Michi-no-Eki Tsukimi no Sato Nannō is a roadside station located along National Route 258 in Hazawa, Nannō Town, Kaizu City, Gifu Prefecture.
The station takes its name from Tsukimi no Mori, a forest located to the west. Covering approximately 21,000 square meters, it welcomes around 400,000 visitors annually.
The roadside station enjoys a superb location overlooking the Nōbi Plain. Its facilities include a farm-fresh produce market, a free footbath, several restaurants, and a variety of specialty shops, providing visitors with a relaxing place to rest and enjoy the region’s attractions.
The farm-fresh produce market offers a wide selection of seasonal fruits, including the area’s famous Nannō mandarins, strawberries, grapes, figs, and blueberries. Visitors can also purchase fresh vegetables and other locally produced specialties.
Nannō mandarins are known for their excellent balance of sweetness and acidity. Extra-early varieties begin appearing around late September, and the season continues for more than six months, through the summer mandarin harvest in June.
Mandarins are also featured in a variety of creative dishes. Popular choices include mandarin ramen and mandarin udon, offering visitors an unusual way to enjoy this local specialty.
One of the area’s signature sweets is Nannō mandarin daifuku, a soft rice cake containing a whole mandarin. The filling is also blended with Nannō mandarins, creating a rich citrus flavor in every bite.
Another popular treat is the fruit sandwich from Yawaraya, a specialty shop known for its fresh bread that remains soft right to the crust. The sandwiches are so popular that queues sometimes form outside the shop.
The roadside station has a free footbath supplied by the same hot spring source as Nannō Onsen Suishō no Yu. Visitors can soak their feet and relax while taking a break from their journey.
A walking trail behind the station leads to Tsukimi no Mori and Suishō no Yu, making it easy to combine a visit to the roadside station with a walk in the forest or a hot spring outing.
Among the largest roadside station complexes in Gifu Prefecture, the site also sells mandarin-based souvenirs, handicrafts, unusual local products, persimmons, tomatoes, and other vegetables.
Located west of the roadside station, Tsukimi no Mori is a forest area developed through Gifu Prefecture’s forest conservation and improvement programs and related municipal projects. The name, meaning “Moon-Viewing Forest,” was given by the governor of Gifu Prefecture.
The forest covers approximately 38 hectares and features beautiful vegetation and trees that change with the seasons. Its elevated viewpoints offer magnificent panoramic views of the Nōbi Plain, making it an appealing destination for nature lovers and visitors seeking a peaceful escape.
Michi-no-Eki Tsukimi no Sato Nannō offers a diverse range of shops and dining options, including:
These facilities give visitors plenty of choices for dining, shopping, and sampling local products.
The roadside station provides parking for 103 standard vehicles, 27 large vehicles, and two vehicles designated for people with disabilities.
Restroom facilities include eight large men’s toilet stalls, including four accessible units; 15 small men’s urinals, including nine accessible units; 15 women’s toilet stalls, including nine accessible units; and three toilets for people with disabilities, including one accessible unit.
In addition to fresh produce, the roadside station offers a wide range of locally made foods and specialty products. One notable item is rice-flour bread made using locally grown Hatsushimo rice, produced under Gifu’s environmentally conscious clean farming initiative.
Visitors can also purchase processed mandarin products, including mandarin chips, mandarin jelly, and mandarin jam. These products provide convenient ways to enjoy the flavor of Nannō mandarins long after the fruit season.
Okumino Koji chicken is a locally developed breed descended from Gifu’s native chicken, which has been designated a Natural Monument. The breed is known for its tender texture and mellow flavor.
One of the traditional ways to enjoy this chicken is in keichan, a regional Gifu dish typically made with chicken and vegetables seasoned with a savory sauce. It is a flavorful introduction to the area’s local food culture.
Jellies and jams made from fruit grown on the slopes of the Yōrō Mountains are also popular. Ingredients include Nannō mandarins, figs, and kiwifruit.
These products are made without preservatives or artificial coloring, allowing the natural flavors of the fruit to take center stage.
The area surrounding Michi-no-Eki Tsukimi no Sato Nannō offers several attractions, including Tsukimi no Mori, Nannō Onsen Suishō no Yu, the Nannō branch office of Kaizu City Hall, Komano Station on the Yōrō Railway, Kiso Sansen Park, and Chiyobo Inari Shrine.
The roadside station is a convenient stop for travelers exploring these nearby destinations. Visitors can enjoy local produce, sample regional specialties, relax in the footbath, and take in the natural scenery all in one place.