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Kagawa Prefecture · Shikoku

Michi-no-Eki Kotonami

道の駅ことなみ

A mountain stop on National Route 438 for handmade soba, kinako soft serve, and Mikado Onsen.

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

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph

Location

Manno Town, Nakatado District

Road

National Route 438

Hours

9:00–20:00

Hot spring bathing: 9:00–20:00, with final admission at 19:30. The restaurant, shop, and produce market have different hours.

Parking

Cars: 130 / Large vehicles: 5

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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, on arrival

Choose your order: bath, meal, and shop

The hot spring closes at 20:00, with final admission at 19:30. Restaurant and soft-serve hours differ, so check them first if you have a particular food in mind.

For a meal

Handmade soba and Yamazato Gozen at Restaurant Mikado

Mountain-style choices include soba, set meals, amego trout, and winter botan nabe (wild boar hot pot). Plan your lunch around the restaurant if food is a main reason for visiting.

For shopping

Browse both the shop and Seiryu no Sato

Look separately for souvenirs, Kagawa specialties, and farm produce. Even on a short stop, kinako soft serve after a bath adds a Kotonami touch.

For a half day

Add Mikado Gorge or Mount Okawa

A nearby gorge walk or time in the mountains gives you a fuller sense of Kotonami beyond the roadside station.

On a rainy or cold day

Keep it short with the hot spring, a meal, and the rest room

Warm up inside instead of pushing on with mountain roads or walks. Watch for icy roads in winter.

Highlights

Michi-no-Eki Kotonami is a mountain roadside station on National Route 438 between Kagawa and Tokushima, centered on the E-Pia Mikado hot spring. Start with a bath, or head to Restaurant Mikado for handmade soba or the Yamazato Gozen mountain village meal. The shop has kinako (roasted soybean flour) soft serve and Kagawa souvenirs, and you can browse produce at Seiryu no Sato. Kotonami is a place to ease the fatigue of driving with a bath and a meal, then, if time allows, explore the gorge or head toward Mount Okawa.

#Kagawa Prefecture
#Manno Town
#National Route 438
#Day-use hot spring
#Mikado Onsen
#Handmade soba
#Yamazato Gozen
#Kinako soft serve
#Farm produce market
#Mount Okawa

Practical information

Registration number: 香川-11
Prefecture: Kagawa Prefecture
Municipality: Manno Town, Nakatado District
Road: National Route 438
Telephone: 0877-56-0015
Closed days: Closed every Tuesday; the operator says it opens on national holidays. Shops and nearby facilities have separate closing days.
Station stamp: Available

Address

2355-1 Kawahigashi, Manno Town, Nakatado District, Kagawa Prefecture (香川県仲多度郡まんのう町川東2355-1)

Facilities

Day-use hot spring
Restaurant
Shop
Farm produce market
Rest room
Culture room
Road information
Visitor information
Parking
Restrooms
Nearby walking information

External links

Visit the official website (Japanese)Background information (Japanese)e-mikado.jp (Japanese guide)e-mikado.jp (Japanese guide)e-mikado.jp (Japanese guide)e-mikado.jp (Japanese guide)e-mikado.jp (Japanese guide)e-mikado.jp (Japanese guide)e-mikado.jp (Japanese guide)www.town.manno.lg.jp (Japanese guide)

Why I like it

Reasons to stop here

A roadside station where the choice is bath first or soba first

Kotonami is best enjoyed beyond a quick shop visit: use the E-Pia Mikado baths and restaurant too. After driving National Route 438 through the mountains, relax in the hot spring. If you are hungry, choose handmade soba or a Yamazato Gozen set meal. Mix bathing, eating, and shopping according to how you feel that day.

Kinako soft serve is a reason to stop after a bath

The shop stocks local and Kagawa specialties, and soft serve is ordered at its register. Kinako soft serve, flavored with roasted soybean flour, makes a sweet finish after a Mikado Onsen bath. Even on a short stop without a restaurant meal, sweets and souvenirs offer a taste of Kotonami.

Add a gorge walk on a clear day or Mount Okawa in cooler weather

Options beyond the station include a walk through Mikado Gorge, Mount Okawa Campground, and Sanuki Manno National Government Park. Seasons and weather matter in this mountain setting. In summer, seek the river and cooler air; in autumn, look for foliage. In winter, check road conditions and opening hours, and plan a manageable return to the hot spring.

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 mountain drive between the Takamatsu and Tokushima areas

Ease the fatigue of Route 438 with a hot spring

After the mountain drive, take time for more than a restroom and shop stop. Mikado Onsen has a sauna and cold bath as well as its bathing area; a bath followed by a visit to the shop makes an easy break.

On National Route 438, it is a useful rest stop over the pass from either the Takamatsu or Tokushima side.

For a night drive through the mountains, check closing time and road conditions before setting out.

A food-focused stop or lunch before or after a bath

Make handmade soba and Yamazato Gozen the focus of lunch

Restaurant Mikado centers on handmade soba, with Yamazato Gozen, other set meals, and salt-grilled amego trout for a mountain-style meal. Choose soba for a lighter lunch or a gozen or set meal for something more filling. Botan nabe, a wild boar hot pot, is also advertised for winter.

Choose a meal before the hot spring or a leisurely one afterward according to your arrival time.

Banquets and crowds can affect seating. Check the operator’s latest information if the meal is your main reason for visiting.

A brief break without time for a bath, or a stop for something sweet

Take home a taste of Kotonami with kinako soft serve and souvenirs

The shop carries local specialties and Kagawa souvenirs, and soft serve is listed through 19:30. Kinako soft serve and gelato-style sweets make a stop worthwhile even without a bath. Seiryu no Sato adds farm produce to the shopping choices.

Make a short circuit of the shop, produce market, and rest room.

Produce and sweets vary by time of day and season. Go earlier if you want something specific.

A short walk in clear weather on an adult nature trip

Walk Mikado Gorge, then return for a bath

Walking information is available around the roadside station, and Mikado Gorge is a nearby natural sight linked to the hot spring’s name. Walk a little first, then return to the baths after working up a sweat. Nature and bathing fit together without making the day too full.

Michi-no-Eki Kotonami → walk in Mikado Gorge → bath at E-Pia Mikado.

After rain or in winter, assess the paths and roads and be prepared to skip the walk.

Camping, outdoor play, and the drive home after an active day

Unwind after camping on Mount Okawa or visiting Manno Park

After Mount Okawa Campground or Sanuki Manno National Government Park, Kotonami can be your stop for a bath and meal. Add a sweet and souvenirs after outdoor activities before the drive home.

Mount Okawa Campground / Sanuki Manno National Government Park → Michi-no-Eki Kotonami.

The road toward Mount Okawa gains elevation. Plan for temperature differences, fog, and winter road conditions.

Hours

Opening hours

Hot spring bathing

9:00-20:00

Final admission is 19:30 and the facility closes at 20:00; leave time in the evening.

Restaurant Mikado

Weekdays: 10:00–19:30 in the Japanese station listing; the operator’s current site header says 10:00–20:00. Confirm before visiting.

The operator lists restaurant hours, but its current site header differs from the weekday time in the station listing. Hours may also change for crowds, banquets, or seasonal operation.

Shop

9:00-20:00

Soft serve is listed as 9:00–19:30; order at the shop register.

Closing day

Every Tuesday

The operator says it opens on national holidays. Nearby facilities such as Ikiiki-kan have different closing days, including Monday and Tuesday.

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

★★★☆☆

Better for a short break around a bath than for a large play area. Check nursing and diaper-changing facilities on site, and keep the stop manageable.

Ages 2–3

★★★☆☆

The restaurant and shop are easy stops, but choose walking paths carefully. In rain or cold weather, focus on an indoor break.

Ages 4–6

★★★☆☆

A gorge walk or soft serve can break up the trip. Match bath time to the child’s energy; a shorter soak may work best.

Elementary school age

★★★★☆

Combine the hot spring, soba, gorge, and Mount Okawa for a nature outing. Add breaks on a long mountain-road drive.

Do not plan around outdoor playground equipment

Think of this as a stop for bathing, food, and a short walk rather than a place for extended play.

Prepare for motion sickness on mountain roads

On the mountain stretches of National Route 438, leave a little time to rest after arrival before eating.

Rest

Ideas for a restful stop

1
Rest after the mountain drive
On arrival, use the restroom, take a break, then consider the hot spring before moving on to food or shopping.
2
Choose soba or a gozen meal
Choose soba for a lighter lunch or Yamazato Gozen for a fuller one. Depending on seating, leave time for the shop or rest room.
3
Watch final admission in the evening
Final hot spring admission is at 19:30. If the return drive is on mountain roads after dark, plan ahead for the journey after bathing.

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

Indoor events

The operator’s event page has featured a hot spring fan appreciation festival, prize drawings, and other activities inside the facility. Check current listings if you plan a bath around an event.

Outdoor events

Nature walks, satoyama yoga, and woodworking workshops have been featured. Dates are not fixed; check the operator’s latest notices if you want to participate.

Events at nearby facilities

Ikiiki-kan, Mount Okawa Campground, and Kenko Fureai no Sato also host activities and experiences. Use the roadside station as a starting point for the Kotonami area.

Local feel

Reasons to return

Practical ideas and things to consider when spending time here.

A roadside station where the hot spring is the destination

Reviews and travel accounts often describe visits for the day-use hot spring rather than a simple restroom break. A bath after the mountain drive rewards a more relaxed schedule.

Remember the soba and Yamazato Gozen for a meal stop

The operator’s food information highlights handmade soba, Yamazato Gozen, salt-grilled amego trout, and botan nabe. Expect a mountain village meal and choose according to your appetite.

Source: E-Pia Mikado official dining and banquet information

A sweet after a bath also works for a short stop

The shop advertises kinako soft serve and other soft serve, so even without a bath you can stop for a sweet. For families or companions who want different things, it is an option before or after a restaurant meal.

Source: E-Pia Mikado official shop and souvenirs information

Add nearby nature when the weather suits

Mikado Gorge and Mount Okawa are appealing, but travel is through the mountains. After rain, in winter, or late in the day, keeping the visit focused on the roadside station and hot spring may be more comfortable.

Source: Official nearby walking and Mount Okawa Campground information

Event days show the hot spring’s local character

The operator has featured a hot spring fan appreciation festival, drawings, nature walks, satoyama yoga, and woodworking. Alongside tourists, local residents use the facility regularly.

Source: E-Pia Mikado official events information

Plan evening bathing with the mountain drive home in mind

The hot spring closes at 20:00, with final admission at 19:30. If your return route is mountainous, allow for darkness, fog, and icy roads in winter.

Source: E-Pia Mikado official hot spring information

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

E-Pia Mikado official YouTube

An entry point for videos on using the hot spring and walking nearby. If the embed does not display, visit the official channel.

Source: E-Pia Mikado official YouTube

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 you are visiting for food, check the restaurant’s latest hours and closing days first.
The hot spring closes at 20:00, with final admission at 19:30. Bathe first if you arrive in the evening.
Order kinako soft serve at the shop register. It adds a Kotonami treat even to a short stop.
For Mikado Gorge or Mount Okawa, check paths after rain, fog, and winter road conditions.
With children, plan for a meal, sweets, a short walk, and a hot spring break rather than large playground equipment.
Tuesday is the closing day. The operator says it opens on national holidays, but check the latest notice.
Produce and souvenirs vary through the day, so go earlier if shopping is your main aim.

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
Handmade soba
Check at the restaurant
Meal
Yamazato Gozen
Check at the restaurant
Sweet
Kinako soft serve
Check at the shop
Seasonal dish
Botan nabe (wild boar hot pot)
The operator lists à la carte and set prices

Food mood