A weekend drive centered on shopping
Go on an autumn or winter morning for Enjo Chinese cabbage
From autumn into winter, Enjo Chinese cabbage at the farm shop is reason enough to come. Browse not only cabbages but also highland vegetables, fruit, processed foods, and flowers, and imagine the hot pots or pickles you can make at home.
Farm produce shop → early lunch at the restaurant → head home with the produce kept cool, or continue to Ugakei Gorge.
Come early for popular items or on market days. Decide how much to take home based on that day's stock, prices, and your available space.
A day to try local cuisine
Make kusagi greens over rice your lunch destination
Kusagi-na kake-meshi, rice topped with seasoned kusagi greens, is a Kibichuo Town dish recognized by Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs as a 100-Year Food. Quantities are limited, so allow time during the restaurant's lunch hours and consider the udon or rice balls too.
Restaurant after 10:30 → farm produce shop → visitor information in the rest area.
Inquire in advance for a group or if you particularly want this dish. The restaurant is closed on Wednesdays.
An adult lunch or a rainy day
Settle in for lunch at Shinanoya
Adjacent Shinanoya has reopened as a restaurant serving gozen set meals made with local ingredients. On days when you prefer something other than udon, combine a more leisurely lunch there with a visit to the farm shop.
Shinanoya → farm produce shop → Komori Onsen or Yunose Onsen.
Listed hours are 11:00–14:00; it is listed as closed on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, and public holidays. Check the latest information before visiting.
A nature drive from early summer through autumn
Add dollarbirds and Ugakei Gorge to the drive
Dollarbirds arrive from around May, while Ugakei Gorge's autumn leaves are a reason to drive later in the year. Eat and shop at the station, watch the birds quietly, and wear comfortable shoes for the gorge to make a full day of Kibi Highlands nature.
Roadside station → dollarbird observation → Ugakei Nature Park.
Avoid loud voices, occupying the viewing space for long periods, or approaching nesting boxes. Allow for busy roads and parking during autumn foliage season.
Fourth Sundays in April–June and September–October
Make Enjo Asaichi the reason for an early visit
Enjo Asaichi is a morning market with vegetables, food, and sundries. It runs for just 9:00–12:00, so visit the market first, then move on to lunch at the restaurant or a nearby hot spring.
Enjo Asaichi → farm produce shop → restaurant or Shinanoya → Komori Onsen.
The listed 2026 dates were September 27 and October 25; September 27 has passed. Treat earlier dates as a guide to the seasonal pattern and check the next event before traveling.
