Skip to content
Michi-no-Eki JournalMap

Kagawa Prefecture · Shikoku

Michi-no-Eki Shionoe

道の駅 しおのえ

A small riverside rest stop linking farm-direct produce and soft-serve ice cream with Shionoe Onsen and a visit to Naiba Dam.

Updated Michi-no-Eki JournalRead in Japanese
Location
Takamatsu City
Road
National Route 193
Hours
8:00–19:00
Open until 19:00 from March to October and 18:00 from November to February. Closed Tuesdays; if Tuesday is a public holiday, closed the next weekday.
Parking
Cars: 22 / Large vehicles: 2
My stamp

Record this station in your journal

Records are saved in this browser. Visited stations receive a stamp and count towards your nationwide progress.

Nationwide progress
— / 1,238 stations
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.

Get oriented first
Parking, toilets, and opening hours

Parking is on the scale of about 20 cars. On busy days, plan for a short stop.

Eat something light
Soft-serve ice cream and snacks

An easy way to pause without a heavy meal before the hot springs or a walk.

Shop for the way home
Vegetables and fruit direct from producers

Look over seasonal arrivals on this mountain-area detour.

If you want a walk
Koto River and museum area

Add a short walk by the river or in Hotaru to Bunka no Sato Park.

To finish the outing
Shionoe Onsen area

Check each hot spring's current operations before planning a day visit.

Ayano's Shionoe notes

A small station makes choosing the next stop easier.

Ayano Kosaka sees Michi-no-Eki Shionoe as a place to make room in your day at the entrance to Shionoe: parking and toilets, a light sweet treat, farm-direct produce, and air by the river. Pause here before heading to the hot springs, museum, Naiba Dam, or seasonal firefly viewing, and the drive along National Route 193 becomes more than a journey through the area.

Highlights

Michi-no-Eki Shionoe is a riverside roadside station at the entrance to the Shionoe hot spring area, on National Route 193 between central Takamatsu and the Tokushima direction. Though it is no large complex, the Shionoe Tourist Products Center offers Kagawa specialties, vegetables and fruit sold directly by producers, light snacks, and soft-serve ice cream; parking and toilets make it a useful place to regroup. Nearby is the Koto River, while Takamatsu City Shionoe Art Museum, Hotaru to Bunka no Sato Park, Naiba Dam, and hot springs offering day visits are a short drive away. Together, they can turn a brief stop into a half-day exploration of Shionoe. Editor Ayano Kosaka recommends deciding what to eat and how much time to leave for the return trip before heading into the hot spring area.

  • #Takamatsu City
  • #Shionoe Onsen area
  • #National Route 193
  • #Shionoe Tourist Products Center
  • #Koto River
  • #Soft-serve ice cream
  • #Farm-direct produce
  • #Takamatsu City Shionoe Art Museum
  • #Naiba Dam
  • #Fireflies
Why I like it

Reasons to stop here

01

A stop to plan ahead before entering the hot spring area

This small station on National Route 193 suits a short stop for parking, toilets, shopping, and a snack more than a long stay. It is easy to fit in before or after Shionoe Onsen or Naiba Dam.

02

Bring home a little of Shionoe with farm-direct produce and soft-serve ice cream

The Shionoe Tourist Products Center stocks Kagawa specialties, vegetables and fruit direct from producers, and light snacks. Even if you do not want a full meal, soft-serve ice cream, hot snacks, and shopping can make the break satisfying.

03

The river, hot springs, museum, and dam are close by

The Koto River runs beside the station. Nearby are Takamatsu City Shionoe Art Museum, Hotaru to Bunka no Sato Park, Naiba Dam, and hot springs offering day visits. You can adjust your plan to the weather: the waterfront on a sunny day, the museum in rain, and a hot spring on the way back.

04

Each season changes a short detour

Early-summer fireflies, summer riverbanks, autumn mountain scenery, and winter hot springs give Shionoe a different feel through the year. Event and nature-viewing plans depend on dates and weather, so use the station as a starting point and check current information.

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 short break on National Route 193

Regroup before heading from central Takamatsu into Shionoe

Park, use the toilet, and take a quick look at drinks, snacks, and farm-direct produce. Because Michi-no-Eki Shionoe is not a large destination facility, it works well as a place to reset before the hot spring area or the dam.

Parking → toilets → Tourist Products Center → quick look along the Koto River.

Space for ordinary cars is on the scale of about 20. Around midday and on event days, do not plan to linger.

A day when you want a light meal

Enjoy soft-serve ice cream and farm-direct produce

Before a hot spring, an airport trip, or a drive through the mountains, a sweet treat and drink may suit you better than a full meal. Look for soft-serve ice cream or a snack inside, then buy vegetables or fruit for the way home; even a short stop can leave a taste of Shionoe.

Tourist Products Center → soft-serve ice cream → farm-direct produce → return trip.

Soft-serve brands and availability can change, so do not rely too heavily on older information.

A day of uncertain mountain weather

Head to the museum when it rains

When the riverbank or dam is difficult to explore, Takamatsu City Shionoe Art Museum offers a quiet indoor option. Check opening hours and decide whether to eat at the station, then drive a few minutes to the museum.

Roadside station → Takamatsu City Shionoe Art Museum → hot spring or return trip.

The museum is generally closed Mondays; also check for exhibition changeovers and temporary closures.

A short local outing on a sunny day

Add Naiba Dam and mountain scenery

Heading from the station toward Naiba Dam brings you upstream views of the Koto River system, water, and mountains. Take photos, seek a dam card, or enjoy the lakeside air for a dose of nature beyond the station.

Roadside station → Naiba Dam → return to the hot spring area.

Follow on-site guidance for the dam office, parking location, and visibility in rain or after dark.

A seasonal trip in June

In early summer, check firefly information and stay into the evening

Fireflies are a pleasure of Shionoe in early summer. The roadside station is sometimes listed as a toilet stop on firefly-viewing tours, making it a gateway to seasonal evening events as well as daytime shopping.

Roadside station by day → dinner and hot spring → organized firefly viewing.

Fireflies depend on natural conditions. Check the event dates, meeting place, clothing, and conditions underfoot.

Hours

Opening hours

Shionoe Tourist Products Center
8:00-19:00

Closes at 18:00 from November to February. Closed Tuesdays; if Tuesday is a public holiday, closed the next weekday.

Light-snack counter
8:00-19:00

Closes at 18:00 from November to February. Check the shop for the current selection.

Parking and toilets
24 hours

Official station information says these are available 24 hours.

Rapid EV charging
24 hours

The official Shikoku roadside station portal lists a charge of ¥500 per session.

Family

Visiting with children

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

Up to 1 year
★★★☆☆

Suitable for toilets and brief shopping. It is not a place for extended play, but works as a break from time in the car.

The parking area is relatively small, so keep time carrying a child short when busy.

Ages 2–3
★★★☆☆

Soft-serve ice cream and fresh air by the river can provide a change of pace. Keep children within reach near the water.

If the day is for river play, prepare for the ground conditions and bring a change of clothes.

Ages 4–6
★★★★☆

The museum, park, and dam views add variety to a short drive.

Choose the museum in rain and Naiba Dam or the riverbank on a sunny day.

Elementary-school age
★★★★☆

Naiba Dam, fireflies, and the history of the hot springs can open up conversations about nature and the area.

Adults should manage night travel and footing during firefly viewing.

Waterside

The Koto River is appealing in season, but watch water levels, footing, and heat, and keep the visit short.

Parking

Room for about 20 ordinary cars. Watch moving vehicles as children get in and 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

Tourist Products Center

Check for changes to opening hours, products, snacks, soft-serve ice cream, and the station stamp location.

Shionoe Onsen Tourism Association

Check current information on firefly viewing, hot spring area events, and nearby shops.

Koto River and Naiba River area

Check early-summer fireflies, riverbank safety, weather, and routes after dark.

Takamatsu City Shionoe Art Museum

Check special exhibitions, closure days, and information on using Hotaru to Bunka no Sato Park.

Local feel

Reasons to return

Practical ideas and things to consider when spending time here.

The Tourist Products Center focuses on local specialties, farm-direct produce, and snacks

This is a place to choose local specialties, vegetables and fruit direct from producers, and snacks on a short stop, rather than a large Shionoe destination for extended stays. Planning a meal separately in the nearby hot spring area or central Takamatsu is practical.

Source: Shionoe Onsen Tourism Association

Many visitors come for soft-serve ice cream, but the selection can change

Soft-serve ice cream is often mentioned on travel and map review sites. Some reviews also mention changes of brand, so avoid assuming a particular dairy brand from older accounts.

Source: Jalan and travel-review trends

Parking is small, making a short stop practical

Official station listings describe parking for roughly 20 ordinary cars. Rather than expecting a spacious stop, plan a short visit for the toilet, shopping, and choosing the next destination.

Source: Official Shikoku roadside station portal

The Koto River shapes the feel of summer and early summer

Takamatsu visitor information says the Koto River flows directly beside the station and draws people for river play in summer. The waterside is appealing, but families should watch rising water and footing and keep visits brief.

Source: Experience Takamatsu

Gyoki no Yu has closed; check another facility for bathing

Older reviews still refer to the adjacent hot spring, but Gyoki no Yu has closed. For a bath, check current day-use options such as Shin Kabakawa Kanko Hotel.

Source: KSB News and Shionoe Net

The station serves as a break stop on firefly-viewing tours

The 2026 Shionoe firefly-viewing tour information lists Michi-no-Eki Shionoe as a toilet stop. Once an event date has passed, treat this as an example of seasonal use rather than an ongoing tour.

Source: Shionoe Net
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.

  • As a guide, the Tourist Products Center opens 8:00–19:00 from March to October and 8:00–18:00 from November to February. Note Tuesday closures and the year-end and New Year holiday closure.
  • Parking is on the scale of about 20 ordinary cars. When busy, shop and use the toilet briefly and leave time to continue nearby.
  • Soft-serve ice cream is a popular reason to stop, but check the shop for the current brand and availability.
  • The Koto River is refreshing in summer, but families with children should watch rising water, footing, and heat and keep their visit short.
  • Gyoki no Yu has closed. Check which facilities, such as Shin Kabakawa Kanko Hotel, currently offer day-use hot springs.
  • For early-summer fireflies and tours, dates, weather, and meeting places may change; check Shionoe Onsen Tourism Association information before setting out.
  • If adding Naiba Dam or the museum, check rain conditions, museum closure days, and the dam office's service hours in advance.
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.

  • Sweet treat
    Soft-serve ice cream
    Check price at the shop
  • Farm-direct sales
    Vegetables and fruit direct from producers
    Varies by season and availability
  • Souvenirs
    Kagawa Prefecture specialties
    Check price at the shop
  • Light meals
    Rice balls and hot snacks
    Check current availability
  • Refreshments
    Soft drinks
    Check price 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.

Sweet treat

Soft-serve ice cream

The centerpiece of a break and a common reason for visitors to stop, though the brand and flavors may change.

In summer it melts quickly; enjoy it there rather than taking it into the car.

Farm-direct sales

Local vegetables and fruit

Bring a taste of Shionoe home for the dinner table. Looking from morning to midday may give you more choice.

Selection changes with the season and deliveries.

Light meal

Rice balls and hot snacks

Useful for a small bite before a hot spring, a dam walk, or an airport trip.

Check serving times and sold-out items at the shop.

Souvenirs

Kagawa Prefecture specialties

Add a Kagawa purchase before returning to central Takamatsu or continuing toward Tokushima.

Plan how to keep chilled goods cool if you buy them.

Add a nearby stop

Day-use hot springs and meals at inns

Keep the station stop light, then plan a meal or bath in the Shionoe hot spring area.

Check each facility's hours, closure days, and last admission for day-use bathing.

Access

Location and surroundings

Driving directions from your location
Open in your map appOpen in Google Maps
Explore stations near 高松市 (Japanese guide)

If the map does not load, open it in Google Maps

1
Roadside station
Michi-no-Eki Shionoe

A small riverside rest stop linking farm-direct produce and soft-serve ice cream with Shionoe Onsen and a visit to Naiba Dam.

Open in Google Maps
2
Art museum / rainy-day option
Takamatsu City Shionoe Art Museum

A quiet indoor stop a short drive from Michi-no-Eki Shionoe for rainy or very hot days.

Open in Google Maps
3
Hot spring / day-use bathing
Shin Kabakawa Kanko Hotel day-use hot spring

A practical place to check for a day-use bath in the Shionoe hot spring area after Gyoki no Yu closed.

Open in Google Maps
4
Dam / waterside
Naiba Dam

Add upstream waterside and mountain views to a short break at Michi-no-Eki Shionoe.

Open in Google Maps
5
Park / seasonal walk
Hotaru to Bunka no Sato Park (ホタルと文化の里公園)

Add an early-summer firefly outing or a short walk before or after the museum, close to Michi-no-Eki Shionoe.

Open in Google Maps
6
Hot spring area / local exploration
Shionoe Onsen area

Connect shopping and snacks at Michi-no-Eki Shionoe with hot spring inns and seasonal events in this mountain-area hot spring district.

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 Takamatsu City Shionoe Art Museum
Illustrative image
Art museum / rainy-day option
Takamatsu City Shionoe Art MuseumJapanese guide
About 3 minutes by car / approximately within walking rangeAbout 3 minutes by car

Good for rainy or extremely hot days, adults seeking a quiet outing, and families wanting a short indoor stop.

Illustrative photo, not taken at Shin Kabakawa Kanko Hotel day-use hot spring
Illustrative image
Hot spring / day-use bathing
Shin Kabakawa Kanko Hotel day-use hot springJapanese guide
About 5 minutes by carAbout 5 minutes by car

Good for a plan that pairs shopping and a snack at the station with a longer, separate hot spring visit.

Dam / waterside
Naiba DamJapanese guide
About 5 minutes by carAbout 5 minutes by car

Good for a short nature stop on a sunny day, photos, or a visit for a dam card, a collectible card issued for some Japanese dams.

Illustrative photo, not taken at Hotaru to Bunka no Sato Park (ホタルと文化の里公園)
Illustrative image
Park / seasonal walk
Hotaru to Bunka no Sato Park (ホタルと文化の里公園)Japanese guide
About 3 minutes by car / approximately within walking rangeAbout 3 minutes by car

Good for a walk before or after the museum, early-summer fireflies, or a brief spell outdoors with children.

Illustrative photo, not taken at Shionoe Onsen area
Illustrative image
Hot spring area / local exploration
Shionoe Onsen areaJapanese guide
Within a few minutes by carWithin a few minutes by car

Good for resting and shopping at the station before heading to hot springs, inns, or seasonal events.

Share

Send your travel companions a possible stop.

Share on XShare on LINE

Send a correction

Let us know if information on this page, such as hours or closing days, is incorrect. Our editors will review your message before updating the guide.

We use your submission only to review and improve our content and to reply about your message.

Updated 2026-10-01Explore the nationwide map →