Station Meiji-no-Mori Kuroiso

Savor the Heart of Japanese Agriculture at Meiji-no-Mori Kuroiso

Nestled in the lush countryside of Nasu-Shiobara, Meiji-no-Mori Kuroiso is more than a roadside station—it’s a living celebration of rural life, where farmers, food, and community converge. Set within a 7.5-hectare natural landscape, the station sits beside the historic former residence of Japanese diplomat Shūzō Aoki and is surrounded by seasonal flower gardens, open meadows, and sweeping views of the Nasu mountain range. This is a place where nature, heritage, and local craftsmanship come together.

At the heart of Meiji-no-Mori Kuroiso is its dedication to the farmers of the region. The station’s market showcases fresh, seasonal produce grown with care—each tomato, radish, and sweet corn telling the story of the land and the hands that nurtured it. From the farm to the table, the journey is transparent, with the kitchen and dairy workshop transforming local ingredients into exceptional meals and artisanal dairy products. Visitors can enjoy rich, creamy soft serve made from regional milk, handmade yogurts, and delicate milk-based sweets—all crafted with passion and purpose. This is not just a stop on a journey; it’s a connection to the soul of Japanese agriculture.

Meiji-no-Mori Kuroiso stands out as the only roadside station in the heart of Nasu-Shiobara—Japan’s premier dairy-producing region—where visitors can experience the full journey from pasture to plate. Home to the only on-site milk processing facility in the area, it offers the region’s only artisanal soft-serve made from fresh, raw milk sourced directly from local farms. The highlight is the exclusive fermented butter, crafted from grass-fed cow’s milk, which delivers a deep, complex flavor impossible to find elsewhere. This unique connection between dairy farmers and consumers, combined with hands-on food experiences like the Sweets Studio, makes Meiji-no-Mori Kuroiso a rare destination for authentic, farm-to-table excellence.

• Best Arrival Time: Visit between 9:00–10:00 AM on weekends to secure the day’s first batch of fresh-baked milk bread from the Sweets Studio, which sells out by 11:00 AM and is not restocked
• Hidden Gems: At the deli counter, ask for the daily special of hand-cut slices from the farm-fresh summer squash grown by local farmers in the Aoki area—available only during peak harvest months
• Weekend Special: On Saturdays and Sundays, the milk stand offers a limited-time "Full-Circle Soft Cream" made with raw milk from the same dairy farms that supply the roadside station’s dairy products, available only from 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM
• Best Photo Spot: Visit the Hanah Garden in late July or early August to photograph the sunflower field behind the Old Aoki Family Summer Villa, where the golden blooms create a stunning backdrop against the historic building
• Must-Try Product: Purchase the fermented butter made from grass-fed milk raised on the fertile pastures of the Aoki region—this is only available at the Milk Factory and not sold elsewhere in the station
• Off-Peak Experience: Visit on a weekday afternoon between 2:00–4:00 PM to tour the Old Aoki Family Summer Villa without crowds, as guided tours are offered only during these hours
• Local Story Tip: Ask the staff at the market counter about the “Pioneer Farmer’s Harvest” display, which features seasonal vegetables from a single farm in the Aoki area and includes a written story about the grower’s family history and farming practices

Spring (March–May): Fresh bamboo shoots appear in markets by late March, and the Hanah Garden blooms with yellow canola flowers in spring.

Summer (June–August): Juicy tomatoes, eggplants, and corn are harvested at peak season, while sunflowers bloom in the Hanah Garden.

Autumn (September–November): Sweet, mature lotus root and crisp root vegetables like daikon are available, with cosmos flowers in full bloom by autumn.

Winter (December–February): The most notably sweet daikon radishes are harvested, and the Hanah Garden offers serene views with winter grasses.