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Wakayama Prefecture · Kinki

Michi-no-Eki Aragi no Sato (道の駅 あらぎの里)

道の駅 あらぎの里

Before or after visiting the Aragi Island rice terraces, stop for a mountain village food break and take home Shimizu rice, handmade konjac, tofu and budo sansho pepper.

Updated Michi-no-Eki JournalRead in Japanese
Location
Aridagawa Town, Arida District
Road
National Route 480
Hours
10:00–17:30
As a guide, 10:00–17:30 from March through October and 10:00–17:00 from November through February. The dining area mainly serves lunch. Published opening times differ between 11:00 and 11:30, and closing times between 14:00 and 14:30.
Parking
Cars: 25 / Large vehicles: 0
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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.

Decide first
Arrive in time for the dining area, or focus on shopping

The dining area mainly serves lunch. If you arrive later, allow time to enjoy farm products and sansho goods instead of counting on a meal.

For food to take home
Konjac, tofu, Shimizu rice and budo sansho pepper

Local vegetables, pickles, miso, eggs and sansho products make this a strong stop for ingredients you can use at home.

For the view
Make time for the Aragi Island viewpoint

From the designated parking area, walk to the viewpoint. Follow local signs near the station and avoid parking on the road.

With children
Combine a short break with a walk to the viewpoint

This is not a station with large playground equipment. Plan around food, toilets, a short walk and a look at the rice terraces.

For a half-day
Add Shimizu Onsen or a Yasuda washi workshop

On a clear day, combine the viewpoint with the hot spring. On a rainy day, add Warashi Experience and Exchange Workshop to turn a mountain-road break into a Shimizu-area outing.

Check opening days
Check Tuesdays and extra monthly closures

A notice listed extra Thursday closures in July 2026. If you are travelling far for a meal, check the latest notice before setting out.

Highlights

Michi-no-Eki Aragi no Sato is a small food stop worth making on National Route 480 on the way to the Aragi Island viewpoint. Its shelves bring together products characteristic of the Shimizu area: house-made konjac and tofu, Shimizu rice, local vegetables, budo sansho pepper and Yasuda washi paper. The dining area is modest rather than a large food court; try udon with konjac or the Aragi set meal to taste the area. Whether you see the terraced fields first or start with lunch and shopping, this stop brings Aridagawa's mountain villages closer.

  • #Wakayama Prefecture
  • #Aridagawa Town
  • #National Route 480
  • #Aragi Island
  • #Shimizu rice
  • #Handmade konjac
  • #Tofu
  • #Budo sansho pepper
  • #Yasuda washi paper
  • #Farm shop
Why I like it

Reasons to stop here

01

The food beside the rice terraces tastes of the place

A visit to Aragi Island alone can end as a memory of photographs. At this stop, Shimizu rice, handmade konjac, tofu, local vegetables and budo sansho pepper connect the terraced fields to the dinner table. The modest station feels like a visit to a mountain village kitchen.

02

Make lunch the reason to stop: konjac udon and the Aragi set meal

The dining area mainly serves lunch, so time your visit if you want to eat here. Udon made with house-made konjac and a set meal featuring Shimizu rice and local vegetables are welcome breaks on the mountain stretch of National Route 480. If you miss lunch, you can still shop for tofu, konjac and sansho products.

03

An easy starting point for the viewpoint, hot spring and papermaking

A turn before the station leads toward the parking area for the Aragi Island viewpoint. After lunch, see the terraces; on a day when you want a soak, head to Shimizu Onsen, a Japanese hot spring; for rain or a cultural outing, try Yasuda washi papermaking. This small station is a useful junction for a half-day in the Shimizu area.

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 to the Aragi Island viewpoint

Start a rice-terrace visit with local food

Aragi Island is striking on its own, but after seeing Shimizu rice, local vegetables and konjac at the station, the terraces become a scene of daily life as well as a photograph. Use the dining area if your timing suits lunch, or focus on the direct-sales shop at other times.

Michi-no-Eki Aragi no Sato → viewpoint parking area → Aragi Island viewpoint

The viewpoint is not directly in front of the station. Follow signs to its parking area, then continue on foot. Keep the walk short in rain or heat.

A drive from Arida IC or Arida-minami IC toward Shimizu or Koyasan

Stop for lunch and shopping on the mountain stretch of Route 480

Food options along National Route 480 are fewer than in town. Stop for konjac udon or the Aragi set meal, then buy tofu or sansho products to take home.

About 50 minutes via National Route 480 from the Arida IC area

Published dining hours differ, so an early lunch is the safer plan. Watch for Tuesday and extra closures too.

A day with limited views, or a short hands-on activity with children

On a rainy day, switch to Yasuda washi making and shopping

When mountain views fade into mist, take a shorter look at Aragi Island and then visit Warashi Experience and Exchange Workshop. Making Yasuda washi paper or an uchiwa hand fan is a hands-on way to discover Shimizu culture. Yasuda washi products at the station also make possible souvenirs.

Station → Aragi Island viewpoint → Warashi Experience and Exchange Workshop

Workshop activities have reception hours, closed days and reservation conditions; check them before making a spontaneous visit.

An adult trip, motorcycle tour or a day to wash off after walking

Finish a half-day in the mountain villages with a hot spring

Lunch at the station, a short walk at Aragi Island and a final soak at Shimizu Onsen turn a roadside stop into a half-day outing. Food, scenery and hot spring are close together here.

Station → Aragi Island viewpoint → Shimizu Onsen

Check the hot spring's official opening and closure notices. Allow enough time to drive the mountain road before dark.

A food-focused drive for wasabi sushi and sansho ramen

For more local food, continue to Akadama

After buying konjac and tofu at the station, continue to nearby Akadama to explore more Shimizu-area food. Its wasabi sushi and ramen with budo sansho pepper complement your purchases.

Station → Akadama → Aragi Island viewpoint

Restaurants may close or change their last-order times. If eating is your main goal, check official notices.

Hours

Opening hours

Shop and main station
March–October 10:00–17:30 / November–February 10:00–17:00

These hours are listed by the Kinki Michi-no-Eki Liaison Council, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's Kinki Regional Development Bureau, and Wakayama Prefecture's farm-shop information.

Local-cuisine dining area
Mainly lunchtime

Wakayama's official tourism site lists 11:30–14:00; the prefecture's farm-shop information lists 11:00–14:30; and the Kinki Regional Development Bureau page lists 11:00–16:30. Check the latest information or ask on site for the day of your visit.

Toilets, parking and public telephone
24 hours

Listed on the Kinki Regional Development Bureau's roadside-station page.

Aragi Island viewpoint
Outdoor viewing

About a three-minute walk from the designated parking area. Take care to park in the proper place near the viewpoint.

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 1 and under
★★☆☆☆

A toilet with a baby changing bed helps, but this is not a play destination. It suits a meal and a short break.

Ages 2–3
★★★☆☆

A short walk to the viewpoint and a meal break are possible. Roads and a parking-area transfer are involved, so hold hands and keep the outing short.

Ages 4–6
★★★☆☆

Seeing the terraces and buying konjac or tofu can give children plenty to talk about. On a rainy day, switch to Yasuda washi making.

Elementary-school children
★★★★☆

At this age, children can connect Aragi Island's shape with Shimizu rice, Yasuda washi and budo sansho pepper. It suits learning about scenery and food culture.

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

Monthly closure notices

The Kinki Michi-no-Eki Liaison Council posts regular and extra closures by month. For July 2026, it announced Thursday closures in addition to every Tuesday.

Rice Terrace Walk in Aragi Island

A seasonal walk around Aragi Island. In some years the meeting point is Michi-no-Eki Aragi no Sato, directly connecting the station's food with a visit to the terraces.

Off-site produce sales

A produce market at Appla Takaishi has been announced about twice a month, carrying vegetables and goods sent directly from Aragi no Sato. It is another place to watch for the station's products.

Shimizu Yasuda Washi Lantern Art Exhibition

An autumn event in which lanterns made from Yasuda washi are lit around Warashi Experience and Exchange Workshop. It links the station's paper souvenirs with a cultural visit.

Local feel

Reasons to return

Practical ideas and things to consider when spending time here.

Plan to walk from the viewpoint parking area

Aragi Island is close to the station, but trying to park right by the viewpoint may be confusing. Turn toward the parking area at the intersection before the station, then walk from there.

The landscape changes with the seasons

Aragi Island looks different as the paddies fill with water, turn green, approach harvest and settle into winter. Seasonal events such as the autumn rice-terrace walk may also give access to places normally closed to visitors; current event information can shape a visit as much as photographs do.

Source: Aridagawa Town landscape site and Wakayama Prefecture event information
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.

  • As a guide, the main station opens 10:00–17:30 March–October and 10:00–17:00 November–February. Check Tuesday and year-end/New Year closures, as well as extra closures announced by month.
  • The dining area mainly serves lunch, and published closing times differ. If eating is your aim, an early lunch from around 11:00 is the safer plan.
  • For the Aragi Island viewpoint, drive from the station area to the designated parking area, then walk about three minutes. Avoid roadside parking near the viewpoint.
  • The shop carries handmade tofu, konjac, rice, local vegetables and sansho products. A cooler bag gives you more shopping options.
  • This is not a station with large play equipment or designed for a long stay. With children, combine a meal, toilet break and short walk with nearby activities.
  • If rain or mist limits the rice-terrace view, consider Yasuda washi making, Shimizu Onsen or local food at Akadama instead.
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.

  • Local-cuisine dining area
    Udon with konjac
    See the menu at the shop
  • Local-cuisine dining area
    Aragi set meal
    See the menu at the shop
  • Direct-sales and processed products
    Aragi tofu
    See the price in store
  • Direct-sales and processed products
    Country-style konjac
    See the price in store
  • Souvenirs and processed products
    Budo sansho products
    Varies by product
  • Local product
    Shimizu rice
    See the price in store
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.

Have lunch

Udon with konjac / Aragi set meal

These are straightforward ways to taste the area at the station, bringing together house-made konjac, Shimizu rice and local vegetables.

The lunch window is relatively short and published hours differ. Avoid planning a late lunch around it.

Take food home

Aragi tofu / country-style konjac / Aragi miso / Shimizu rice

This stop is strong on foods to use at home rather than display as souvenirs. Buying Shimizu rice after seeing the terraces connects the landscape with your table.

Fresh and handmade products vary by quantity and time of day. A cooler bag makes shopping easier.

Take home the aroma

Budo sansho products / sansho simmered in soy sauce / processed sansho foods

A compact taste of Aridagawa Town to take home. These work with rice or noodles, or as a snack with drinks, and can make a light gift.

Some products have a strong heat and aroma; consider how you will use them if buying for family.

Choose local ingredients

Local vegetables / pickles / eggs / Kishu chicken

These shelves have the everyday character of a farm shop. You can buy ingredients for tonight's dinner with a mountain-village touch.

The selection of vegetables and eggs changes by season and time of day. Earlier in the day may offer more choice.

Sit down for a break instead of snacking as you go

Dining-area menu / rest area

With mountain roads around you, a settled pause here can make the rest of the drive easier. Think of it as a filling lunch break rather than a stop for elaborate sweets.

At busy times or on extra closure days, consider alternatives nearby, such as Akadama.

Access

Location and surroundings

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1
Roadside station
Michi-no-Eki Aragi no Sato (道の駅 あらぎの里)

Before or after visiting the Aragi Island rice terraces, stop for a mountain village food break and take home Shimizu rice, handmade konjac, tofu and budo sansho pepper.

Open in Google Maps
2
Rice terraces and scenery
Aragi Island Viewpoint (あらぎ島展望所)

A short addition to a station visit connects Shimizu rice with Aridagawa Town's emblematic terraced landscape.

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

Rice terraces and scenery
Aragi Island Viewpoint (あらぎ島展望所)Japanese guide
A short drive from the station area to the parking area, then about three minutes on footAbout 10 minutes by car and on foot

See the landscape that brought you to Aragi no Sato before or after eating and shopping.

Illustrative photo, not taken at Shimizu Onsen (しみず温泉)
Illustrative image
Day-use hot spring and lodging
Shimizu Onsen (しみず温泉)Japanese guide
About five minutes by carA short drive

For adult travellers and motorcycle riders who want a soak after walking around Aragi Island.

Illustrative photo, not taken at Warashi Experience and Exchange Workshop (体験交流工房わらし)
Illustrative image
Traditional crafts and hands-on activities
Warashi Experience and Exchange Workshop (体験交流工房わらし)Japanese guide
About 5–10 minutes by carAllow around an hour or more, including the activity

For a rainy day, a day when scenery alone is not enough, or families who want a hands-on memory of local culture.

Illustrative photo, not taken at Akadama (赤玉)
Illustrative image
Local cuisine
Akadama (赤玉)Japanese guide
A short driveAllow about 45–90 minutes, including the meal

For days when you miss the station's lunch hours or want to explore wasabi sushi and budo sansho further.

Illustrative photo, not taken at Toi Campground (遠井キャンプ場)
Illustrative image
Riverside and camping
Toi Campground (遠井キャンプ場)Japanese guide
Travel by carSuitable for a half-day through an overnight stay

For buying ingredients at the station before spending time outdoors in the Shimizu area.

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Updated 2026-10-01Explore the nationwide map →