Discover the Heart of Hyōgo’s Culinary and Cultural Heritage
Tōjō, nestled just off the Hyōgo Tōjō Interchange on the Chūgoku Expressway, is a vibrant roadside station that serves as a gateway to the rich traditions and natural bounty of northern Harima. Known as the birthplace of Japan’s premier sake rice, Yamadanishiki, this destination celebrates its agricultural roots through locally crafted sake, seasonal produce, and innovative treats made from the famed grain. Visitors can explore a lively marketplace featuring fresh vegetables, handcrafted sweets, and unique regional specialties, including the popular Yamadanishiki mochi and bauhms.
With a dynamic mix of farm-fresh offerings at Cosmos no Yakata, authentic dining at Restaurant Shishigin and Station Ramen Hana, and nearby attractions like Tōjō Lake and Aqua Tōjō, Tōjō offers more than just a pit stop—it’s a full sensory journey through the rhythms of rural life, local craftsmanship, and seasonal flavors.
Why Visit
Tōjō stands as the only roadside station in Japan where visitors can taste and purchase sake crafted exclusively from the region’s famed Yamadanishiki rice, grown in the elite "Special A" fields. Here, you’ll find rare seasonal treats like Danba Black Soybeans and fresh, hand-picked mountain-grown mushrooms, all sold at the Coosmos no Yakata market. No other station offers this direct access to the heart of northern Harima’s rice and forest bounty.
Restaurants & Dining
Tōjō’s roadside station offers a taste of local flavors with fresh, seasonal ingredients. Enjoy authentic regional dishes and cozy dining in a welcoming atmosphere.
Lion Silver
獅子銀
Specialty
Local ingredients used in traditional Japanese cuisine
A restaurant offering a variety of traditional Japanese dishes made with locally sourced ingredients. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, perfect for enjoying authentic regional flavors.
Station Ramen Hana
駅ラーメン（華）
Specialty
Traditional Hōshū ramen with nostalgic flavor and atmosphere
A food stall serving authentic Hōshū ramen, known for its nostalgic taste and traditional ambiance. Perfect for a quick, satisfying meal.
Shopping Highlights
Discover unique local crafts and seasonal goods at Tōjō’s roadside station. Explore a vibrant mix of regional specialties and handmade treasures.
Dream Street People
夢街人
A local products center specializing in regional specialties, including traditional fishing hooks, carp streamers, fresh vegetables, rice, local sake, and other agricultural products.
Products
Must-Try Item
Local sake made from Yamadani Shiki rice
Cosmos Hall
コスモスの館
A farmer's market offering fresh, locally grown produce, flowers, and processed agricultural products from the Kako City region.
Products
Must-Try Item
Perfectly ripe peaches called 'Yashiro no Peach'
Featured Products
Savor signature items like mountain rice wine and mountain rice-based sweets. Taste the essence of Tōjō’s rich agricultural heritage.
Yamadani Shiki Cake
山田錦バウム
A delicate cake made with Yamadani Shiki rice flour, offering a light and airy texture with a subtle sweetness.
Yamadani Shiki Rice Crackers
道の駅とうじょうオリジナル 山田錦で作った おこげせんべい
Original rice crackers made from Yamadani Shiki rice, offering a crispy texture and mild, nutty flavor.
White Peach Jam
やしろ加工部 白桃ジャム
Jam made from sweet white peaches, offering a smooth and refreshing taste.
Strawberry Jam
やしろ加工部 苺ジャム
Jam made from fresh strawberries, offering a vibrant and fruity flavor.
Sugiya Special Pure Rice Wine 'Matsuzawa'
特別純米酒『松沢』
A premium sake crafted from the renowned Yamadani Shiki rice, known for its refined aroma and balanced taste.
Sugiya Pure Ginjo Rice Wine 'Kozawa'
純米吟醸酒『小澤』
A delicate ginjo sake made from Yamadani Shiki rice, featuring a floral aroma and smooth finish.
Butternut Squash
バターナッツかぼちゃ
A sweet, nutty-flavored squash with a creamy texture, ideal for soups, gratins, and desserts.
Dried Persimmons
つるし柿
Dried persimmons made from astringent persimmons, offering a sweet and chewy texture.
Black Soybeans
丹波黒枝豆
Large, sweet black soybeans with a deep, rich flavor, harvested during a short seasonal window.
Chestnuts
栗
Fresh chestnuts with a sweet, nutty flavor, ideal for roasting or cooking in various dishes.
Yuzu
すだち
A small citrus fruit with a tangy, refreshing flavor, perfect for cooking and beverages.
Peanuts
落花生
Fresh peanuts with a rich, nutty flavor, ideal for roasting or using in various dishes.
Green Tea
緑茶
High-quality green tea made from fresh leaves, offering a refreshing and slightly bitter taste.
Roasted Green Tea
ほうじ茶
Roasted green tea with a smoky, earthy flavor, known for its calming properties.
Mulberry Leaf Tea
クワの葉茶
A herbal tea made from mulberry leaves, known for its mild, sweet flavor and health benefits.
Hawthorn Leaf Tea
どくだみ茶
A herbal tea made from hawthorn leaves, known for its detoxifying properties.
Pine Needle Tea
クマザサ茶
A refreshing herbal tea made from pine needles, known for its clean, forest-like flavor.
Black Bean Tea
黒豆茶
A blend of roasted black beans and green tea, offering a rich, nutty flavor.
Danba Black Bean Tea
丹波黒豆茶
A premium tea made from roasted black beans, known for its deep, earthy flavor.
Grape
ぶどう
A variety of fresh grapes, including black, red, and yellow-green varieties, known for their sweetness and juiciness.
White Turnip
白ネギ
A white, crisp turnip with a mild, slightly sweet flavor, ideal for salads and cooking.
Cabbage
白菜
A large, leafy vegetable with a mild, slightly sweet flavor, ideal for soups and stews.
White Eggplant
白ナス
A white eggplant with a mild, sweet flavor and low bitterness, ideal for cooking.
Rice Noodles
巻きずし
Traditional rice noodles made from Yamadani Shiki rice, offering a delicate texture and subtle sweetness.
Rice Cakes
こめたま
Soft, chewy rice cakes made from Yamadani Shiki rice flour, offering a light, sweet flavor.
Rice Cream Puff
お米のシュークリーム『やまだまいちゃん』
A creamy puff made from a blend of Yamadani Shiki rice flour and reduced-pesticide rice, filled with custard cream.
Cabbage Seedlings
白菜の苗
Young cabbage seedlings, ideal for planting and growing your own vegetables.
Flowers
切り花
Fresh-cut flowers, including cosmos, ideal for home decoration.
Peach
もも
A sweet, juicy peach with a high sugar content, known as the 'Yashiro no Peach'.
Squash
かぼちゃ
A variety of squash, including different types with sweet, nutty flavors.
Cucumber
きゅうり
A fresh, crisp cucumber with a mild, refreshing flavor, ideal for salads and snacks.
Carrot
にんじん
A sweet, crunchy carrot with a rich, earthy flavor, ideal for cooking and roasting.
Mushroom
原木椎茸
Fresh mushrooms grown on wood logs, offering a rich, earthy flavor.
Sweet Potato
さつまいも
A sweet, creamy sweet potato with a rich, nutty flavor, ideal for roasting and baking.
Yam
里芋
A starchy root vegetable with a smooth, creamy texture, ideal for soups and stews.
Radish
かぶ
A crisp, slightly spicy radish with a refreshing flavor, ideal for salads and pickling.
Lotus Root
レンコン
A crunchy, starchy root vegetable with a mild, sweet flavor, ideal for stir-frying and soups.
Pumpkin
かぼちゃ
A sweet, orange squash with a creamy texture, ideal for soups, pies, and roasting.
Cabbage
白菜
A large, leafy vegetable with a mild, slightly sweet flavor, ideal for soups and stews.
Cucumber
きゅうり
A fresh, crisp cucumber with a mild, refreshing flavor, ideal for salads and snacks.
Carrot
にんじん
A sweet, crunchy carrot with a rich, earthy flavor, ideal for cooking and roasting.
Mushroom
原木椎茸
Fresh mushrooms grown on wood logs, offering a rich, earthy flavor.
Sweet Potato
さつまいも
A sweet, creamy sweet potato with a rich, nutty flavor, ideal for roasting and baking.
Yam
里芋
A starchy root vegetable with a smooth, creamy texture, ideal for soups and stews.
Radish
かぶ
A crisp, slightly spicy radish with a refreshing flavor, ideal for salads and pickling.
Lotus Root
レンコン
A crunchy, starchy root vegetable with a mild, sweet flavor, ideal for stir-frying and soups.
Pumpkin
かぼちゃ
A sweet, orange squash with a creamy texture, ideal for soups, pies, and roasting.
Facilities & Amenities
Convenient amenities include ample parking, accessible restrooms, and 24-hour facilities. Relax with baby care stations and public phones.
Parking Lot
115 parking spaces (15 large vehicles, 100 regular vehicles). Available 24 hours.
Adjacent to the roadside station
Restroom
6 male toilets, 5 female toilets. Includes baby changing tables and baby seats for both genders.
Inside the roadside station
Information Center
Touchscreen kiosk providing regional tourism information, local facility details, and real-time traffic updates including road closures.
Inside the roadside station
Toy Park
A themed amusement park centered around toys. Features interactive toy pavilions, 28 types of playground equipment, and a water park called 'Acapulco'.
5 minutes by car from the roadside station
Todoroikisou Hot Spring
Hot spring with natural hot water sourced from the Tōjō Lake river area. Offers various bathing experiences including foot baths, bubble baths, and sauna. Popular for neuralgia, cold hands/feet, and atopic dermatitis. Accommodations available.
5 minutes by car from the roadside station
Nursing Room
A dedicated room for mothers and babies to breastfeed or rest comfortably.
Inside the roadside station
Free Wi-Fi
Free wireless internet access available throughout the roadside station.
Inside the roadside station
Insider Tips
Visit on weekdays for quieter moments. Check seasonal harvests and event calendars for the best local experiences.
- Best Arrival Time: Visit on Wednesdays or Saturdays between 9:00–10:00 AM to get the fresh batch of MeTsuru plain bread, which is restocked on those days and often sells out by midday.
- Hidden Gems: At the Cosmos no Yakata farm market, look for the Battanatsu pumpkin (also known as buttercup squash) in the produce section—it has a creamy texture and is ideal for soups and desserts.
- Weekend Special: On weekends, visit the Dream Street shop between 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM to catch the limited-time Yamadanishiki frozen treats, including the Yamadamaichan ice cream-style sukiyaki and Kometama rice-flour cake, both available only in the freezer case.
- Seasonal Must-Buy: Purchase the Danba Black Soybeans during late October to early November, when they are at their peak flavor and are only available for about three weeks—check the Instagram feed for exact arrival dates.
- Best Time for Local Wine: Visit the Dream Street shop between 3:00–4:00 PM on weekdays to speak with staff about the Yamadanishiki Special A Region sake selection, which changes seasonally and is best sampled with guidance.
- Food Truck Tip: On weekends, visit the Toki Maru food truck (located near the main parking area) between 4:00–6:00 PM to enjoy their okonomiyaki and hormone yakisoba, which are only available during this time slot.
- Insider Purchase: Buy the Shinano Masukatto grape variety from the Dream Street shop in mid-September—this premium grape is sold in limited quantities and is available only until around the equinox.
Best Time to Visit
Spring (March-May): Fresh bamboo shoots and early vegetables arrive in spring; cherry blossoms near Tōjō Lake bloom in late March.
Summer (June-August): Watermelon sales peak in July; summer vegetables like eggplant and green beans are abundant.
Autumn (September-November): Black soybeans and chestnuts arrive in late September; grapes and persimmons peak in October.
Winter (December-February): Winter vegetables like daikon and cabbage are in season; hot dishes and local sake are best enjoyed.
Ratings
Family-Friendly Review
Offers baby changing facilities, nursing room, and nearby attractions like a toy-themed park and water park. Limited play areas, but stroller-friendly with ample parking and family-oriented food options.
Food Lover Review
Features multiple dining options including a restaurant specializing in local ingredients and a regional ramen shop. Offers diverse local specialties like mountain rice sweets and premium sake, with fresh seasonal produce available.
Car Camping Review
Provides 24-hour restroom and parking access, with sufficient space for vehicles. Quiet during daytime but lacks dedicated camping zones. Overnight parking is allowed, though no explicit camping policy is stated.
Scenic Beauty Review
Located near the scenic Tōjō Lake with seasonal views and natural surroundings. Offers photo opportunities near the lake and surrounding hills, with a peaceful atmosphere and well-maintained landscape appeal.