Tokushima Prefecture · Shikoku

Michi-no-Eki Itano

道の駅いたの

Just by Itano Interchange, this roadside station brings spring carrots, a footbath, a dog run, and disaster response facilities together for a family driving break.

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

Location

Itano Town, Itano District

Road

Tokushima–Hiketa Prefectural Route 1 / near Itano Interchange on the Takamatsu Expressway

Hours

8:30–18:00

Sorairo, the footbath, and the dog run are generally open 8:30–18:00; Megumi Shokudo is generally open 11:00–18:00. Hours may vary by shop or event.

Parking

Cars: 313 / Large vehicles: 9

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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 things on arrival

Check the toilets, produce market, and footbath

On a family trip, taking care of everyone's needs first makes the next leg easier. Check the on-site notices before using the footbath.

If stopping at lunchtime

Aim for Megumi Shokudo, with Sorairo as an alternative

The restaurant generally opens at 11:00. If it is busy or you want something lighter, the light meals counter gives you another option.

If shopping to take home

Spring carrots, vegetables, pickles, and fruit

The produce market is the place for a taste of Itano Town. Seasonal items can sell down as the day goes on, so arrive earlier if shopping is the main purpose.

If traveling with children

Reset at the station, then head to Asutamuland

Use the roadside station for rest and food, and Asutamuland for the main playtime. Splitting those roles makes an easy half-day outing.

If traveling with a dog

Take a short break at the dog run

The dog run lets your dog change pace during a car journey. On hot days, keep the visit short.

If adding a final stop

Finish at Asebi Onsen

After eating and shopping, a trip to the hot spring in the hills can round off a short detour.

How to plan a weekend drive

Take care of the family's needs here before heading to the play area

Itano works best as a base for setting off comfortably to the next destination, rather than an all-day play area itself. From Ayano Shiraishi's perspective, start with toilets and food, then a break for the children; if there is time, browse the produce market and use the footbath. Choose indoor facilities in rain or Asutamuland in fine weather. The station helps you put the family's activities in a workable order.

Get ready first

Take care of toilets, nursing, a snack, and the dog's break at the station.

Move on to play

Head to Asutamuland Tokushima or the History and Culture Park according to the weather.

Round off the return trip

Choose vegetables for dinner at the produce market, and go to Asebi Onsen if time allows.

Highlights

Michi-no-Eki Itano is a convenient rest stop in Itano Town when driving between the Tokushima and Takamatsu expressways. Browse spring carrots and seasonal vegetables at the produce market, have lunch at Megumi Shokudo, or make a shorter stop at Sorairo or the footbath. Children can get some fresh air, and dogs can stretch in the dog run. Nearby Asutamuland Tokushima, Asebi Onsen, and Jizoji Temple, a pilgrimage temple, give families options when the weather changes.

#Tokushima Prefecture
#Itano Town
#Itano Interchange
#Spring carrots
#Produce market
#Megumi Shokudo
#Sorairo
#Footbath
#Dog run
#Bicycle rental
#EV fast charging
#Disaster response hub

Practical information

Registration number: 徳島-17
Prefecture: Tokushima Prefecture
Municipality: Itano Town, Itano District
Road: Tokushima–Hiketa Prefectural Route 1 / near Itano Interchange on the Takamatsu Expressway
Telephone: 088-612-8817
Closed days: Generally closed only at the start of the year. Check notices for individual shops and events.
Station stamp: Available

Address

39-5 Nakatezaki, Kawabata, Itano-cho, Itano-gun, Tokushima Prefecture (徳島県板野郡板野町川端字中手崎39-5)

Facilities

Local produce market
Megumi Shokudo
Sorairo light meals counter
Agricultural support training room
Local information corner
Footbath
Dog run
Bicycle rental
EV fast charger
Mobile hydrogen station
Helipad
Earthquake resistant water tank

8 more facilities listed.

External links

Visit the official website (Japanese)Background information (Japanese)www.sk-michinoeki.jp (Japanese guide)www.sk-michinoeki.jp (Japanese guide)asutamuland.jp (Japanese guide)asutamuland.jp (Japanese guide)www.east-tokushima.jp (Japanese guide)

Why I like it

Reasons to stop here

A family reset close to the expressway interchange

Near Itano Interchange, the spacious parking area puts meals, snacks, a footbath, toilets, and a dog run within one stop. It is a place to take care of everyone's needs before the next destination, rather than spend a whole day playing. Even when children, dogs, and drivers need breaks at different times, a short visit can help everyone reset.

Start shopping for Tokushima specialties with spring carrots

The Shikoku roadside station guide lists spring carrots, pickles, edamame, and peaches as local specialties. Even without dining in, the produce market lets you take a taste of Itano Town home. Seasonal vegetables and processed foods can make an ordinary driving break feel more like a trip.

Disaster facilities add reassurance to an everyday stop

This future oriented roadside station has a helipad, earthquake resistant water tank, evacuation shelter and stockpile warehouse, and EV fast charger. It is a solid base for road users as well as a sightseeing stop. A pause here can be especially useful when the weather turns or the drive home is long.

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.

Family drives using the Tokushima and Takamatsu expressways

Leave the expressway and take care of everyone's needs

Near Itano Interchange, you can combine toilets, produce shopping, a snack, a footbath, and a break for your dog. A pause before rushing to the next attraction helps children and drivers settle into the next leg.

From the Itano Interchange area, go to the roadside station. Choose Megumi Shokudo for a meal, or Sorairo and the produce market for a short visit.

At weekend lunchtime, food and shopping crowds may overlap. Keep the light meals option in mind instead of relying on one lunch plan.

A half-day outdoor outing with preschool or elementary school children

Make it a food and shopping base before or after Asutamuland

Let Asutamuland be the main play stop, and use the roadside station for food, shopping, and a break. If rain or heat cuts outdoor play short, vegetables or sweets at the station can still make the outing satisfying.

Michi-no-Eki Itano → Asutamuland Tokushima, or the reverse.

Asutamuland is generally closed on Wednesdays; its guidance says closing time is extended during Golden Week and in July and August.

Adults traveling alone or with grandparents, or a local drive ending by evening

Take a short adults' detour for shopping and a hot spring

Browse spring carrots and seasonal vegetables at the produce market, then stop at Asebi Onsen on the way back. This suits a day when you want to finish slowly with food and a bath instead of packing in attractions. The footbath is a lighter option.

Michi-no-Eki Itano → Asebi Onsen Yasuragi no Sato.

Asebi Onsen announces Wednesday and year-end/New Year closures, so check its opening information if you plan to bathe there.

Cultural stops or a short walk between rain showers

Add a pilgrimage temple and a history park for a short cultural detour

Itano Town has Jizoji, a temple on the 88-temple Shikoku pilgrimage, and Itano Town History and Culture Park. After a meal and shopping at the station, you can switch to a quieter cultural stop.

Michi-no-Eki Itano → Itano Town History and Culture Park / Jizoji Temple.

Temples and parks are places to enjoy a quieter visit. With children, a separate play-focused outing may be more relaxing.

Hours

Opening hours

Sorairo light meals counter

8:30-18:00

Hours listed by the Shikoku Roadside Stations Association. Generally closed only at the start of the year.

Megumi Shokudo

11:00-18:00

Last order is generally 17:30. Allow extra time for lunch if it is busy or an event is on.

Footbath

8:30-18:00

Availability may change due to equipment inspections or weather. Follow on-site notices and official updates.

Dog run

8:30-18:00

Convenient for a short break with your dog. Check the heat and crowding before use.

Bicycle rental reception

8:30-16:00

If exploring the area by bicycle, check reception hours first.

Family

Visiting with children

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

Age 1 and under

★★★★☆

A nursing room, baby changing station, and stroller provision make it suitable for a short break.

A stop for toilets, a snack, and getting ready for the car is easier than a long stay.

Ages 2–3

★★★★☆

They can get fresh air before or after eating. Moving the main playtime to Asutamuland may be more satisfying.

Keep hold of children near the footbath and parking area; a short visit can be easier to manage.

Ages 4–6

★★★★★

An age suited to combining a snack, produce market, footbath, and Asutamuland.

On rainy days, Tokushima Wood Toy Museum or the children's science museum offers an indoor alternative.

Elementary school children

★★★★★

Options expand to bicycle rental, nearby parks, the science museum, and a pilgrimage temple stop.

In summer, mix meals and indoor facilities into the day instead of filling it with outdoor stops.

Toilets

Information lists a multipurpose toilet, ostomate toilet, toilet with a baby chair, and baby changing station.

Nursing and infant needs

Information lists a nursing room, hot water for formula, and strollers.

Rainy days

Use the roadside station for food and shopping, then indoor facilities at Asutamuland or Tokushima Wood Toy Museum for rainy-day play.

Traveling with a dog

Suitable for a short change of pace. Avoid overdoing it on hot days.

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

Agricultural support training room

Information on using it as a rental space makes it suitable for local events and classes.

Disaster response facilities

The station has a helipad, earthquake resistant water tank, and evacuation shelter with stockpile warehouse. These offer reassurance to road users as well as serving at events.

Outdoor rest area, footbath, and dog run

Facilities that help you stretch during even a short stop. Adjust your time before or after eating to the weather and crowds.

Local feel

Reasons to return

Practical ideas and things to consider when spending time here.

Do not rely on just one lunch option

The restaurant, light meals counter, and produce market draw food and shopping visitors to the same place, so crowds can overlap at weekend lunchtime. Leaving room to switch to snacks or sweets makes things easier with children.

A footbath makes a short stop feel restful

The footbath can make even a brief visit feel like a real break. As it may be unavailable, plan another reason to stop as well.

The dog run helps, but watch the heat

The dog run is good for changing a dog's pace during a car trip. Tokushima's summer heat can make outdoor time hard, so keep visits short and check water and shade.

For rainy-day play, head to indoor facilities

Keep food and shopping at the roadside station, and use Asutamuland's children's science museum or Tokushima Wood Toy Museum for play. This makes a family rainy-day plan easier.

Spring carrot season makes shopping more rewarding

The Shikoku guide names spring carrots as a local specialty. The produce market changes with the season; for shopping, a morning visit can offer more choice.

Source: Shikoku Roadside Stations Association

Check whether disaster events are still going ahead

The Disaster Hero Kitchen Marche scheduled for June 2026 was canceled because of an approaching typhoon. It is not an upcoming event. The station’s disaster response facilities remain part of its everyday role.

Source: Shikoku Roadside Stations Association event listing

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.

Near Itano Interchange, taking care of toilets, a snack, and shopping first makes the next leg easier.
Choose Megumi Shokudo for lunch, or switch to Sorairo or the produce market for a short break.
Footbath availability can change, so combine it with shopping or a snack rather than making it your only reason to stop.
Use the dog run for a short break, and take care in summer heat.
For a day focused on children's play, use the station as a rest base before going to Asutamuland Tokushima.
If adding Asebi Onsen, check its Wednesday closure and bathing reception hours first.
Do not treat past or canceled events as upcoming. Check the official website or social media for the latest announcements.

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
Megumi Shokudo
Depends on the restaurant menu
Light meals
Sorairo
Depends on the shop menu
Sweet treat
Awa wasanbon soft serve
Depends on availability
Produce market
Spring carrots
Depends on season and stock

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.

Have lunch

Megumi Shokudo

A substantial lunch option during a drive. Hours are generally 11:00–18:00, with last order at 17:30, leaving room for a later lunch.

It can be busy on event days and at weekend lunchtime; switch to a light meal if the wait is long.

Keep it light

Sorairo / Awa wasanbon soft serve

Good when you do not want a restaurant meal, a child needs a snack, or you just want something sweet. Awa wasanbon soft serve, made with the region's fine-grained sugar, has also appeared in the Shikoku roadside station sweets festival.

Seasonal items and event products may change in availability.

Take food home

Spring carrots / pickles / edamame / peaches / local vegetables

For a taste of Itano, stop at the produce market. Shopping for dinner gives the break another purpose.

On some days, seasonal produce is easier to choose in the morning.

Rest after eating

Footbath / local information corner / outdoor rest area

Instead of driving off right after eating, pause at the footbath or outside. This also gives children and dogs a change of pace.

The footbath may close because of equipment conditions or weather; check on-site notices.

Finish nearby

Asebi Onsen Yasuragi no Sato

After food and shopping at the roadside station, adding a hot spring visit can round off a local drive.

Bathing reception is listed until 21:00. Watch for Wednesday and year-end/New Year closures.

Access

Location and surroundings

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Roadside station

Michi-no-Eki Itano

Just by Itano Interchange, this roadside station brings spring carrots, a footbath, a dog run, and disaster response facilities together for a family driving break.

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Park and science museum

Asutamuland Tokushima

A large family attraction in Itano Town, ideal after a break at the roadside station.

Open in Google Maps

Park and culture

Itano Town History and Culture Park

A quiet park and cultural detour a short drive from the roadside station.

Open in Google Maps

Temple and pilgrimage site

Jizoji Temple, Pilgrimage Stop No. 5

After food and shopping, make a short visit to Itano Town’s pilgrimage heritage.