Shimane · Chugoku

Michi-no-Eki Information Center Kawamoto

道の駅インフォメーションセンターかわもと

Stop on National Route 261 beside the Go River for egoma souvenirs and a meal before exploring Iwami.

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

Location

Kawamoto Town, Ochi District

Road

National Route 261

Hours

8:00–19:00

These are the shop's hours. In winter, closing is typically at 18:00. Restaurant Info and Piccolusso have separate hours.

Parking

Cars: 39 spaces / Large vehicles: 5 spaces

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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.

Start here

Toilets and where to park

This is not a large station. At lunchtime, use the toilets and decide where your family will wait before heading for a meal. Nursing and diaper-changing facilities are also listed.

For a meal

Restaurant Info

Iwami pork, Iwami wagyu and fried chicken set meals suit a substantial lunch. Note Monday closures and the hours when meals are served.

For sweets

Piccolusso

Try egoma apple pie or gelato during a short break. This is also an alternative when the restaurant is busy.

For shopping

Egoma products and local vegetables

To take home a taste of Kawamoto, look at egoma oil and processed products first. In summer, a cooler bag broadens your shopping options.

For an outing nearby

Inbara Park or Yudani Onsen

Stay nearby for a change of pace with small children, or head to Yudani Onsen or Konpira Park for a half-day outing. In spring, choose your destination according to which flowers are at their best.

Keiko's detour notes

Go beyond just the restaurant or shop: add egoma and a sweet treat.

Keiko Asakura sees this station as a place to help the family regroup on a national road through the mountains. Toilets first, then lunch; if there is a wait, head to Piccolusso and the shop. Choose a nearby park for play, or Yudani Onsen in rain or heat. Its modest scale makes a planned order especially useful for discovering Kawamoto's character.

Just adding an egoma apple pie turns an ordinary break into a Kawamoto detour.

Highlights

Michi-no-Eki Information Center Kawamoto is a compact roadside rest stop on National Route 261 in Inbara, Kawamoto Town. The shop carries the town's specialty egoma products, ayu fish, tsugani crabs and local vegetables. Restaurant Info offers Iwami pork, Iwami wagyu beef and fried chicken set meals. Piccolusso, beside the entrance, is an easy stop for egoma apple pie or egoma milk gelato. On a family outing, start with toilets and a sweet treat, then decide whether to eat here or extend the trip to Inbara Park, Konpira Park or Yudani Onsen. This helps you plan a drive through the mountains.

#Egoma
#Iwami pork
#Piccolusso
#National Route 261
#Go River

Why I like it

Reasons to stop here

Shop for Kawamoto specialties, with egoma products at the heart

The shop is a place to pick up Kawamoto flavors quickly, rather than a large tourist souvenir hall. Alongside around 30 types of egoma products, you can browse ayu fish, tsugani crabs, alcoholic drinks, vegetables from within and outside the town, and sweets. Even without eating at the restaurant, it is easy to take home something from Kawamoto. Egoma is perilla, used here in oils, processed foods and sweets.

Plan meals at Restaurant Info and sweet treats at Piccolusso separately

Restaurant Info has plenty of substantial options for a roadside station restaurant: Iwami pork with ginger in a set meal, an Iwami wagyu grilled beef rice bowl, egoma croquettes and a fried chicken set meal. Piccolusso is a small place for a treat, including egoma apple pie and gelato. A meal around lunchtime, followed by sweets and shopping in the afternoon, makes for an easy visit.

A practical rest stop before Iwami Ginzan or the Go River

When driving from the Hiroshima area toward Iwami Ginzan, this station lets you take care of toilets, a meal and souvenirs in Kawamoto in one stop. Parking capacity is smaller than at a large station. If lunch is your main aim on a holiday, shift your timing a little and leave room to visit Piccolusso or the shop first if it is busy.

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.

45–75 minutes while traveling toward Hiroshima or Iwami Ginzan

Use it for a meal break on National Route 261

After parking, use the toilets first, then check how busy Restaurant Info is. If there are seats, have lunch with Iwami pork or a fried chicken set meal. If a wait looks likely, visit the shop and Piccolusso first to make the family's waiting time easier.

Parking → Toilets → Restaurant Info → Shop → Departure

Restaurant hours differ between listings. If you are coming for a meal, check the official social media or the day's notices, and avoid relying on a late lunch.

A 20–35-minute shopping break

Make a short stop just for egoma souvenirs and sweets

Browse egoma oil and processed products in the shop, then choose egoma apple pie or gelato at Piccolusso. Even on a day when you do not have time for a meal, this lets you take home a taste of Kawamoto.

Toilets → Egoma shelves in the shop → Piccolusso → Rest in the car

Piccolusso is listed as closed on Mondays and typically closes before evening. If sweets are your aim, plan to arrive before late afternoon.

A change of pace for preschoolers through elementary-school children

Combine a family visit with outdoor play nearby

Rather than spending a long time playing at the station, keep meals, toilets and sweets brief, then move to Inbara Park when children want to be active. On rainy or hot days, eating at the station before heading to Yudani Onsen is a more comfortable option.

Toilets and lunch at the station → Piccolusso → Inbara Park or Yudani Onsen

How enjoyable a park visit is depends on the weather and ground conditions. With infants, finish nursing and diaper changes at the station before moving on.

A half-day drive in spring or autumn

Extend the trip to seasonal flowers and central Kawamoto

In spring, consider Izumo kobaimo flowers or cherry blossoms at Konpira Park; in autumn, the ginkgo at Chokoji Temple is an option. Have a meal or sweet treat at the station before heading into town to connect flowers and temples or shrines in the hills with short drives.

Station → Konpira Park or the Izumo kobaimo habitat → Central Kawamoto

Peak flowering varies each year. Roads to Konpira Park are described as narrow, so choose a town walk instead if you are uneasy about driving.

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

★★★★☆

Suitable for a short break using the nursing space and diaper-changing facilities.

Shimane Tourism Navi lists a nursing room and diaper-changing space, as well as ostomy facilities. Use the toilets and finish nursing first, then decide about eating according to how busy it is, without pushing your schedule.

Ages 2–3

★★★☆☆

Sweets and a nearby park are easier than a long play session at the station.

Piccolusso gelato can help with a change of mood, but the station is not a place to run around. Plan to move to Inbara Park for physical activity.

Ages 4–6

★★★★☆

Separate meals, sweets and short outdoor play to keep boredom at bay.

Link small goals: eat at the restaurant, browse egoma products in the shop, and walk a little at Inbara Park. This makes a manageable break during a drive.

Elementary-school children

★★★★☆

Egoma, the Go River and flower-viewing spots offer topics for exploring the town.

Use the station as a starting point for seasonal sights: Izumo kobaimo and cherry blossoms in spring, the fireworks festival in summer, and Chokoji Temple's ginkgo in autumn. Since most travel is by car, limit your destinations to 1–2 places to avoid tiring everyone out.

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

2026 Eenaa Matsuri Kawamoto and the 73rd Go River Fireworks Festival

The announced schedule for Saturday, August 8, 2026 was a 16:00 start on Chuo Odori, fireworks at 20:00 and kagura, a traditional performance, at 20:30. Traffic restrictions and free shuttle buses were planned. This date has passed; the schedule is not confirmation that the event took place. On event days, allow for different road arrangements even when using the station only for a break.

Spring flower outings

Izumo kobaimo begins flowering around mid-February, with March generally the best viewing period. Konpira Park has cherry trees with different flowering times, making it suitable for a short spring detour. The prefectural guide also gives mid-March to early April for this habitat, so check local flowering updates before traveling.

Chokoji Temple's great ginkgo in autumn

Chokoji Temple's ginkgo is an option for autumn in Kawamoto. Combine it with a hot spring or a town walk to turn a meal stop into a half-day drive.

Local feel

Reasons to return

Practical ideas and things to consider when spending time here.

Look at egoma products first: they define this station

Both Shimane Tourism Navi and Oochijikan highlight egoma products as a Kawamoto specialty. Rather than treating the shop as just another souvenir stop, decide first whether to take home egoma oil, processed foods or sweets to get a sense of what makes this station distinctive.

Source: Shimane Tourism Navi / Oochijikan

Think of the restaurant as a lunch stop used by locals too

Oochijikan describes Restaurant Info's varied menu and busy lunchtimes. Plan for a substantial lunch of Iwami pork or Iwami wagyu, rather than just a tourist snack, to get more from the visit.

Source: Oochijikan: Restaurant Info

Use a restaurant wait for sweets and shopping

Piccolusso is a specialty sweets shop at the station entrance, featuring egoma apple pie and gelato. For families or an afternoon break, the option to start with sweets without entering the restaurant is useful.

Source: Oochijikan: Egoma apple pie

Conflicting hours make a late lunch less reliable

Shimane Tourism Navi lists restaurant hours of 11:00–17:00, with meals served only until 15:00. Another listing gives a 19:00 closing time and last orders at 18:00. Plan to eat closer to lunchtime, and check the official social media or the day's notices before relying on later meal service.

Source: Shimane Tourism Navi / Oochijikan

With children, add nearby outdoor play or a hot spring

The station lists facilities such as nursing and diaper changing, but it is not a destination for extended play. Keeping Inbara Park and Yudani Onsen as options makes it easier to change plans for sunshine, rain or heat.

Source: Shimane Tourism Navi / Kawamoto Town Tourism Association

Spring and autumn change the feel of a trip beyond the station

Izumo kobaimo, Konpira Park's cherry blossoms and Chokoji Temple's ginkgo are seasonal reasons to turn a shopping break into town exploration. On ordinary days, focus on food and rest; at peak viewing times, add flowers or a hot spring to make the trip to Kawamoto more rewarding.

Source: Shimane Prefecture / Kawamoto Town Tourism Association

Movie

Preview the place on video

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

A walk around Michi-no-Eki Information Center Kawamoto

Source: Publicly available YouTube video

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.

If coming for lunch, expect crowds between 12:00 and 13:00 and allow time to visit the shop or Piccolusso first
Restaurant Info and Piccolusso are listed as closed on Mondays; check recent information for trips around Monday
Buy sweets and fresh foods last, taking the heat and your journey home into account
With small children, split the visit into toilets, meals, sweets and a park rather than staying long at the station
On fireworks and town event days, traffic restrictions and shuttle buses change the usual parking arrangements
Peak spring flowering and autumn ginkgo color vary; check tourism association updates and narrow down your destinations

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
Iwami pork ginger set meal
Served at Restaurant Info; expect it to be busy around lunchtime
Meal
Iwami wagyu grilled beef rice bowl
For a substantial meal featuring local ingredients
Meal
Fried chicken set meal
Also featured as a popular dish by Shimane Tourism Navi
Sweet treat
Egoma apple pie
Served at Piccolusso; typical hours are 9:30–16:00
Sweet treat
Egoma milk gelato
For a short break or a change of pace for children
Shopping
Egoma oil and processed egoma products
Easy choices for Kawamoto souvenirs at the shop

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 lunch the main event

Iwami pork ginger set meal, Iwami wagyu grilled beef rice bowl, fried chicken set meal

For days when you want a substantial meal between drives. Reports describe seats filling even at weekday lunchtimes, so allow extra time between 12:00 and 13:00.

Taste Kawamoto on one plate

Egoma croquettes, fried akaten fish cakes, egoma dishes

For a taste of the region. Availability at the restaurant varies by day, so choose from the menu displayed at the entrance.

Take a break with sweets

Egoma apple pie, egoma milk gelato

For a change of pace for children or a short break after eating. Piccolusso has relatively short hours, so avoid making it a key part of an evening plan.

Buy something to take home

Egoma oil, processed egoma products, local vegetables, ayu fish and tsugani crab products

Choose something for meals after you return home. On hot days, leave purchases of fresh foods and sweets until last.

Alternatives when it is busy

Shop, Piccolusso, nearby restaurants

If the restaurant is full, shop for souvenirs and sweets at the station first, or switch to a restaurant in central Kawamoto.

Access

Location and surroundings

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Explore stations near 川本町 (Japanese guide)

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Roadside station

Michi-no-Eki Information Center Kawamoto

Stop on National Route 261 beside the Go River for egoma souvenirs and a meal before exploring Iwami.

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

Illustrative photo, not taken at Inbara Park (因原公園)

Illustrative image

Park / Short outdoor play

Inbara Park (因原公園)Japanese guide

Approximately 500 m from the stationAbout 7 minutes on foot; a short drive

For a change of pace for ages 2–6, families wanting a short walk after eating, or brief outdoor play on a sunny day.

Illustrative photo, not taken at Yudani Onsen Misenso (湯谷温泉弥山荘)

Illustrative image

Day-use hot spring

Yudani Onsen Misenso (湯谷温泉弥山荘)Japanese guide

Approximately 15–20 minutes by car from the stationAbout 15–20 minutes by car

For rainy days, extremely hot days, after a long drive, or extending a meal break into a half-day outing.

Illustrative photo, not taken at Cherry blossoms at Konpira Park (金比羅公園)

Illustrative image

Nature / Flowers

Cherry blossoms at Konpira Park (金比羅公園)Japanese guide

Approximately 10–15 minutes by car from the stationAbout 10–15 minutes by car

For a half-day spring drive, cherry-blossom viewing after a meal, or seeing more of the town scenery.

Illustrative photo, not taken at Izumo kobaimo natural habitat (イズモコバイモ自生地)

Illustrative image

Nature / Rare plants

Izumo kobaimo natural habitat (イズモコバイモ自生地)Japanese guide

Approximately 15–20 minutes by car from the stationAbout 15–20 minutes by car

For flower outings from late February through March, quiet nature observation, and learning for elementary-school children and older.

Illustrative photo, not taken at Central Kawamoto and Go River event routes

Illustrative image

Town walks / Events

Central Kawamoto and Go River event routesJapanese guide

Approximately 10–15 minutes by car from the stationAbout 10–15 minutes by car

For summer fireworks, town events, or heading into central Kawamoto after a meal.

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Updated 2026-10-01Explore the nationwide map →