Michi-no-Eki Usuzumi Sakura no Sato Neo is a roadside station located along National Route 157 in Kadowaki, Neo District, Motosu City, Gifu Prefecture. Surrounded by beautiful natural scenery, it is a convenient base for exploring the region’s famous cherry blossoms, hiking trails, and outdoor activities.
The roadside station is conveniently located near National Route 157 and provides easy access to Usuzumi-zakura, a celebrated cherry tree believed to be more than 1,500 years old, as well as the Neo Valley Fault Observation Museum.
It is an ideal stopping point for visitors exploring the famous cherry tree and the surrounding Neo District.
The shop sells vegetables and processed foods unique to the Neo District, including Kōbo-imo potatoes, a traditional vegetable of Gifu Prefecture, and simmered edible thistle.
Visitors can also find unusual handmade souvenirs. These include ear picks crafted from smoked bamboo by a local barber and key chains made by local hunters using deer antlers and bear claws.
Kōbo-imo is a traditional vegetable grown exclusively in the Neo District. These small potatoes are approximately the size of ping-pong balls and are harvested in autumn. Historically, they were stored and eaten during the winter months.
One traditional preparation is to boil the potatoes in salted water without peeling them. They can also be dressed with egoma miso, a flavorful mixture of perilla seeds, sugar, and miso. These simple preparations allow visitors to experience the area’s distinctive food culture.
Another local specialty is tsukudani made from edible thistle, a type of wild mountain vegetable known locally in the Neo District as yama-azami.
The thistle is first blanched and salted, then desalinated before being slowly simmered in a seasoned mixture. Its texture resembles that of simmered butterbur stems, known as kyara-buki in Japan. It pairs particularly well with a bowl of warm rice.
The roadside station is a convenient base for visiting Usuzumi-zakura and the Neo Valley Fault. Nearby facilities include Usuzumi Onsen, Hotel Shikisai-kan, and workshops where visitors can enjoy hands-on activities.
The surrounding natural environment also offers opportunities for mountain stream fishing, forest bathing, hiking, and camping. Visitors can enjoy the changing scenery while spending time outdoors in the Neo District.
The roadside station’s direct-sales shop offers fresh agricultural products grown in the region’s rich natural environment, along with a variety of local specialties.
Popular homemade products include tofu, pickled plums, botamochi rice cakes coated with sweet azuki bean paste, oni manju sweet potato cakes, and uiro, a traditional steamed confection made from flour and sugar.
The selection of local produce changes with the seasons, reflecting the area’s agricultural traditions and natural abundance.
Spring offerings include a variety of wild mountain vegetables, tochi-mochi made with Japanese horse chestnuts, spinach, and onions.
Summer brings eggplants, cucumbers, pumpkins, garlic, and Kōbo-imo potatoes.
Autumn produce includes taro stems, taro roots, sweet potatoes, Japanese yams, and Chinese cabbage.
Winter offerings include Chinese cabbage, daikon radishes, perilla seeds, and tochi-mochi.
Other regional specialties include Usuzumi tofu, Usuzumi pickled shallots, pickled plums, and uiro. These products make use of ingredients nurtured by the natural environment of the Neo District.
Michi-no-Eki Usuzumi Sakura no Sato Neo offers a variety of distinctive local products, particularly Kōbo-imo potatoes and seasonal wild mountain vegetables. These specialties reflect the area’s traditional food culture and the bounty of its surrounding mountains and forests.
Whether visiting the ancient Usuzumi-zakura cherry tree, exploring geological attractions, enjoying outdoor activities, or sampling regional foods, this roadside station provides an inviting introduction to the natural beauty and local traditions of Neo.