Yunokawa Roadside Station is located in Gakuto, Hikawa Town, Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture, along National Route 9, one of the main roads through the San’in region. Situated between Izumo and Matsue, it is an easy place to stop during a road trip or sightseeing journey.
The roadside station offers a convenient combination of local specialties, fresh agricultural products, regional cuisine, tourist information, and comfortable rest areas. It is popular with both travelers and local residents as a place to take a break and discover the flavors and culture of the Izumo area.
Hikawa is also known as a “town of flowers,” and the surrounding area is rich in nature. Visitors can enjoy seasonal flowers and the peaceful atmosphere of the local countryside while taking a break from their journey.
Yunokawa Roadside Station has an information area where visitors can find details about sightseeing attractions, transportation, events, and other useful information throughout Izumo and Shimane Prefecture.
A touchscreen information system allows travelers to search easily for sightseeing spots, restaurants, local attractions, and other destinations. A wide selection of tourist brochures and regional magazines is also available, making the station a useful source of information for planning the rest of a trip.
Its location makes it particularly convenient when visiting major attractions such as Izumo Taisha and Lake Shinji.
One of the most popular features of the roadside station is the free foot bath beside the main building. The foot bath uses water from nearby Yunokawa Hot Spring, allowing travelers to enjoy a relaxing taste of the local hot-spring culture without having to visit a full bathing facility.
Yunokawa Hot Spring is traditionally known as one of the “Three Beauties’ Hot Springs of Japan,” together with Ryujin Hot Spring in Wakayama Prefecture and Kawanaka Hot Spring in Gunma Prefecture.
The spring water contains a relatively high level of boric acid and is traditionally valued for its skin-friendly qualities. Soaking your feet in the warm water is a simple but refreshing way to relax tired legs after traveling.
The foot bath is enjoyed not only by tourists but also by local residents, some of whom visit regularly. It has become a friendly meeting place where visitors and people from the surrounding community can share a moment of relaxation.
Yunokawa Hot Spring is associated with a beautiful legend from Japanese mythology. According to local tradition, Yagami-hime, a princess from the ancient land of Inaba, fell in love with Okuninushi, one of the central figures in Izumo mythology.
When Yagami-hime traveled to Izumo, she is said to have stopped at Yunokawa Hot Spring to recover from the journey. The legend says that after bathing in the spring, she became even more beautiful.
This story helped establish Yunokawa as a “beauty hot spring” in local tradition. A statue of Yagami-hime stands at the roadside station, where she is also revered as a deity associated with love and safe childbirth.
Visitors can also find a space for hanging ema, traditional wooden wish plaques. Writing a wish and leaving it at the site adds a small touch of Izumo’s famous culture of love, connections, and good fortune to a visit.
The restaurant at Yunokawa Roadside Station makes use of ingredients from the Izumo region. One of the local specialties is freshwater clam cuisine made with Yamato shijimi from nearby Lake Shinji.
Shijimi rice and shijimi soup are especially popular. The small clams are prized for their rich umami flavor, making them a memorable taste of the Lake Shinji area.
The restaurant also offers dishes featuring Shussai Ginger, a distinctive local variety of ginger. Original dishes such as Shussai Ginger Curry and Shussai Ginger Udon provide an opportunity to enjoy the ingredient in a different way.
Of course, visitors can also enjoy Izumo Soba, one of Shimane’s best-known regional specialties. Stopping here for a meal is an easy way to experience the flavors of Izumo while traveling through the area.
The shop offers a wide selection of souvenirs and specialty products from the Izumo region. Popular ingredients include shijimi clams from Lake Shinji, Shussai Ginger, and locally grown tomatoes.
Visitors can also find processed foods made with these local ingredients, including tomato ketchup and Izumo tea.
A dedicated farmers’ market section sells vegetables and fruits grown by local farmers. Because the selection changes with the seasons, it is a good place to discover fresh regional produce at reasonable prices.
For travelers interested in Japanese food culture, the market provides a chance to see and purchase ingredients that are closely connected with everyday life in the Izumo countryside.
Hikawa is known as one of Japan’s “Five Great Flower Towns,” with flowers blooming throughout the year. Yunokawa Roadside Station has a dedicated flower house where visitors can see and purchase seasonal plants.
In spring, tulips and azaleas add bright colors to the landscape. During the rainy season, lotus flowers come into bloom, followed by sunflowers in summer. From autumn into winter, cyclamens provide a colorful display.
Hikawa is particularly well known for its cyclamen production, which is among the largest in western Japan. Flowers grown in the area are shipped to destinations throughout the country.
The flower house is an enjoyable stop for anyone interested in gardening, seasonal flowers, and the agricultural character of the local region.
Hikawa also has deep connections with the ancient history of the Izumo region. Nearby are the Kojindani Ruins, an important archaeological site where an extraordinary collection of ancient bronze weapons was discovered, including 358 bronze swords.
The roadside station itself includes an area introducing the history, mythology, and archaeological heritage of the Hikawa region. It provides an easy introduction to the ancient culture of Izumo before visiting the archaeological sites in greater depth.
Visitors can also find a hot-spring water station at the roadside station, where water from Yunokawa Hot Spring can be taken home. The spring’s reputation as a traditional beauty hot spring makes this a popular service among local residents.
Near the entrance is also a popular taiyaki stand. These fish-shaped Japanese pastries are available with a variety of fillings, including sweet red bean paste, custard, and ham with mayonnaise.
Freshly baked and fragrant, taiyaki makes a convenient snack to enjoy during a drive or while taking a short break from sightseeing.
Yunokawa Roadside Station is conveniently located about five minutes on foot from JR Shobara Station, making it accessible not only by car but also by train.
Because it stands directly along National Route 9, the station is also a convenient rest stop for travelers driving through the San’in region.
The facilities include a restaurant, shop, rest area, tourist information corner, and baby bed. A rest space is available 24 hours a day, and the large parking area includes spaces for larger vehicles.
Barrier-free facilities are also provided, making the roadside station comfortable and convenient for a wide range of travelers.
Yunokawa Roadside Station is conveniently located for exploring attractions such as Izumo Taisha, Lake Shinji, and Izumo Enmusubi Airport. It is much more than a place to simply stop and rest.
Visitors can soak their feet in a free hot-spring foot bath, enjoy local dishes, shop for fresh produce and regional specialties, discover seasonal flowers, and learn about the history and mythology of Hikawa.
Nature, mythology, history, local food, and warm hospitality come together at Yunokawa Roadside Station. When exploring Izumo and the wider San’in region, it is a convenient and enjoyable place to take a break and experience a little more of the character of Shimane.