Wakayama · Kinki
道の駅 虫喰岩
Directly opposite Mushikuiiwa, this quiet roadside station offers toilets, a small shop and tourist information—a starting point for exploring Kozagawa's unusual rock formations.
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Eat, shop, play, take in the view or rest. Choose from the station’s strengths to suit your day.
Directly opposite the station, it gives even a short stop a sense of this place.
Parking and toilets are available all day; shop during opening hours.
A small shop for Kozagawa souvenirs.
An easy way to extend a rock-viewing trip into half a day.
Come to see the rock and stretch your legs, rather than for playground equipment.
Michi-no-Eki Mushikuiiwa is not a place to spend a whole day. Yet using the toilets before entering Kozagawa, browsing small yuzu and game-meat souvenirs, and looking straight at Mushikuiiwa make a fitting start to a visit here. Check Tuesday and Wednesday closures, shopping after 16:00, and mountain roads after rain before setting off.
Know the parking, toilets and shop hours, and exploring Kozagawa's natural sights becomes much easier.
Michi-no-Eki Mushikuiiwa is a small tourist information center and shop where you can look across the road at Takaike no Mushikuiiwa, a nationally designated Natural Monument. Tourist information is listed as 9:00–17:00, though another official listing gives 10:00–16:00 for the information area; retail sales are generally 10:00–16:00; both close Tuesdays, Wednesdays and over the New Year holidays. The parking area and toilets are available around the clock, making this a convenient short stop before heading from the Koza Station area toward Ichimaiiwa or Taki no Hai. Browse Kozagawa yuzu citrus products, game-meat products, handmade goods, prepared foods and coffee, then pause at an outdoor table with a view of the rock. Guide Ayano Tsukioka recommends it as a place to see the rock, use the toilets and decide where to go next in Kozagawa, rather than as a large dining stop.
Takaike no Mushikuiiwa is a distinctive Kozagawa rock riddled with holes. Nanki Kumano Geopark describes the landscape as the result of volcanic activity about 15 million years ago and subsequent weathering.
Tourist information, a shop, toilets and parking are its main facilities. It suits a stop to see the rock, use the toilets and pick up a few Kozagawa goods more than a long stay for a meal.
Extend your visit to Ichimaiiwa, Taki no Hai, Michi-no-Eki Ichimaiiwa monolith and Michi-no-Eki Takinohaitaro for a half-day route beyond Mushikuiiwa.
Retail sales generally run 10:00–16:00, but the parking area and toilets are available around the clock. After the shop closes, plan on a toilet break and a look at the rock from outside instead of shopping.
Spend your time at the station or add somewhere nearby. These ideas help you plan around your companions and the weather.
Park, use the toilets, look up at Mushikuiiwa across the road and browse a few yuzu or game-meat souvenirs. This small station is most satisfying when you keep the visit focused.
Parking area → toilets → view Mushikuiiwa → shop.
Retail sales are generally 10:00–16:00. The shop and information area close Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Continue to Ichimaiiwa and Taki no Hai to see different sides of Kozagawa's rocks and river. A meal at Michi-no-Eki Ichimaiiwa monolith fits the route well.
Mushikuiiwa → Ichimaiiwa monolith → Ichimaiiwa → Taki no Hai.
The road toward Taki no Hai passes through the mountains. Allow time before sunset and after rain, and expect places with weak mobile reception.
The station is about 10 minutes by car from Koza Station. It also serves as Kozagawa Town's tourist information center, where you can start asking about local dining, accommodation and sights.
Koza Station → Michi-no-Eki Mushikuiiwa → sights around town.
If using the Furusato Bus, check its frequency and your return service first.
Its insect-eaten appearance is easy to explain to children. Since this is not a station built around playgrounds or large lawns, take photos and a toilet break, then head to Ichimaiiwa or the riverside before they get bored.
See the rock → buy a drink at the shop → head to Ichimaiiwa or Taki no Hai.
Stay out of rocky areas and behind barriers; watch the road crossing and your footing.
The Kozagawa Town Tourism Association guide lists 9:00–17:00, while the Kinki Regional Development Bureau lists 10:00–16:00 for the information area. Confirm before relying on later service.
Yuzu, game meat, crafts and prepared foods. Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Multipurpose toilet available; these hours differ from shopping hours.
Only for cherry blossom or illumination events; check tourism association news and social media.
Stars show the editorial recommendation for each age group on a five-point scale. Read the reasons alongside each rating.
Better for a brief in-car break and toilet stop than for nursing or diaper-changing facilities on a large scale.
In summer, prioritize shade and the temperature inside the car. Keep the stop short outside shop hours.
Good for a short break to see the rock and stretch; space to run around is limited.
Hold hands beside the road. Use the outdoor tables according to crowding and weather.
The rock's insect-eaten appearance is easy to appreciate, and photos and a small purchase can be fun.
Continue to Ichimaiiwa or Taki no Hai for a nature-viewing outing.
Nanki Kumano Geopark, tafoni—the small hollows formed in weathered rock—and local legends make this an educational stop.
Do not get too close to the rock; use the tourist information center to choose your next local sight.
There is no large children's playground or indoor play area. Focus on the unusual rock and a break.
When taking photos, watch vehicles entering and leaving and the roadside.
The parking area is listed at around 33 standard-car spaces. When busy, keep the visit short and use the toilets and shop first.
Stay out of fenced areas and watch your footing while viewing the rock from a comfortable distance.
For a substantial meal, plan to continue to Ichimaiiwa monolith or another restaurant in town.
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.
Nighttime illumination and extended station hours are sometimes held for cherry blossoms or the campaign for a brighter society.
Look here for temporary closures, cherry blossoms, cycling events and tours around town.
During night openings or events, yuzu products, game-meat products and other mountain specialties may be on sale.
Cycling and sightseeing events may include Ichimaiiwa, Taki no Hai and Mushikuiiwa on their routes.
Practical ideas and things to consider when spending time here.
Tourist information is generally 9:00–17:00 and retail sales 10:00–16:00. Visit around midday to shop; after closing, you can still use the toilets and parking area for a break.
Visitors often stop mainly for Mushikuiiwa and briefly use the toilets and shop, rather than expecting a large restaurant or open square. Plan a short stay.
Wakayama and Kumano area tourism sources highlight yuzu, game meat, local handicrafts and woodwork. Think of it as a small Kozagawa purchase rather than a lunch destination.
Nanki Kumano Geopark explains the volcanic history and weathering; the tourism association tells of Ichimaiiwa's guardian dog and prayers for ear ailments. The rock gives adults and children plenty to talk about.
The yellow illumination on July 15, 2026 has ended. Check tourism association news or the station's Instagram for future events rather than treating it as regular opening.
The tourism association says the entrance gate is kept closed to protect against wildlife damage. Close it after use and respect access boundaries.
Official videos show the market and nearby park before you visit. Audio and captions are in Japanese.
If the video does not load, watch it on YouTube
An introduction to Kozagawa's nature and everyday life. It sets the scene for a visit to the town rather than showing Mushikuiiwa alone.
Opening and closure days, individual businesses and facilities for children or dogs can affect your plans.
Specialities, places to eat, sweets and bakeries can all give you a reason to stop. Check individual menus for current prices and availability.
A meal, a sweet treat, market shopping or something to take away: choose a focus for the day instead of trying everything at once.
An easy way to take a little Kozagawa flavor home, even during a drive.
Stock varies by season and delivery, so do not count on one specific item.
A purchase connected to dining at Ichimaiiwa monolith and the town's game-meat food culture.
For chilled or processed products, consider the trip home and how to keep them cool.
For locally made items, browse this small shop rather than expecting a large souvenir store.
Good for a brief pause at an outdoor table while looking at Mushikuiiwa.
For a full lunch, move on to Ichimaiiwa monolith or another restaurant in town.
Use Mushikuiiwa for a small purchase and break; plan lunch or a cafe stop around Ichimaiiwa.
Check Ichimaiiwa's opening hours, lunch service, crowding and any activity bookings separately.
If the map does not load, open it in Google Maps
Directly opposite Mushikuiiwa, this quiet roadside station offers toilets, a small shop and tourist information—a starting point for exploring Kozagawa's unusual rock formations.
See a characteristic Kozagawa rock directly opposite the roadside station, with almost no detour.
After Mushikuiiwa, have a proper meal with a view of Ichimaiiwa.
See potholes in the riverbed and the falls for another side of Kozagawa's terrain.
A mountain-area toilet and rest stop for a trip to Taki no Hai.
A starting point for entering Kozagawa by public transport.
The main sight here is worth looking up at, even for just 10 minutes before or after a toilet break.
A good match when you want only a short break at Mushikuiiwa, then lunch or a cafe stop near Ichimaiiwa.
After Ichimaiiwa, a submersible bridge and Mushikuiiwa, extend a half-day route to Kozagawa's riverbed scenery.
Use it for toilets, parking and a short break when continuing to Taki no Hai. Local products are mainly sold on weekends and public holidays.
When arriving in Kozagawa by public transport, Michi-no-Eki Mushikuiiwa makes a useful first tourist information stop.
Send your travel companions a possible stop.
