conditions and fees apply, so plan these ahead rather than dropping in.

Ibukiyama Driveway seasonal operation

Summer evening operations, flowering updates, and weather-related closures can change plans considerably. Check the day’s operating notice before leaving the station for the mountain.

Local feel

Reasons to return

Practical ideas and things to consider when spending time here.

The market’s main attractions change markedly with the seasons

The official market guide lists mountain vegetables in spring; grapes and figs in summer; new rice, seedless Hiranetanashi persimmons, and broccoli in autumn; and strawberries and Ibuki daikon in winter. Change your shopping list with the month rather than expecting the same souvenir shelves year-round.

Source: Shunsai no Mori official direct-sale market

An earlier lunch leaves more options

The dining hall’s general listing gives 2:00 p.m. on weekdays and 3:00 p.m. on weekends as end times. Visitor accounts also often focus on food and sweets, so if arriving later in the day, leave room to switch from a set meal to bread, pudding, Milk Farm, or the soba restaurant. Check the conflicting official dining-hall times before relying on a late lunch.

Source: Shunsai no Mori official dining-hall information, tourist information, and visitor accounts

Check safety information before planning for Mount Ibuki

Maibara City’s Mount Ibuki site says entry from the Maibara-side foot is prohibited after heavy rain damaged the climbing trail. Although the mountain is close to the station, plan around the Driveway when open or foothill baths and parks rather than setting out for the trailhead.

Source: Maibara City Mount Ibuki special site

The second-floor terrace adds to a short stop

The Kinki Regional Development Bureau and visitor accounts mention the view of Mount Ibuki from the second-floor terrace. In good weather, pause there before or after shopping; in rain or fog, focus on the dining hall, direct-sale market, or hands-on classes.

Source: Kinki Regional Development Bureau and visitor accounts
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 the widest choice of direct-sale produce, visit earlier in the day.
  • The dining hall’s general listing ends at 2:00 p.m. on weekdays and 3:00 p.m. on weekends; the Kinki Regional Development Bureau lists these as last-order times. Decide on lunch early and confirm the day’s hours.
  • Only the Kinki Regional Development Bureau lists a 5:30 p.m. July–August market extension; the official station site does not. Confirm summer hours with the station.
  • A cooler bag helps with dairy and fresh produce purchases in summer.
  • Climbing Mount Ibuki from its foot is restricted; for a mountain outing, check Maibara City and official Driveway information.
  • In winter, account for Thursday closures from January through March, snow, and road conditions.
  • The official station site estimates a 10–15-minute taxi ride from JR Omi-Nagaoka Station. Some guidance says taxis do not wait there, so arranging one in advance is sensible.
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.

  • Meal
    Shunsai set meal
    Honami dining hall; around ¥1,400
  • Shopping
    Grated Ibuki daikon dressing
    Original Shunsai product; around ¥550
  • Bakery
    Ibuki bread loaf and limited-season rolls
    Bread loaf around ¥380; seasonal rolls from around ¥1,100
  • Sweets
    Ibuki milk soft-serve ice cream and yogurt
    Check Milk Farm Ibuki’s opening hours
  • Noodles
    Ibuki heirloom soba
    Enjoy it at Ibukino soba restaurant or as a processed product sold at the station
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.

A full lunch

Shunsai set meal, mixed-fry set meal, and miso-katsu set meal at Honami dining hall

For a meal featuring local vegetables, rice, and miso, choose the dining hall. Because the listed end time differs between weekdays and weekends, eat first when arriving after midday.

A light purchase

Ibuki bread loaf, salt bread, limited-season rolls, and Shunsai pudding

Bakery products are sold on the first floor, good when you want to avoid waiting for the dining hall or buy breakfast for the next day.

A sweet break

Soft-serve ice cream, ice cream, and yogurt at Milk Farm Ibuki

This neighboring dairy stop is easy to add briefly. On hot days, buy melting treats just before returning to your car.

An Ibuki souvenir

Grated Ibuki daikon dressing, Ibuki daikon throat drops, and foothill soba

These shelves let you take home Ibuki daikon and soba culture. The processed foods are easy to choose for use at home.

Soba as the main event

Ibukino soba restaurant and products made with Ibuki heirloom soba

Choose this for a day centered on local heirloom soba rather than the station dining hall. Check lunch crowds and closing time, and shift station shopping before or after.

Seasonal produce

Spring mountain vegetables; summer grapes and figs; autumn new rice and persimmons; winter Ibuki daikon

Seasonal shelves can be the reason to visit. Go earlier if seeking a specific item, and be ready to choose something else later in the day.

Access

Location and surroundings

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1
Roadside station
Roadside Station Ibuki no Sato

A roadside station where you can enjoy views of Mount Ibuki alongside foothill vegetables, milk sweets, and local heirloom soba.

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

Sweets and dairy
Milk Farm IbukiJapanese guide
Beside the stationA very short walk

Stop for a dairy sweet after buying vegetables or bread at the station and before returning to your car. On hot days, make it your last stop.

Soba and meals
Ibukino Soba RestaurantJapanese guide
Around 3–5 minutes by carA short drive

Suitable for adults who want to browse seasonal vegetables and processed foods at the station, then taste Ibuki’s soba tradition as a meal.

Herbal bath and culture
Ibuki Herbal Village Culture CenterJapanese guide
Around 5–10 minutes by carA short drive

For days when you want to experience Ibuki at its foot instead of climbing, or relax in an herbal bath after a meal.

Park and nature
Green Park Santo and Mishima PondJapanese guide
Around 10–15 minutes by carA short drive

For families who use the station for food and shopping, then spend the afternoon being active at the park or pond.

Mountain drive
Ibukiyama DrivewayJapanese guide
Around 25–35 minutes by car to the entrance areaVaries with weather and road conditions

For days centered on flowers or a walk near Mount Ibuki’s summit. Use it as an officially open driving route, while climbing from the mountain foot remains restricted.

Nature and safety information
Mount Ibuki foothill views and safety informationJapanese guide
Views from around the station; check restrictions for trailhead accessDepends on your plans

Helps you choose between enjoying the view, going toward the summit, and switching to a foothill bath or park.

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