Image unavailable

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph

Hyogo Prefecture · Kinki

Roadside Station Yokawa

道の駅よかわ

In the home of Yamada Nishiki sake rice, combine a farm shop, hot spring, footbath, and a walk to Kurotaki Falls in one Yokawa stop.

Updated 2026-10-07Michi-no-Eki Journal Read in Japanese

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph

Location

Miki City

Road

Municipal Road Sogo Fukushi Center Line

Hours

9:30–18:00

These hours are a guide for Yamada Nishiki no Yakata. Hours differ by facility: Yokawa Onsen Yokatan is listed as 10:00–22:00 (bath admission until 21:00) and the footbath as 10:00–18:00. The footbath has been out of service since September 2026 due to an equipment failure; it is scheduled to reopen after repairs and inspection are completed.

Parking

Cars: 222 / Large vehicles: 9

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.

First, on arrival

Plan your shopping at Yamada Nishiki no Yakata

Look at local vegetables, rice, processed foods, and sake related goods before eating to bring home a sense of Yokawa.

If you are hungry

Head to Mus SEIRO&CAFÉ or Yokatantei

On the Yamada Nishiki no Yakata side there are steamed seiro dishes and cafe items; Yokatantei on the hot spring side serves noodles and set meals. Hours and last orders differ by outlet.

If you need a rest

Try the footbath or Yokawa Onsen Yokatan

The footbath suits a short stop; the hot spring suits a bath before heading on. The footbath is out of service due to an equipment failure, so check official notices for its reopening. Also check how the Monday closure applies to your visit.

If you have children

Keep shopping brief, with breaks for the footbath and a walk

This is not a station built around large play equipment. Toilets, a snack, the footbath, and a short walk to Kurotaki Falls work well between drives.

If you feel like walking

Add a waterside stop at Kurotaki Falls

This natural detour is near the station. After rain or when water levels rise, view it from a safe distance rather than approaching the water.

For a half day

Continue from the hot spring to Yokawa General Park

After food, shopping, and the hot spring, add the park if your family wants more outdoor time.

Yokawa plan

At Yokawa, decide how you want to rest before you shop

A stop here can center on the farm shop, a meal, or the hot spring. Decide how long to stay at the outset to make your route from the parking area easier. For a short stop, pair Yamada Nishiki no Yakata with the footbath; over lunchtime, add a meal; for a half day, continue to Kurotaki Falls or Yokawa General Park. Yokawa lets you set the pace of your break.

30 minutes

Make short stops at the toilets, Yamada Nishiki no Yakata, and the footbath. Buy heavy items last.

90 minutes

Eat, shop, and use the footbath. Even without a full bath, this makes a Yokawa style break.

Half a day

Add a bath at Yokatan, a Kurotaki walk, or Yokawa General Park to turn a stop into a short outing.

Rainy day

Skip Kurotaki and the park if conditions are poor; focus on food, the farm shop, and hot spring to avoid difficult footing.

Highlights

Roadside Station Yokawa is a place to shop and eat in the home of Yamada Nishiki sake rice, then unwind at Yokawa Onsen Yokatan. Browse local vegetables and sake rice related goods at Yamada Nishiki no Yakata, and eat at Mus SEIRO&CAFÉ inside the building or at Yokatantei on the hot spring side. If time allows, pause at the footbath; on a day when you feel like walking, continue to Kurotaki Falls for a half day in Yokawa. The parking area and toilets make a useful starting point, and families or adults traveling alone can keep the visit short or extend it.

#Hyogo Prefecture
#Miki City
#Yokawa-cho
#Yamada Nishiki sake rice
#Hot spring
#Footbath
#Farm shop
#Local vegetables
#Kurotaki Falls
#Family stop

Practical information

Registration number: 兵庫-36
Prefecture: Hyogo Prefecture
Municipality: Miki City
Road: Municipal Road Sogo Fukushi Center Line
Telephone: 0794-76-2401
Closed days: Generally closed Mondays; when Monday is a public holiday, generally closed the following Tuesday. Also generally closed over the New Year holidays.
Station stamp: Available

Address

222 Yoshiyasu, Yokawa-cho, Miki-shi, Hyogo Prefecture (兵庫県三木市吉川町吉安222)

Facilities

Yamada Nishiki no Yakata
Yokawa Onsen Yokatan
Mus SEIRO&CAFÉ
Yokatantei
Footbath
Farm produce shop
Information corner
Visitor information
Rest area
Toilets
Multipurpose toilet
Parking area

External links

Visit the official website (Japanese)Background information (Japanese)www.76-2401.com (Japanese guide)www.76-2401.com (Japanese guide)www.76-2401.com (Japanese guide)www.76-2401.com (Japanese guide)www.city.miki.lg.jp (Japanese guide)www.city.miki.lg.jp (Japanese guide)www.hyogo-tourism.jp (Japanese guide)

Why I like it

Reasons to stop here

Shop for a taste of Yamada Nishiki country

Yokawa-cho is known as a growing area for Yamada Nishiki, often called the king of sake rice. Browse local vegetables and processed foods at Yamada Nishiki no Yakata and the farm shop feels like a stop in a sake rice village. Whether you seek sake and rice products or everyday vegetables, you can take home something rooted in the area.

Choose a meal, footbath, or hot spring to suit your break

For a meal before moving on, try Mus SEIRO&CAFÉ or Yokatantei; for a brief pause, the footbath; for a longer rest, Yokawa Onsen Yokatan. You can tailor the stop to your available time, whether midway through a long drive or when family members want different things.

Walk to Kurotaki Falls for a little time by the water

Close to the station is Kurotaki, a low, broad waterfall. On a fine day when walking feels good, adding the fields and waterside gives the visit another side of Yokawa beyond the shop and hot spring. With small children, enjoy the walk while keeping a safe distance from the water.

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.

Adult trips; a break after a long drive

Rest with a hot spring on a Chugoku or Sanyo Expressway journey

You can stop just for the toilets and shopping, but adding the hot spring makes a fuller break. Shop at Yamada Nishiki no Yakata, eat at Nishikitei or Yamada Nishiki Terrace, then bathe at Yokatan before continuing your journey.

Parking area → Yamada Nishiki no Yakata → meal → Yokawa Onsen Yokatan.

Check official notices on the day for Monday and post holiday closures and the hot spring's last admission.

Sake lovers and shoppers seeking local gifts

Make Yamada Nishiki shopping the main event

In Yokawa, make shopping part of the visit to a sake rice growing area. Browse sake, rice, and local vegetables with your meals back home in mind. Walk around the farm shop before heading to the restaurant to get more from this stop.

Browse Yamada Nishiki no Yakata first; buy heavy items before you leave.

Popular items and seasonal vegetables vary by time of day. Arrive early if shopping is the main purpose.

Families with preschoolers or grandparents

Give children a series of short activities

Without large play equipment here, a long shopping session may be difficult for children. Break up the stop with toilets, a snack, the footbath, and a short Kurotaki walk. Grandparents can head to the hot spring or rest area.

Toilets → snack → footbath → Kurotaki Falls if everyone has energy.

Check weather and footing by the water; keep the walk short during high water or hot weather.

A light walk on a fine day, perhaps with a few photos

Walk to Kurotaki Falls for fields and water

Kurotaki is close enough to add when shopping and a meal alone feel too short. The broad waterfall and a brief walk among the fields offer a quieter side of Yokawa. Walk before bathing, or simply view it afterward, depending on your energy.

Roadside Station Yokawa → Kurotaki Falls; a short detour within walking distance.

Water levels and footing change from day to day. Hold small children's hands and stay within barriers and designated paths.

Family drives that need more than shopping

Add the park for a family half day

Drive to Yokawa General Park to add outdoor play to the station's food, shopping, and hot spring. On some days, splitting the visit between the station and park works better than keeping children at the station for a long time.

Roadside Station Yokawa → Yokawa General Park; allow about 10 minutes by car.

In summer, plan for shade and water; on rainy days, focus on the hot spring and food.

Hours

Opening hours

Yamada Nishiki no Yakata

9:30-18:00

Guide to shop and information center hours. Generally closed Mondays, or Tuesdays when Monday is a public holiday.

Yokawa Onsen Yokatan

10:00-22:00

Bath admission until 21:00. The family bath requires a same-day reservation. Closed on Mondays (the following Tuesday if Monday is a public holiday), the same as Yamada Nishiki no Yakata. Temporarily closed from Monday, November 9 to Friday, November 13, 2026 for scheduled equipment inspection.

Footbath

10:00-18:00

Out of service since September 2026 due to an equipment failure. It is scheduled to reopen after repairs and inspection are completed, and even in normal times it may close for bad weather and similar reasons.

Mus SEIRO&CAFÉ

Weekdays 11:00–17:00 / Weekends and holidays 10:00–17:00

Steamed seiro dishes and cafe that opened inside Yamada Nishiki no Yakata on March 17, 2026. Last orders: meals 15:00, steamed buns 16:00, drinks and soft serve 16:30.

Yokatantei

11:00-21:00

Restaurant inside Yokawa Onsen Yokatan. Last order 20:30. Serves noodles, set meals, and local specialty dishes.

Toilets and parking

Available for a roadside break

Late at night or early in the morning, distinguish access to these facilities from shop and hot spring hours, and be mindful of where you park and of traffic around you.

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 or younger

★★★☆☆

Good for toilets, a rest, and a short shopping stop.

If using the hot spring or dining facilities, locate a place for diaper changes and feeding on arrival.

Ages 2–3

★★★☆☆

The footbath and a short walk help break up the visit.

Plan short waits rather than expecting large play equipment. Hold hands and view Kurotaki from a safe distance.

Ages 4–6

★★★★☆

Link short spells of shopping, snacks, the footbath, and a Kurotaki walk.

Water and a rest before and after bathing can make the drive home easier.

Elementary school children

★★★★☆

Learning about Yamada Nishiki growing country and Kurotaki adds a local lesson.

For more outdoor play, continue to Yokawa General Park.

Play area

This is not a place for long sessions on play equipment. Add the park or make the hot spring your main break.

Waterside

Keep small children back from the water and avoid pushing on after rain.

Food

Options may narrow at lunch peaks or near closing; have a simple backup snack for children.

Hot spring

If children are tired, use only the footbath and adjust the length of your stay.

Rest

Ideas for a restful stop

1
From the parking area to Yamada Nishiki no Yakata
Locate the toilets and shops first. Buy heavy rice or alcohol last to make moving around easier.
2
Sit down for a meal or at the footbath
Take a seated break before more walking; then decide whether to add the hot spring or leave after a short stop.
3
Decide on the hot spring by your energy and time
Yokatan is generally open into the evening, but check the closure day and admission hours that day and keep the visit comfortable.
4
Visit Kurotaki when footing is good
Even a view of the water is enough. After rain or on hot days, a hot spring break may be more comfortable than the walk.

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

Yamada Nishiki no Yakata

A farm shop and information center, often the starting point for local goods, seasonal products, and events.

Mus SEIRO&CAFÉ

Steamed seiro dishes and cafe added inside Yamada Nishiki no Yakata in March 2026. Check for current menus and updates on social media.

Yokawa Onsen Yokatan

A draw for hot spring visitors. Check closure days, crowds, and seasonal bathing events before visiting.

Surrounding fields and Kurotaki Falls

These natural sights make a walk beyond the station worthwhile; their character changes after rain and with the seasons.

Local feel

Reasons to return

Practical ideas and things to consider when spending time here.

Hot spring visitors and shoppers share the parking area

People come for the hot spring, farm shop, and food. Around weekend lunchtime or bathing hours, leave time to shop or use the footbath first if the restaurant is busy.

Yamada Nishiki no Yakata is a first taste of the area

Visitors also seek out the farm shop and sake related goods, beyond the hot spring. Browse the shelves before eating to get a sense of this sake rice growing area.

Check current hours at the newer food venue

Yamada Nishiki Terrace opened in March 2026. Menus and opening days may change, so check social media or official notices if you plan to eat there.

Add Kurotaki only when conditions suit

This natural spot is within walking distance, but weather and footing affect the waterside. With children or older companions, enjoy a short walk through the fields and a view of the falls rather than approaching the water closely.

Children do better with short activities than long shopping sessions

There is no large play area here. Toilets, a snack, the footbath, and a brief walk make manageable stages. If visiting the park too, move on before the station visit runs too long.

Do not overlook the Monday closure

Because the hot spring, farm shop, and food can fill a visit together, a closure can change your plans considerably. Check opening notices before departure if bathing or eating is the main goal, including the Tuesday after a Monday public holiday.

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.

Hours differ for the hot spring, farm shop, dining venues, and footbath. The footbath is out of service due to an equipment failure. If bathing or eating is your main purpose, check official notices.
Monday is the usual closure day; when it is a public holiday, the following Tuesday is generally closed. Check especially before an early week visit. Yokawa Onsen Yokatan will be temporarily closed from November 9 to 13, 2026 for scheduled equipment inspection.
The parking area is listed as having 222 car spaces, 9 large vehicle spaces, and 5 spaces for people with disabilities. Around weekend lunchtime, allow time for overlapping hot spring, dining, and shop traffic.
Kurotaki Falls is within walking distance, but weather changes waterside footing. With small children, keep back from the water and enjoy it as a short walk.
Mus SEIRO&CAFÉ is a food venue that opened in March 2026. Social media can help you check current opening days, menus, and event sales.
In winter, focus on the hot spring; in autumn, rice and harvest time; and in spring and summer, vegetables and walks. Change the focus with the season.

Gallery

A closer look

Illustrative image evoking Yamada Nishiki rice, local vegetables, and food at the farm shop

Illustrative image of a roadside station break at the hot spring and footbath

Illustrative image of a walk through fields toward Kurotaki Falls

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.

Dining
Yokatantei
Restaurant on the hot spring side: noodles, set meals, and local specialty dishes
Meals and cafe
Mus SEIRO&CAFÉ
Steamed seiro dishes and cafe opened in March 2026
Shopping
Local products at Yamada Nishiki no Yakata
Rice, vegetables, processed foods, and sake related products

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.

Sit down for a full meal

Yokatantei

A choice for an unhurried meal before or after the hot spring. Adding a meal to a farm shop visit makes this a more satisfying rest stop.

Open 11:00–21:00 (last order 20:30). It can be affected by the lunch rush, so leave some extra time around midday.

Keep it light

Mus SEIRO&CAFÉ

Steamed seiro dishes and cafe that opened inside Yamada Nishiki no Yakata in March 2026. It is an option for a meal or something sweet between shopping and bathing.

Last order for meals is 15:00. Menus and opening days can change, so check official notices or social media.

Buy something to take home

Yamada Nishiki / local vegetables / processed foods / sake related products

The farm shop is the easiest place to take a piece of Yokawa home. Even if you came to eat, browse the shelves first so you do not overlook anything.

Buy heavy items last for easier movement. Let someone other than the driver choose alcoholic drinks.

Add something after the bath

Cold drinks / sweets / snacks

After Yokatan, take a modest break before returning to the road. For children, plan to rehydrate after bathing.

Choices narrow near closing time; arrive earlier if eating is the main purpose.

Choose by season

Seasonal vegetables / rice around the new harvest / seasonal processed foods

Yamada Nishiki country changes with the seasons: vegetables in spring and summer, rice and harvest time in autumn, and hot spring visits with shopping in winter.

Produce depends on deliveries. If you want a particular item, come early or check official and social media updates before setting out.

Access