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Michi-no-Eki JournalMap
Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph

Kochi Prefecture · Shikoku

Michi-no-Eki Birafu

道の駅 美良布

Across from the Anpanman Museum, a Kahoku food stop for Nirou rice, inaka sushi, seasonal fruit, and handmade sweets.

Updated Michi-no-Eki JournalRead in Japanese

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph

Location
Kami City
Road
National Route 195
Hours
7:00–17:30
The direct-sales section generally opens 7:00–17:30 from March to November and 7:30–17:00 from December to February. Kitchen Nirou no Sato, Selene Health Center, and the museum have separate hours.
Parking
Cars: 101 / Large vehicles: 0
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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 thing on arrival
Browse inaka sushi and seasonal shelves at Nirou no Sato

Nirou rice, strawberries, crunchy peaches, rice-flour bread, and handmade sweets vary by time of day and season.

For a meal
Lunch and dessert at Kitchen Nirou no Sato

Lunch, drinks, and desserts have different service hours. Check the Tuesday closure and meal hours if lunch is your main reason for stopping.

With children
Use the station as a break before or after the museum

The Anpanman Museum requires admission reservations during some periods. Plan eating and shopping around your reserved time.

For a walk outside
Visit Kahoku Nature Park or Okawakami Birafu Shrine

The park offers flowers and views; the shrine has carvings and designs associated with Takashi Yanase. Keep the walk short on hot days.

On rainy or hot days
Choose Selene or indoor facilities

The pool, sauna, and training facilities have separate closure and last-admission times. Check ahead if exercise is your purpose.

For a seasonal visit
Spring break, summer vacation, the autumn festival, or fruit season

The museum area is busy during long holidays, and Okawakami Birafu Shrine’s autumn festival on November 3 changes the pace of the town.

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph
Kasumi’s shopping notes

Browse the shelves before visiting the museum.

Kasumi Kanzaki sees Birafu as more than a break opposite the Anpanman Museum. Browse Nirou rice dishes, inaka sushi, seasonal fruit, rice-flour bread, and handmade sweets first, and you can take a taste of Kahoku home even on a child-focused day. Starting in the shop makes a difference whether you sit down in the dining room or choose a light snack.

First the direct-sales shop. I want to buy a taste of today’s Kahoku before heading out to play.

Highlights

Michi-no-Eki Birafu sits on National Route 195 in Kahoku, Kami City, bringing food, shopping, and family outings close together. The Nirou no Sato direct-sales shop has the feel of a local kitchen, stocking Nirou rice, strawberries, crunchy peaches, inaka sushi (local-style sushi), rice-flour bread, Western-style cakes, game meat, and fresh fish. The Takashi Yanase Memorial Hall Anpanman Museum is directly opposite, with Kahoku Nature Park on the hill behind it. Whether you are visiting the museum with children or exploring the shop and shrine as adults, start by seeing what is in season on the shelves.

  • #Nirou no Sato
  • #Nirou rice
  • #Inaka sushi
  • #Rice-flour bread
  • #Strawberries
  • #Crunchy peaches
  • #Kitchen Nirou no Sato
  • #Anpanman Museum
  • #Kahoku Nature Park
  • #Okawakami Birafu Shrine
  • #Selene Health Center
  • #National Route 195
Why I like it

Reasons to stop here

01

Choose Kahoku foods first at Nirou no Sato

There is more to this stop than a convenient shop opposite the Anpanman Museum. Nirou rice, strawberries, crunchy peaches, inaka sushi, rice-flour bread, Western-style cakes, vegetables, and processed foods fill the shelves, and the choices change with the season. On a weekend drive, browse the direct-sales shop before your meal and pick out food and sweets to take home.

02

A dining room opposite the museum for a family lunch

Kitchen Nirou no Sato serves lunch, drinks, and desserts. Lunch around a museum visit can depend on crowds and children’s moods. It helps to decide whether to sit down in the dining room, keep it light with prepared food or sweets from the direct-sales shop, or head toward the hotel area.

03

Plenty to explore on foot after shopping

The Anpanman Museum opposite, Kahoku Nature Park on the hill behind, Okawakami Birafu Shrine within walking distance, and adjoining Selene Health Center are clustered nearby. Once you park at Birafu, you can combine eating, shopping, play, and a short walk without traveling far.

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.

Families with preschool or elementary-school children, especially when planning around a reservation

Browse the direct-sales shop first on an Anpanman Museum day

On arrival, look for inaka sushi, rice-flour bread, sweets, and drinks at Nirou no Sato. Decide whether to have a light bite before your museum reservation or go to Kitchen Nirou no Sato after the visit. This helps avoid a scramble when children get hungry.

Parking area → Nirou no Sato → Anpanman Museum → Kitchen Nirou no Sato

The museum has advised that admission reservations are required from March 29, 2025. Check its official guidance for your visit date.

A break on National Route 195, or a day for shopping for Kahoku products

For adults, combine shopping and the shrine on a short Birafu walk

After buying Nirou rice, vegetables, processed foods, wild-herb tea, or handmade sweets, continue to Okawakami Birafu Shrine. Its carvings, ema votive plaques, and amulets linked to Takashi Yanase connect the shopping stop with local culture.

Nirou no Sato → Okawakami Birafu Shrine → back to the shop for anything else

The shrine office and what can be viewed vary by day. It is within walking distance, though driving may be more comfortable on hot days.

A spring or autumn stroll, or a short nature walk with grandparents

Head up to Kahoku Nature Park for flowers and views

Kahoku Nature Park on the hill behind the Anpanman Museum has about 70 kinds of flowers and plants and a rest area overlooking Kahoku. Shop first, then take a short walk in the cooler part of the day to enjoy both local food and nature.

Nirou no Sato → Kahoku Nature Park → sweets at Kitchen Nirou no Sato

The park is on a slope, so a stroller or extreme heat can make the walk uncomfortable. In autumn, look out for fragrant thoroughwort and chestnut tiger butterflies.

Families with elementary-school children; a half-day outing on a hot day

Add water play or a pool visit in summer

If the museum and direct-sales shop leave the family with energy to spare, consider Selene Health Center or Hinomiko Riverside Park Campground. Sorting out lunch and drinks at Nirou no Sato first makes travel along National Route 195 easier.

Nirou no Sato → Selene Health Center or Hinomiko Riverside Park → sweets at the direct-sales shop

Pool visits, the campground, and river play depend on reservations, admission hours, and weather. Expect crowds during summer vacation.

An adult drive or an autumn scenery trip

Drive toward Monobe for autumn colors and a waterfall

With extra time, use the station as a supply stop before heading toward Todoro Falls. Pick up drinks and a light meal at the direct-sales shop before driving into the hills. Stopping again on the way back for Nirou rice or processed foods also makes sense.

Michi-no-Eki Birafu → toward Todoro Falls → shopping at the station

Todoro Falls is some distance from the station, and travel time varies with weather and road conditions. For a short rest stop, staying within walking distance at the nature park is more practical.

Hours

Opening hours

Nirou no Sato direct-sales section
March–November 7:00–17:30 / December–February 7:30–17:00

There are New Year holiday closures. Kahoku produce and processed foods are easier to browse in the morning.

Kitchen Nirou no Sato
9:00-15:00

Generally closed Tuesdays. Lunch is served 11:00–14:30, drinks and desserts 9:00–14:45; after 14:30, service is described as mainly takeaway.

Birafu District Community Activity Center
7:00-17:00

Used for local gatherings and information. It closes over the New Year period.

Anpanman Museum
9:30-17:00

From July 20 to August 31, opening is generally from 9:00. It is usually closed Tuesdays, but has periods without closure during spring break, Golden Week, summer vacation, and the New Year holidays.

Selene Health Center
13:00-21:00

Last admission is generally 20:00, and Tuesday is generally a closure day. There are periods without closures, such as summer vacation, and hours may change.

Family

Visiting with children

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph

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

Up to 1 year old
★★★★☆

Easy to fit in a nursing-room visit, diaper change, and short break.

Short stops at the direct-sales shop, toilets, and car may work better than a long museum and dining-room visit. Keep outdoor trips brief in summer.

Ages 2–3
★★★★★

The Anpanman Museum and playground are strong draws.

Nearby places to change the pace before or after a meal help. Use reservation time, naps, and hunger to decide between the dining room and a light snack.

Ages 4–6
★★★★★

The museum, nature park, and choosing sweets are easy to enjoy together.

After the museum, children can choose a snack at the direct-sales shop. Keep a nature-park climb short according to the slope and heat.

Elementary-school age
★★★★☆

The pool, river play, shrine, and nature park broaden the options.

Even if Anpanman is less of a draw, you can switch to Selene, Hinomiko Riverside Park, the shrine carvings, or a drive toward the Monobe River.

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

Seasonal products at Nirou no Sato

Updates from the direct-sales shop and Instagram help you see what is fresh among strawberries, crunchy peaches, rice-flour bread, inaka sushi, and monthly or limited-time dining-room menus. Browse the seasonal shelves before deciding on the rest of your trip.

Events associated with the Monobegawa Area Tourism Expo

A “Monobest Thanks Day” event was announced for February 8, 2026, in the square in front of Selene. That date has passed. Check current event listings for future gatherings in the same square or the Birafu shopping street.

Okawakami Birafu Shrine autumn festival

The annual autumn festival on November 3 brings a mikoshi portable-shrine procession (onabare) and ceremonial entries through town. Parking and the length of a typical station visit may differ from an ordinary day.

Flowers and chestnut tiger butterflies at Kahoku Nature Park

The nature park has flowers and plants through the seasons, with fragrant thoroughwort and chestnut tiger butterflies attracting interest in autumn. Weather and timing affect what you will see, so check recent information if flowers are your main purpose.

Local feel

Reasons to return

Practical ideas and things to consider when spending time here.

Families visiting for Anpanman often combine lunch and shopping

Visitor reviews frequently pair the museum’s location with the dining room and local-products shop. Keeping both a sit-down meal and a light snack in mind makes it easier to work around reservations and children’s hunger.

The direct-sales shop feels more like a local kitchen than a souvenir shelf

Official and local accounts describe seasonal produce, processed foods, inaka sushi, fresh fish, game meat, rice-flour bread, and Western-style cakes. If shopping matters most, browse on arrival rather than after eating.

The dining room is useful, but watch Tuesday and service hours

Kitchen Nirou no Sato has different hours for lunch, drinks, and desserts. On a museum day, leave room to choose prepared foods or sweets from the direct-sales shop if lunch plans change.

The nature park suits a short walk, with heat and slopes to consider

Kahoku Nature Park is on the hillside behind the museum, with flowers and views. With children or grandparents, a short walk in the cooler part of the day is more comfortable than a long midsummer visit.

Parking counts and opening hours differ among published listings

Kami City, Shikoku Michi-no-Eki, Kochi Travel Net, and the Shikoku Regional Development Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism list different parking counts or hours. Treat them as guides and check current information for the facility you plan to visit.

Nearby events can lengthen a usual rest stop

Events in the square in front of Selene, at the shrine, or in the shopping street change parking, walking routes, and waiting times as well as shopping and meal plans. Check details shortly before visiting.

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 want a particular item at Nirou no Sato, browse the direct-sales shop as soon as you arrive, before eating or visiting other places.
  • The Anpanman Museum has advised that admission reservations are required. Plan your reservation time alongside the dining room’s lunch hours.
  • Kitchen Nirou no Sato is closed Tuesdays and has separate lunch and dessert hours. Check recent updates if the dining room is your main destination.
  • During summer vacation or events, parking, the dining room, and the museum area can be busier than usual. Pick up a light snack and drinks early.
  • Kahoku Nature Park is a hillside walk. Its flowers and views are appealing, but keep it brief in extreme heat, after rain, or when traveling mainly with a stroller.
  • For a visit focused on Okawakami Birafu Shrine or its autumn festival, allow for changes in shrine-office availability, festival hours, and parking.
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.

Illustrative image — not an on-site photograph
Buy a taste of Kahoku

Nirou rice / inaka sushi / vegetables / processed foods

Start by walking through the direct-sales shop and choosing what to bring to your table at home. Nirou rice dishes and handmade prepared foods are reasons to stop here.

Popular items and prepared foods may sell out as the day goes on.

Look for seasonal sweets

Strawberries / crunchy peaches / rice-flour bread / Western-style cakes / karukan

Good for a child’s snack, a treat to take home, or a break in the car. Karukan is a steamed Japanese sweet; locally made sweets and seasonal fruit are enjoyable finds when available.

Fruit and handmade sweets vary with the season, production day, and deliveries.

Have lunch

Kitchen Nirou no Sato lunch / daily set meal / drinks / desserts

A convenient choice when you want lunch at the station before or after the museum. Meals featuring local vegetables and rice are available.

Check the Tuesday closure, lunch service hours, and mainly takeaway service after 14:30 before visiting.

Keep it light

Inaka sushi / rice-flour bread / handmade sweets / drinks

Works when a reservation is near, a child cannot wait in a dining room, or you need provisions before heading into the hills. You can still take a taste of Birafu with you without a sit-down meal.

Follow on-site guidance and consider crowds when choosing where to eat what you buy.

Explore more local flavors

Wild-herb tea / game meat / fresh fish / processed yuzu products

Treat the direct-sales shop as a local kitchen as well as a souvenir stop to get a sense of Kahoku food culture. Frequent travelers can enjoy seeing how the shelves change.

Stock changes daily. Check Nirou no Sato’s updates if you are looking for something specific.

Access

Location and surroundings

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Explore stations near 香美市 (Japanese guide)
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1
Roadside station
Michi-no-Eki Birafu

Across from the Anpanman Museum, a Kahoku food stop for Nirou rice, inaka sushi, seasonal fruit, and handmade sweets.

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2
Museum
Kami City Takashi Yanase Memorial Hall Anpanman Museum

A common main destination for families visiting Birafu, this memorial museum opens a window onto Takashi Yanase’s world.

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3
Park and flower walk
Kahoku Nature Park

A nature park on the hillside behind the Anpanman Museum for a short stroll among flowers and views of Kahoku.

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4
Shrine and culture
Okawakami Birafu Shrine

Carvings, an autumn festival, and designs linked to Takashi Yanase offer a walk through Birafu’s local character.

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5
River play and camping
Hinomiko Riverside Park Campground

On a drive toward the Monobe River, extend the outing to river play, barbecues, or an overnight stay.

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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

Museum
Kami City Takashi Yanase Memorial Hall Anpanman MuseumJapanese guide
In front of the station / a very short walkAbout 2 minutes on foot

A day to combine lunch, sweets, and direct-sales shopping before or after a museum reservation.

Park and flower walk
Kahoku Nature ParkJapanese guide
Near the station / within walking distanceAbout 10 minutes on foot

A day to add a little time outdoors among flowers and views after eating or shopping.

Shrine and culture
Okawakami Birafu ShrineJapanese guide
About 600 m from the stationAbout 10 minutes on foot / a few minutes by car

A day to walk briefly from shopping for Nirou rice and sweets into local culture associated with Yanase.

River play and camping
Hinomiko Riverside Park CampgroundJapanese guide
About 10 minutes by car from the stationAbout 10 minutes by car

A day to buy food and drinks at the station before heading out for summer river play or camping.

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