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Hyogo · Kinki

Michi-no-Eki Yoka Tajima no Kura

道の駅ようか但馬蔵

Just off the Yoka-Hyonosen Interchange, this roadside station turns a break into a taste of Tajima with Yoka pork and Asakura sansho pepper.

Updated 2026-10-01Michi-no-Eki Journal Read in Japanese

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph

Location

Yabu City

Road

National Route 9

Hours

9:00–17:30

These are approximate weekday hours for the souvenir shop and vegetable market. On weekends and public holidays, both stay open until 19:00; restaurant and takeaway hours differ by outlet.

Parking

Cars: 114 / Large vehicles: 18

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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.

See first

Vegetable market and Asakura sansho souvenirs

Even a short stop is enough to find something distinctive to Yabu.

For a meal

Yoka pork cutlet with sansho miso

A local specialty that makes a good centerpiece for lunch.

For a break

Footbath and wood-lined restaurant

Ease tired legs after skiing or a highland outing.

With children

A short stop for toilets, shops and footbath

It suits a break in the journey more than a visit for large playground equipment.

Add a nearby stop

Tennyo no Yu or Yabu Shrine

Choose between a restorative soak and a seasonal stroll.

Rinta's break notes

Yoka pork or a relaxing footbath? Decide first to make the most of your stop.

Rinta Kurose sees Yoka Tajima no Kura as a place to regroup before or after traveling through Tajima. The parking area is spacious, and the toilets, infant facilities, restaurant, shop and footbath are close together. There is no need to visit everything: choose Yoka pork at lunchtime, Asakura sansho souvenirs on the way home, or the footbath or Tennyo no Yu when tired. Pick one according to your time and energy, and the station becomes a useful stop.

Highlights

Michi-no-Eki Yoka Tajima no Kura is a convenient stop for a Tajima drive, just after leaving the Yoka-Hyonosen Interchange on the Kita-Kinki Toyooka Expressway for National Route 9. Browse local vegetables and Tajima souvenirs at the shop and vegetable market; at the restaurant, consider Yoka pork, Asakura sansho pepper, serpentine-soil rice, Tajima beef and Tajima chicken. With a footbath and tourist information too, it works for more than a quick toilet break: unwind after Hachi Highland or Mount Hyonosen and decide whether to continue to a hot spring or an autumn foliage spot.

#Yoka pork
#Asakura sansho pepper
#Serpentine-soil rice
#Footbath
#Yoka-Hyonosen Interchange
#Returning from Hachi Highland

Practical information

Registration number: 兵庫-28
Prefecture: Hyogo Prefecture
Municipality: Yabu City
Road: National Route 9
Telephone: 079-662-3200
Closed days: Generally open year-round. Check official notices for facility works, the year-end and New Year period, and temporary changes.
Station stamp: Available

Address

241-1 Takayanagi, Yoka-cho, Yabu City, Hyogo Prefecture (兵庫県養父市八鹿町高柳241-1)

Facilities

Toilets
Multipurpose toilet
Baby changing table
Nursing room
Parking
EV charger
Vegetable market
Souvenir shop
Restaurant
Takeaway counter
Footbath
Tourist information

2 more facilities listed.

External links

Visit the official website (Japanese)Background information (Japanese)www.michinoekiyouka.co.jp (Japanese guide)www.yabu-kankou.jp (Japanese guide)www.kkr.mlit.go.jp (Japanese guide)www.yabu-kankou.jp (Japanese guide)

Why I like it

Reasons to stop here

A place to regroup just off the interchange, before or after exploring northern Tajima

The station is just off National Route 9 from the Yoka-Hyonosen Interchange, making it useful before or after trips toward Hachi Highland, Mount Hyonosen, Kinosaki and Izushi. Parking, toilets, food and tourist information are together in one place, especially handy when traveling in a group.

Yoka pork and Asakura sansho give your meal a clear focus

The restaurant features ingredients identified with the area, including Yoka pork, Asakura sansho pepper, serpentine-soil rice, Tajima beef and Tajima chicken. If you cannot decide, try the Yoka pork cutlet with sansho miso; for a lighter stop, choose a Yoka pork steamed bun or Asakura sansho soft-serve ice cream. Sansho is an aromatic Japanese pepper.

Plan your shopping at the vegetable market and souvenir shop

Browse vegetables and fruit delivered by local growers, Tajima souvenirs and Asakura sansho products. After skiing or a hot spring visit, when a long shopping trip may be tiring, start with the shop and vegetable market and choose one thing to take home.

Choose a free footbath or a nearby hot spring to match how tired you feel

Use the station's footbath for a short rest, or walk to nearby Togayama Onsen Tennyo no Yu for a full hot spring bath. After winter snow activities, a summer highland trip or a long drive, you can choose the kind of break you need.

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 on National Route 9

Pick up a taste of Tajima in 30 minutes

After parking, use the toilets first. Then look for seasonal vegetables and fruit at the vegetable market and Asakura sansho souvenirs at the shop. Even without a full meal, a Yoka pork steamed bun or soft-serve ice cream can make the break more satisfying.

Parking → Toilets → Vegetable market and shop → Takeaway

Shop, restaurant and takeaway hours differ between weekdays and weekends or public holidays. Check official information if arriving in the evening.

Around lunchtime on the way to Kinosaki, Izushi or Hachi Highland

Stop for a Yoka pork lunch

At the wood-lined restaurant, consider Yoka pork cutlet with sansho miso or another dish using Asakura sansho. There is raised tatami seating, so families with children and three generations can take a longer break together.

Station → Restaurant → Shop → Footbath

The restaurant gets busier at lunchtime. If it is crowded, visit the takeaway counter or shop first.

The return journey from Hachi Highland, Mount Hyonosen or Hachibuse

Unwind after skiing or a highland trip

After snow activities or a highland walk, combine a toilet stop, warm meal and footbath before reaching the interchange. If you need a deeper rest, add nearby Tennyo no Yu before driving on.

Hachi Highland area → Roadside station → Footbath or Tennyo no Yu → Yoka-Hyonosen Interchange

In winter, check snow and road conditions separately from the hot spring's regular closing days and temporary closures.

A short seasonal walk around mid-November

Extend an autumn visit to the foliage at Yabu Shrine

Have a meal and use the toilets at the station before driving to Yabu Shrine. Foliage season also attracts photographers, so stopping at the station first lets you focus on the shrine visit and walk.

Roadside station → Yabu Shrine → Return to shop at the station if time allows

Peak color and crowds vary each year. If the foliage is the main purpose of your trip, check updates from the tourism association or shrine.

Days when extensive walking is difficult

On rainy days or with three generations, focus on indoor stops and the hot spring

Use the nearby toilets, restaurant and shop at the station, then choose the footbath or Tennyo no Yu instead of outdoor play. With young children and grandparents together, a place to sit and a warm break may work better than mountain roads or a long walk.

Parking → Restaurant or takeaway → Shop → Footbath or Tennyo no Yu

Footbath and hot spring hours may change temporarily. On rainy days, check closures and the last admission time in advance.

Hours

Opening hours

Souvenir shop and vegetable market

Weekdays 9:00–17:30; weekends and public holidays 9:00–19:00

Check the official website for current opening hours.

Restaurant

Weekdays 11:00–15:00; weekends and public holidays 11:00–18:30

The tourism association lists different hours; check the official website or restaurant notices on the day.

Takeaway

Weekdays 11:00–17:15; weekends and public holidays 9:00–17:30

Separate, shorter hours are listed for boxed meals.

Footbath

10:00〜17:30

Hours may change for facility work or temporary closures.

Toilets and parking

Listed as available 24 hours

Basic facilities for a road break.

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

★★★★☆

A nursing room, baby changing table and multipurpose toilet make it suitable for a short stop.

Before spending long in the restaurant or shops, locate the toilets and nursing room so you can move at an easy pace.

Ages 2–3

★★★☆☆

The footbath or an ice cream can offer a change of pace, though this is not a place for running around.

Use the toilets, sweets and shop for a short break rather than coming for large playground equipment. An adult should check the water temperature and footing at the footbath.

Ages 4–6

★★★★☆

Combining food, the footbath and a hot spring makes a useful break during the drive.

After Hachi Highland or before or after a hot spring visit, a warm meal and footbath may help children rest before they get too tired.

Elementary school age

★★★★☆

Yoka pork and Asakura sansho offer a way to talk about Mount Hyonosen and the highlands.

In autumn, add Yabu Shrine; in summer or winter, head toward Hachi Highland to connect local food with memories of the region.

Infant facilities

A baby changing table, nursing room and multipurpose toilet are listed.

Footbath

The free footbath suits a short rest. Check official notices during facility work or temporary closures.

Food

The restaurant has many seats, including a raised tatami area. On crowded days, switch to takeaway.

Outdoor play

The station is mainly for breaks. For more movement, add Hachi Highland or a walk at Yabu Shrine.

Rest

Ideas for a restful stop

1
Use the toilets soon after parking
Cars come and go frequently near the interchange, so agree on the toilets and a meeting point before companions have to wait.
2
Choose a meal or the footbath
Decide early whether to sit in the restaurant or take a short footbath break rather than walking around for too long.
3
Check the hot spring separately
If going to Tennyo no Yu, check its closing days and last admission time, then plan the order of your station shopping.

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

Asakura Sansho Fair

This has been treated as a recurring seasonal event, but the tourism association's 2026 event list says it will not take place. Check official notices for product promotions or shop displays.

Footbath

Normally a useful short break. Facility work or temporary closure can affect a visit, so check its status when planning around it.

Vegetable market and shop

Seasonal vegetables and fruit, products connected with Tajima Agricultural High School, and Asakura sansho goods give different reasons to visit through the year.

Yabu City Tourist Information Center

A place to reconsider seasonal and road conditions before heading toward Hachi Highland, Mount Hyonosen, Yabu Shrine or Tentaki Falls.

Local feel

Reasons to return

Practical ideas and things to consider when spending time here.

Close to the interchange, it is a common break after skiing or a highland trip

Visitor accounts often describe stopping for a meal, soft-serve ice cream, a steamed pork bun or vegetables on the way back from Hachi Highland or Mount Hyonosen. When tired, a warm bite and a reliable toilet stop may be better than lingering.

Source: Summary of visitor reviews and tourism information

Yoka pork and Asakura sansho stand out in both meals and souvenirs

Official information, tourism association material and visitor reviews alike associate the station with Yoka pork, Asakura sansho, Tajima beef and Tajima chicken. If you cannot sit down to eat, try sansho miso sauce, soft-serve ice cream or a pork bun instead.

Source: Summary of official information, tourism association material and visitor reviews

At lunchtime, leave room for a change of plans

Many visitors come for the restaurant, but the takeaway counter, shop, vegetable market and footbath are close by, so you can change the order if it is crowded. For families or three-generation groups, shopping or the footbath can make a wait easier.

The footbath is convenient but can be affected by work or temporary closure

In March 2026, an air-conditioning renovation notice announced partial closures of the restaurant, takeaway counter and footbath. If you are coming for the footbath, keep Tennyo no Yu in mind in case it is closed when you arrive.

Source: Yabu City Tourism Association topics

Yabu Shrine in autumn and Hachi Highland in summer or winter bring different experiences

Food and rest are the main reasons to stop at the station itself, while nearby trips add seasonal interest. Link an autumn visit to Yabu Shrine's foliage, or a summer highland or winter ski trip to Hachi Highland and Mount Hyonosen, for a fuller taste of Tajima.

Source: Summary of Yabu City Tourism Association and official nearby-area information

With children, focus on rest facilities rather than playground equipment

The station has infant facilities, raised tatami seating and a footbath. Instead of expecting a long play stop, plan to eat and use the toilets, then continue to the hot spring or highlands.

Source: Facility information and editorial assessment

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.

Shop, restaurant and takeaway hours differ between weekdays and weekends or public holidays. For an evening arrival or a meal-focused stop, check the official hours.
At the lunch rush, changing the order of the vegetable market, shop, footbath and takeaway can make waiting easier. Shop first if arriving late in the day.
Facility work or temporary closures can affect the footbath and restaurant. If the footbath is your priority, consider Tennyo no Yu as another option.
After a winter trip to Hachi Highland or Mount Hyonosen, check roads and snow separately from the hot spring's closing days.
With infants, locate the baby changing table, nursing room and multipurpose toilet first, then keep the meal and shopping stops short.
Before heading to natural sites such as Yabu Shrine in autumn or Tentaki Falls, check the season's conditions, footing, parking and sunset time at the station.

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
Yoka pork cutlet set meal with sansho miso
Listed on the official and tourism association menus; check the restaurant for current price and availability.
Meal
Asakura sansho and Yoka pork mabushi-style rice
A meal option centered on Asakura sansho.
Takeaway
Yoka pork steamed bun
A specialty suited to a short stop.
Sweet treat
Asakura sansho soft-serve ice cream
Good for a light break on the way back from Hachi Highland.
Local flavor
Koshihikari rice grown on serpentine soil
Yabu rice worth remembering for meals and souvenirs alike.

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.

Make it lunch

Yoka pork cutlet with sansho miso, pork mabushi-style rice, Tajima beef or Tajima chicken dishes

If the station is your destination, start with Yoka pork and Asakura sansho at the restaurant to narrow your choice.

Menus and prices change; follow the information posted at the restaurant on the day.

Eat something light

Yoka pork steamed bun, Tajima beef rice bento, takeaway boxed meals

Good when you do not want a sit-down meal, or want food to eat in the car or at your accommodation.

Choose something sweet

Asakura sansho soft-serve ice cream, roll cakes

With children or companions who like sweets, you can sample the station's local flavors even on a short break.

Buy something to take home

Asakura sansho miso sauce, local vegetables, fruit, Tajima souvenirs

Even if mealtimes do not fit, you can take home a taste of Yabu from the vegetable market and shop.

If it is crowded

Browse the vegetable market first, wait at the footbath, or switch to Tennyo no Yu

At lunchtime or on long weekends, avoid relying on a single meal plan. Change the order of shopping, footbath and hot spring stops to reduce fatigue for your group.

The shop and takeaway close in the evening, so do not leave shopping too late.

Access