Yamaguchi Prefecture · Chugoku

Michi-no-Eki Chomonkyo

道の駅長門峡

A Route 9 roadside station at the gateway to Chomonkyo Gorge, where you can shop for Ato Wagyu and local fruit and catch a glimpse of the SL Yamaguchi steam train.

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

Location

Yamaguchi City

Road

National Route 9

Hours

09:30–18:00

Information corner and farm shop 9:30–18:00; restaurant 11:00–14:30 (final reception 14:00); takeout 9:30–16:00.

Parking

See facility information

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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.

First stop

Ato no Megumi farm shop

Look for Ato Wagyu beef, Ato rice, apples, pears, tomatoes and honey.

For lunch

Chomonkyo restaurant

Aim to arrive early: hours are 11:00–14:30, with final reception at 14:00.

For a snack

Rice-flour soft serve, pear soft serve and Wagyu croquettes

Takeout is generally available until 16:00.

For a walk

Chomonkyo walking-trail entrance

About 300 m from the station. Allow enough time and wear suitable shoes if going as far as Ryugabuchi.

On train days

SL Yamaguchi steam train

Check operating days and passing times, and allow for parking and considerate photography.

Closure days

Generally the second Tuesday

The first Tuesday applies in August, with no regular closure in November. Several temporary closures were announced for July.

Kuramochi's Chomonkyo notes

Get ready before the walk, then take a little Ato home.

Kuramochi (倉持悠路) sees Michi-no-Eki Chomonkyo as a place to prepare before and rest after exploring the gorge. Park, use the toilet, check meal times, then buy Ato Wagyu beef or fruit. The gorge and steam train may draw your attention, but planning the order of your stops helps you enjoy both Ato's food and nature without rushing.

Highlights

Michi-no-Eki Chomonkyo is a roadside station on National Route 9 by the Yamaguchi City entrance to Chomonkyo Gorge, a nationally designated scenic site. At the Ato no Megumi farm shop, look for Ato rice, tomatoes, apples, pears, honey and Ato Wagyu beef. The restaurant serves options such as an Ato Wagyu sukiyaki set (beef simmered at the table), beef rice bowls, beef udon noodles and limited-quantity Ato Wagyu ramen. The JR Yamaguchi Line runs in front of the station, and on operating days the SL Yamaguchi steam train passes close by. For a short stop, shop and have soft-serve ice cream; with more time, walk to the trail entrance. In autumn, pair the gorge's foliage with lunch; in spring, continue to the weeping cherries at Tokusa Hachimangu Shrine. Editor Kuramochi (倉持悠路) suggests planning parking, toilets, meal times and a rest before or after the walk so you can enjoy Ato's local flavors at a comfortable pace.

#Ato, Yamaguchi City
#Chomonkyo Gorge
#Ato Wagyu beef
#Ato no Megumi
#Ato rice
#Chomonkyo pears
#Apples
#SL Yamaguchi steam train
#Autumn foliage
#Tokusa Hachimangu Shrine
#Ganjoju Onsen

Practical information

Registration number: 山口-09
Prefecture: Yamaguchi Prefecture
Municipality: Yamaguchi City
Road: National Route 9
Telephone: 083-955-0777
Closed days: Generally the second Tuesday; the first Tuesday in August, with no regular closure in November. Year-end/New Year and temporary closures also apply.
Station stamp: Available

Address

47-1 Ato Ikumo Higashibun, Yamaguchi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture (山口県山口市阿東生雲東分47番1)

Facilities

Information corner
Ato no Megumi farm shop
Chomonkyo restaurant
Takeout counter
Outdoor toilets
Toilets (baby-changing bed and accessible facilities)
Park
Parking lot
Bicycle parking
EV charging (paid, 24 hours)
Tourist information

External links

Visit the official website (Japanese)Background information (Japanese)kunkunodaichi.com (Japanese guide)kunkunodaichi.com (Japanese guide)kunkunodaichi.com (Japanese guide)kunkunodaichi.com (Japanese guide)kunkunodaichi.com (Japanese guide)kunkunodaichi.com (Japanese guide)yamaguchi-tourism.jp (Japanese guide)www.ato-town.com (Japanese guide)a-shinko.com (Japanese guide)www.c571.jp (Japanese guide)www.hagishi.com (Japanese guide)yamaguchi-tourism.jp (Japanese guide)ganjoju.com (Japanese guide)yamaguchi-tourism.jp (Japanese guide)

Why I like it

Reasons to stop here

An easy place to prepare for and recover from a gorge walk

The entrance to the Chomonkyo walking trail is within walking distance. You can have a meal, use the toilet and shop here before a full walk, or simply look around near the trail entrance.

Buy and eat Ato Wagyu beef

The Ato no Megumi farm shop's main draw is Ato Wagyu beef. At the restaurant, try local beef in a sukiyaki set, beef rice bowl, beef udon or a limited-quantity dish.

Take home Ato pears, apples and rice-flour soft serve

The shop stocks Ato rice, tomatoes, apples, pears and honey. For takeout, look for soft serve made with Ato rice flour, Chomonkyo pear soft serve and Ato Wagyu croquettes.

The station feels different on SL Yamaguchi operating days

The JR Yamaguchi Line passes in front of the roadside station, bringing the SL Yamaguchi steam train close on its operating days. Allow extra time for crowds and parking if you plan to watch or photograph it.

Different destinations in spring, summer and autumn

In spring, see the weeping cherries at Tokusa Hachimangu Shrine; in summer, visit the evening-blooming daylilies on Funahirayama or enjoy the cool gorge; in autumn, see Chomonkyo's foliage. The station is a gateway to seasonal Ato excursions.

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 from central Yamaguchi toward Tsuwano or Hagi

Turn a Route 9 lunch stop into an Ato Wagyu meal

After parking, check the restaurant's final reception time. If you arrive at lunch, consider an Ato Wagyu beef rice bowl, beef udon or sukiyaki set. After eating, browse chilled meat and fruit at the farm shop. If your journey home is long, a croquette or soft serve may be a simpler choice.

Park → restaurant → farm shop → takeout → toilet → depart.

Final restaurant reception is generally 14:00. Check limited-quantity dishes and meat stock at the counter.

A taste of the gorge without a half-day hike

Take a short walk at Chomonkyo

Use the toilet and get a drink at the station before walking to the trail entrance. The route to Ryugabuchi is about 5.1 km and requires time and stamina. For a short break, enjoy the area around the entrance and return.

Roadside station → walk to trail entrance → enjoy the riverside → return to shop.

Check current trail access, conditions after rain and crowds during foliage season.

Rail fans, families with children and photographers

Visit on an SL Yamaguchi operating day

The JR Yamaguchi Line passes in front of the station, so on operating days a rest stop can include watching the train. You can shop or get takeout while waiting. More people and cars are likely on those days, so allow flexibility around lunch.

Check the operating day → arrive early → shop or have a snack → watch the train pass → continue to Chomonkyo or Tsuwano.

The 2026 notice says service was scheduled to begin in May, with no revenue service in September. Follow local rules for photography and parking.

A trip centered on Chomonkyo's autumn colors

Pair autumn foliage with a meal

Chomonkyo's scenery changes markedly in foliage season. Decide whether to walk briefly first and return for lunch, or eat early and reach the entrance before crowds build, to reduce restaurant and parking delays.

Arrive early → toilet → walk or photograph → early lunch → farm shop.

Peak color is usually around early to mid-November. Shuttle services and trail closures vary by year.

A drive to see seasonal flowers

Continue to Tokusa Hachimangu in spring or Funahirayama in summer

Tokusa Hachimangu's cherry blossoms are a spring option; in summer, the evening-blooming daylilies on Funahirayama are another. Eating and shopping at the station first lets you combine Ato's food and flowers in one day.

Roadside station → Tokusa Hachimangu Shrine or Funahirayama → finish at Ganjoju Onsen hot springs.

Check blossom timing, festivals, illuminations and the flowers' evening opening time in advance.

Hours

Opening hours

Information corner and farm shop

9:30-18:00

Ato no Megumi farm shop; temporary closures possible.

Chomonkyo restaurant

11:00-14:30

Final reception at 14:00; menu may change.

Takeout counter

9:30-16:00

Rice-flour soft serve, pear soft serve, Wagyu croquettes and more.

Outdoor toilets

Reported to be usable on closure days

Confirmed in the July 2026 closure notice.

EV charging

24 hours

Paid service.

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

★★★☆☆

Good for a toilet and baby-changing stop, a quick shop visit or a soft-serve break.

Do not assume the gorge path suits a stroller; staying near the entrance is an easier choice.

Ages 2–3

★★★☆☆

A croquette, soft serve and a short wait for the steam train can make an easy outing.

Keep children close by the river and on the trail, and avoid peak meal times.

Ages 4–6

★★★★☆

The train, a short walk, soft serve and a visit to Tokusa Hachimangu or the hot springs can fill a day.

For a longer Chomonkyo walk, plan footwear and toilet stops first.

Primary school children

★★★★☆

Explore Chomonkyo's nature and the SL Yamaguchi train, or continue to Tokusagamine or Funahirayama.

For autumn foliage and summer flowers, plan around crowds, heat and walking distance.

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

Official notices

Check the latest monthly closure days and announcements about appreciation events, Father's Day, Good Meat Day and Christmas.

Ato no Megumi

Check changes to Ato Wagyu prices, fruit arrivals, takeout products and payment methods.

Chomonkyo

Check autumn foliage, trail access, shuttles, the Maple Festival and conditions after rain.

SL Yamaguchi

Check operating dates and annual plans, including any September suspension.

Ato's seasonal spots

Look up the Tokusa Cherry Blossom Festival, Funahirayama's daylilies, fruit picking and Ganjoju Onsen opening hours by season.

Local feel

Reasons to return

Practical ideas and things to consider when spending time here.

The station highlights Chomonkyo walks and the steam train

The JR Yamaguchi Line passes in front of the station, which attracts visitors to Chomonkyo and the SL Yamaguchi train. Plan for its role as a scenic gateway as well as a food stop.

Source: Official station website

Ato Wagyu, rice, tomatoes, apples, pears and honey anchor the farm shop

Ato Wagyu makes the shop a destination, while fruit and rice are seasonal purchases to take home.

Source: Official farm-shop page

Plan around the restaurant's lunchtime hours

The official hours are 11:00–14:30, with final reception at 14:00. If you miss lunch, consider takeout.

Source: Official restaurant page

Visitor reviews recall Ato Wagyu, apples and the clear river

Visitors often remember Ato's beef and fruit and the natural setting at the Chomonkyo entrance. Pair named products with a short walk.

Source: Trends across several travel-review sites

Evenings are poorly suited to shopping

Travel accounts suggest few nearby late-night shopping options; plan this station for daytime meals, shopping and a break.

Source: Trends across several travel-review sites

A full trail walk is optional

The official guide puts the trail entrance about 300 m from the station and Ryugabuchi about 5.1 km and 100 minutes away. Choose between a short stop and a longer walk.

Source: Official Chomonkyo page

Autumn access and traffic arrangements can change

Tourism information discusses seasonal shuttles and trail conditions, so check the year's arrangements before fixing your route.

Source: Yamaguchi Prefecture tourism information

Check SL Yamaguchi operating days each year

The official 2026 notice lists a May start and no revenue service in September. Treat the schedule as changeable.

Source: Official SL Yamaguchi website

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.

For lunch, check the restaurant's 14:00 final reception first.
If buying fresh Ato Wagyu beef, consider your journey home and bring an insulated bag.
Takeout generally closes at 16:00; later visits are better focused on the farm shop and a toilet break.
Walking only to the Chomonkyo trail entrance, partway along it or all the way to Ryugabuchi requires very different effort.
The outdoor toilets are reported to be usable on closure days, but plan shopping and meals for business days.
Allow extra time for parking and meals in November foliage season, on SL operating days and during spring cherry blossoms.

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
Sukiyaki set (Ato Wagyu beef)
Restaurant / check availability
Meal
Beef rice bowl (Ato Wagyu beef)
Restaurant / plan for lunchtime
Meal
Beef udon set and beef-and-tempura udon set (Ato Wagyu beef)
Restaurant / menu may change
Limited quantity
Ato Wagyu beef ramen
Advertised as limited to 10 servings
Takeout
Ato Wagyu beef croquette and croquette sandwich
Approximately 9:30–16:00
Dessert
Soft-serve ice cream made with Ato rice flour
Takeout
Seasonal dessert
Chomonkyo pear soft-serve ice cream
Available for a limited season
Farm shop
Ato rice, apples, pears, tomatoes and honey
Varies by season and stock on the day

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.

Beef

Ato Wagyu beef / beef rice bowl / sukiyaki set / beef udon

The strongest reason to have lunch at this station.

Snacks

Ato Wagyu beef croquette / croquette sandwich

An alternative if you miss restaurant hours.

Sweets

Ato rice-flour soft serve / Chomonkyo pear soft serve

A taste of Ato even on a short stop or with children.

Farm-shop produce

Ato rice / tomatoes / apples / pears / honey

Good for seasonal shopping and meals back home.

Chilled goods

Fresh Ato Wagyu beef

Consider your trip home and bring an insulated bag.

Access

Location and surroundings

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Roadside station

Michi-no-Eki Chomonkyo

A Route 9 roadside station at the gateway to Chomonkyo Gorge, where you can shop for Ato Wagyu and local fruit and catch a glimpse of the SL Yamaguchi steam train.

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