Station Echigo Kawaguchi

Taste the Heart of Echigo’s Farmland at Its Freshest

Nestled in the scenic中山間地 (mid-mountain region) where the mighty Shinano River meets the clear-flowing Uono River, Echigo Kawaguchi roadside station is a vibrant celebration of local agriculture. This is not just a pit stop—it’s a celebration of community, sustainability, and the rich bounty of the region. Every product on display, from crisp vegetables to handcrafted goods, is proudly grown and produced in Echigo Kawaguchi, ensuring freshness and authenticity with every bite.

Visitors are welcomed by a warm, inviting atmosphere and a commitment to local sourcing that goes beyond mere tradition. The on-site shop offers seasonal produce, regional specialties, and real-time updates via social media, keeping guests in tune with the rhythms of the land. Whether sampling farm-fresh vegetables or exploring the story behind a jar of local preserves, every experience at Echigo Kawaguchi is rooted in the pride of place.

Echigo Kawaguchi’s roadside station stands out as the only place in the region where you can taste fresh, hand-harvested Echigo-grown spinach served in a seasonal rice ball, a daily specialty made with morning-picked leaves from local family farms. Equally unique is its exclusive line of fermented soybean paste, crafted using a 100-year-old family recipe and aged in clay jars, available only here. Surrounded by the serene riverbanks of the Shinano and Gion rivers, this is where authentic, hyper-local flavor meets sustainable farming in one unforgettable stop.

• Best Arrival Time: Arrive by 9:30 AM on weekends to secure the day’s fresh batch of milk bread from the on-site bakery, which sells out by 11:00 AM and is only available during the summer season (April–November)
• Hidden Gems: Visit the deli counter between 10:00 AM and 11:30 AM to find the limited daily batch of handmade pickled vegetables made from locally grown cucumbers and daikon, updated daily and rarely restocked
• Weekend Special: On Saturdays and Sundays, check the information board near the entrance for the schedule of the rotating food truck lineup, which features regional specialties like Echigo-style grilled fish and mountain vegetable dumplings
• Seasonal Product Alert: Purchase the seasonal Echigo River Basin wild herb jam in early May—only available for two weeks and sold exclusively at the main sales counter during the summer months
• Best Photo Spot: Position yourself at the west-facing viewing platform just past the parking lot entrance to capture the best view of the Shinano River and the Fishno River junction, especially during golden hour between 5:00–6:00 PM
• Local Product Hack: Use the free sample cups at the fresh produce counter to test the taste of the day’s featured local melon before buying—only the top-quality melons are selected for samples, and they’re always from the same family farm
• SNS Insider Tip: Follow the official Instagram account @agrinosato_kawaguchi for real-time updates on the daily fresh produce drop—posts are updated by 7:30 AM, and the first 10 customers to arrive with a printed post receive a free seasonal fruit sample

Spring (March–May): Fresh bamboo shoots available from April, with peak canola flower viewing in late April.

Summer (June–August): Fresh local vegetables and fruits at their peak, including summer melons and tomatoes.

Autumn (September–November): Harvest season for pumpkins and sweet potatoes, with autumn foliage views.

Winter (December–February): Limited fresh produce, but cozy indoor market and seasonal hot drinks available.