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Michi-no-Eki JournalMap
Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph

Tottori Prefecture · Chugoku

Michi-no-Eki Wakasa

道の駅 若桜

Pause on National Route 29, then explore the Wakasa Railway, the old post town and Mount Hyonosen. This small roadside station makes a useful gateway to Wakasa.

Updated Michi-no-Eki JournalRead in Japanese

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph

Location
Wakasa Town, Yazu District
Road
National Route 29
Hours
9:00–18:00
The local-products shop opens 9:00–18:00 from March to November and 9:00–17:00 from December to February. The restaurant opens 11:00–15:00; the sweets counter closes at different times by season.
Parking
Cars: 22 / Large vehicles: 4
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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.

On arrival
Park, use the toilets, then choose between a meal and a town walk.

Parking is limited, so on a holiday around lunchtime it helps to decide whether a quick break or a meal takes priority.

Stopping for lunch
Make Yoshikawa pork, venison or egoma dishes your main plan.

The restaurant is open 11:00–15:00; last orders are generally 30 minutes before closing.

Only want something sweet?
Try the Shiro Bara milk or yogurt soft serve.

In some seasons the sweets counter closes before the local-products shop. In winter it is listed as open until 16:00.

Have time for a walk?
Make a short circuit of Wakasa Station and Wakasa-shuku.

Both are within walking distance, with something for railway enthusiasts and fans of older streets.

Going farther by car?
Head to Fudoin Iwayado or the Wakasa Hyonosen area.

Check weather, road surfaces and winter operations before going into the mountains.

Shopping to take home?
Look for summer strawberries, egoma, Wakasa rice, game meat and Yoshikawa pork products.

Seasonal foods and prepared items can run low later in the day, so check the shop early.

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph
Highlights

Michi-no-Eki Wakasa offers parking and toilets beside National Route 29, and an easy starting point for the food and streets of Wakasa Town. The local-products shop stocks summer strawberries, egoma (perilla seeds), Wakasa rice, game meat, Yoshikawa pork and handmade sausages. The restaurant serves Yoshikawa pork and venison dishes, while the sweets counter has soft serve made with Shiro Bara milk or yogurt. Walk to Wakasa Station and the old Wakasa-shuku post town; with more time, drive to Fudoin Iwayado or the Wakasa Hyonosen mountain area. It is a modest stop where you can readily plan a break, lunch, shopping and a short town walk.

  • #Tottori Prefecture
  • #Wakasa Town
  • #National Route 29
  • #Wakasa Railway
  • #Wakasa-shuku post town
  • #Yoshikawa pork
  • #Game meat
  • #Egoma (perilla)
  • #Summer strawberries
  • #Shiro Bara milk
  • #Mount Hyonosen
Why I like it

Reasons to stop here

01

An easy place to plan a Route 29 break and lunch

The parking area is modest, with 22 standard spaces, 4 large-vehicle spaces and 2 spaces designated for disabled visitors, so it helps to plan a short stop. The local-products shop, restaurant, sweets counter, nursing room and toilets are together here, making it a convenient place to regroup while driving between Tottori and Hyogo.

02

Taste Wakasa in savory dishes and sweets

The restaurant centers on Yoshikawa pork, handmade bacon, venison and egoma, an aromatic perilla seed. For a substantial meal, try the Yoshikawa pork tonkatsu set (breaded pork cutlet) or Wakasa venison curry. For something lighter, choose soft serve made with Shiro Bara milk or yogurt. Even without a restaurant meal, you can shop for summer strawberries, Wakasa rice, game meat products and sausages.

03

A short walk brings you to the railway and old post town

Wakasa Station, with its steam and diesel locomotives and station buildings registered as Tangible Cultural Properties, and the older streets of Wakasa-shuku are within walking distance. After a meal and shopping at the roadside station, step into town to get a fuller sense of Wakasa. The distance also lends itself to a short walk on a rainy day.

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.

Drives toward Tottori or Hyogo

Make a Route 29 lunch break more distinctly Wakasa

It would be a pity to stop here only for the toilets. A meal featuring Yoshikawa pork, venison or egoma gives lunch a local character in this mountain town. If time is short, browse summer-strawberry products, Wakasa rice and sausages, and perhaps add a sweet treat.

On National Route 29; combine parking, toilets, food and shopping at the roadside station.

Parking is smaller than at a large roadside station. On holiday lunchtimes or event days, allow room in your plan for a shorter stay.

Railway fans, people who enjoy old streets, and a brief rainy-day detour

Walk to Wakasa Station and the post town after lunch

The Wakasa Railway terminus is known for steam and diesel locomotives and station buildings registered as Tangible Cultural Properties. Walking there after lunch at the roadside station reveals more of Wakasa than a drive-through. Add the white-walled streets and kariya, traditional covered eaves along the former post town, for a rewarding short outing.

Michi-no-Eki Wakasa → Wakasa Station → Wakasa-shuku area; all are approximately within walking distance.

Access to the station grounds and events varies by day. Check the official Wakasa Railway information if the railway is your main reason for visiting.

Days visiting Fudoin Iwayado or the Hyonosen area

Use the stop to prepare before heading into the mountains

Before going to Fudoin Iwayado or Wakasa Hyonosen, use the toilets and pick up drinks, a snack and road information here. Iwayado rewards a cultural heritage visit, while Hyonosen changes greatly with the seasons. The roadside station is a natural preparation stop between Wakasa town and the mountains.

Michi-no-Eki Wakasa → Fudoin Iwayado, or Michi-no-Eki Wakasa → Wakasa Hyonosen.

In winter, check snow and ski operations; in summer, check mountain weather. If you are unfamiliar with mountain roads, travel in daylight.

Families with primary-school children, railway-loving children, or those making a short break

With children, add a short walk beyond the station

The roadside station is not a large playground. Use the nursing room and toilets, take a meal or soft serve break, then, if the children are old enough to walk, head to the vehicles at Wakasa Station or stroll through town. With babies or toddlers, a shorter meal and an easy return to the car may work better.

Rest at the roadside station → make a short visit to Wakasa Station → return to the car.

On rainy or very hot days, keep the outdoor walk short and focus on food and shopping.

Hours

Opening hours

Local-products shop
9:00–18:00

December–February: 9:00–17:00. Irregular Monday closures and a New Year holiday closure are listed.

Restaurant
11:00–15:00

Last orders are 30 minutes before closing. An earlier lunch visit is safer if you are coming for a meal.

Sweets counter
9:00–17:00

December–February: 9:00–16:00. Last orders are 30 minutes before closing.

Wakasa Town Tourism Association
8:30–17:15

Inside Wakasa Station; a useful desk for checking town walks, railway visits and the Hyonosen area.

Family

Visiting with children

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph

Stars show the editorial recommendation for each age group on a five-point scale. Read the reasons alongside each rating.

Age 1 or younger
★★★☆☆

Best for a short break using the nursing room and toilets.

This is not a stop for prolonged play on large equipment, so keep food and shopping brief.

Ages 2–3
★★★☆☆

A short combination of a meal, toilets and soft serve suits this age.

If walking to Wakasa Station, consider the weather and tiredness, and avoid pushing even a one-way walk.

Ages 4–6
★★★★☆

The vehicles at Wakasa Station and a town walk can keep the visit engaging.

Children interested in trains may enjoy continuing beyond the roadside station.

Primary-school age
★★★★☆

Steam and diesel locomotives, the post town and Iwayado offer more to discuss and explore.

For an added trip to Fudoin Iwayado or Hyonosen, check the weather and wear shoes suitable for walking.

Nursing room

Listed in the official facility information; useful for a break with an infant.

Toilets

Use them before heading into the mountains or walking around Wakasa Station.

Play area

A short move to Wakasa Station or a town walk works better than planning extended play inside the roadside station.

Rest

Ideas for a restful stop

  1. 1
    Choose a parking spot, then use the toilets first

    There are 22 standard parking spaces, a relatively small number. On busy days, choose a practical spot for a short stop rather than relying on a space near the entrance.

  2. 2
    Decide between a meal and the shop

    The restaurant mainly serves lunch, and the shop closes at different times by season. Choosing whether to sit down or buy food to take away can make the visit less tiring.

  3. 3
    If walking, start with Wakasa Station

    You can extend the town walk, but on hot or snowy days the Wakasa Station area alone is a worthwhile limit.

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

Local-products shop

The focus for monthly events and seasonal goods; the shop may become busy early on event days.

Restaurant

Lunch traffic can concentrate here for Yoshikawa pork, venison and egoma dishes.

Wakasa Station area

Steam and diesel locomotives, sightseeing trains and town events can also affect use of the roadside station.

Hyonosen area

Hiking, camping and skiing bring very different seasonal plans; use the roadside station to prepare before heading there.

Local feel

Reasons to return

Practical ideas and things to consider when spending time here.

Keep holiday lunch plans flexible

The parking area has 22 standard and 4 large-vehicle spaces. If lunch is busy, switching to sweets, shopping or a Wakasa Station walk may make the stop more pleasant.

Source: Official facility information

Railway event days can change the pace of the whole town

Wakasa Station has steam and diesel locomotives and sightseeing trains. On days with station visits, demonstration runs or town events, an earlier stop at the roadside station may be more comfortable.

Source: Wakasa Railway and Wakasa Town Tourism Association
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.

  • The local-products shop is open 9:00–18:00 from March to November and 9:00–17:00 from December to February. In winter, pay attention to the separate closing times for shopping and sweets.
  • The restaurant opens 11:00–15:00, with last orders 30 minutes before closing. For a meal, avoid leaving arrival until the end of the 14:00 hour.
  • Parking comprises 22 standard, 4 large-vehicle and 2 designated disabled spaces. Plan the length of your stay with this modest parking area in mind.
  • Wakasa Station and Wakasa-shuku are approximately within walking distance. Use the roadside-station toilets and pick up drinks before a railway or town walk.
  • For Fudoin Iwayado or the Hyonosen area, check weather, winter operations and mountain-road conditions separately.
  • The official news listed a September 2026 event calendar and Monday, September 28 as a closure. Check current official news for each month’s events and closing days.
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.

  • Restaurant
    Homemade bacon Wakasa curry
    About ¥1,250
  • Game meat
    Wakasa venison curry
    About ¥1,250
  • Yoshikawa pork
    Yoshikawa pork tonkatsu set with Wakasa egoma
    About ¥1,450
  • Sweets
    Shiro Bara milk or yogurt soft serve
    Varies by menu item
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.

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph
A substantial meal

Yoshikawa pork tonkatsu set / pork steak / ginger-fried pork

For lunch in Wakasa, Yoshikawa pork is a good centerpiece. The tonkatsu set comes with egoma; pork steak and ginger-fried pork have day-specific offerings, so check the menu on the day.

The restaurant closes at 15:00. Visiting outside the lunch peak may be more relaxed.

Try game meat

Wakasa venison curry

Venison curry offers an approachable way to try game meat from this mountain area, while companions can choose pork dishes.

Availability can change; check the official menu if this is the one dish you are coming for.

Add a light sweet

Shiro Bara milk soft serve / yogurt soft serve / Wakasa-themed soft serve

Even after a meal elsewhere, sweets make an easy short stop. A black cone evoking a steam locomotive adds a playful railway-town touch.

The sweets counter has shorter opening hours in winter.

Browse the shop

Summer strawberries / egoma / Wakasa rice / game meat / Yoshikawa pork products

For food to take home, start with seasonal fruit and local processed goods. Shopping brings Wakasa flavors into your trip even without a restaurant visit.

Fresh and popular items may sell out or run low later in the day.

Share food with children

Udon / curry / soft serve

The official menu includes family-friendly meal choices. Pick something easy to eat and then continue to Wakasa Station rather than planning a long sit-down visit.

When busy, stay flexible about seating and switch to shopping or sweets if needed.

Access

Location and surroundings

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1
Roadside station
Michi-no-Eki Wakasa

Pause on National Route 29, then explore the Wakasa Railway, the old post town and Mount Hyonosen. This small roadside station makes a useful gateway to Wakasa.

Open in Google Maps
2
Railway and town walk
Wakasa Station and Wakasa Railway

Add steam locomotives and a local railway terminus to your roadside-station lunch break.

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3
Historic streets
Walking around Wakasa-shuku

Take an easy short walk from the roadside station past white walls and kariya, traditional covered eaves.

Open in Google Maps
4
Cultural heritage and nature
Fudoin Iwayado

Drive a little farther into the mountains to see Wakasa’s cliffside Buddhist hall.

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5
Mountains and outdoor activities
Wakasa Hyonosen

Hike or camp in summer, enjoy snow in winter, and prepare for the mountains at the roadside station.

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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

Railway and town walk
Wakasa Station and Wakasa RailwayJapanese guide
Approximately within walking distance30 minutes to 1 hour after lunch

After lunch and a toilet stop at the roadside station, for a brief look at the railway and town streets.

Historic streets
Walking around Wakasa-shukuJapanese guide
Approximately within walking distanceFrom around 30 minutes

For a little of the town atmosphere after lunch rather than a major sightseeing outing.

Cultural heritage and nature
Fudoin IwayadoJapanese guide
About 15 minutes by carAdd around 1 hour

For extending a meal and shopping stop to Wakasa’s cultural heritage and mountain scenery.

Mountains and outdoor activities
Wakasa HyonosenJapanese guide
About 30 minutes by carHalf a day to a full day

For a break in Wakasa town before heading to mountain nature or snow activities.

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Updated 2026-10-01Explore the nationwide map →