Roadside Station Hitachiomiya is located off of highway 118 in Ibaraki Prefecture. The station sits just south of the Kuji River. On the day we went it was pretty busy. There were a number of trucks and pop up booths selling a variety of different foods and products. The main parking lot was already filled and we were ushered to an overflow parking lot across the street.

The station overall had a very clean and modern look. The ground cover was a nice mix of gray, light brown, and tan bricks. The modern looking windows with there traditional wooden accents blended nicely. To the right of the stations main building is a permanent canopy for small to mid size community events.

Roadside Station Hitachiomiya Local Products Store

Inside the building on the left is the local products store that sells a wide variety of goods. We found a lot of locally produced produce, freshly baked items, prepackaged local specialties, and a good amount of prepared sandwiches and bentos. After looking around for a bit, we picked up some bakery items for breakfast. We ended up getting a melon pan with a sweet orange melon cream inside and a caramel macchiato bread which was quite sweet.

After our quick bite to eat we headed out to the back terrace. To the right of the main building there was a small park and farm. There were also a number of tables with umbrellas and a little polished rock formation for kids to play on. The view from the back of the terrace gave us a panoramic view of the Kuji River. In the distance we saw some fisherman and families playing in the river.

Roadside Station Hitachiomiya Tourism Information Center

We went back inside and found the Hitachiomiya Tourist Information Center. We picked up a couple of flyers and chatted briefly with the lady at the booth. She was very knowledgeable and gave us several maps highlighting the areas main attractions. There was a stamp rally, but we’re not sure how viable it is for us to complete. We were excited about the hiking map we received, as they would be perfect day trips from Mito.

We also picked up a stamp which was unique to the Hitachiomiya Roadside Station. While we were stamping our pamphlet we noticed that a man was putting the stamp in a book. We politely asked him what/where he got the book. He mentioned that it was a special book that was filled with information about different roadside stations. There was also a section to collect each of the roadside stations unique stamps. We definitely want to pick one of these up when we get a chance.

Roadside Station Hitachiomiya Food Court

Next to the tourist information center is Gelato & Smoothie. We heard that their specialty flavor was perilla (shiso) so we definitely wanted to try it. We got two single cups of the perilla (shiso) and strawberry gelato. The perilla (shiso) gelato did not really taste like shiso at all to us. It had more of a lighter black sesame type flavor. The strawberry gelato had good flavor and was a nice balance of sweet and tart. Other shops in the food court included a ramen shop, a meat restaurant, and a sit down teishoku restaurant featuring soba & udon.

There was also a BBQ area with six tables for rent. The hourly rental fee is a very reasonable ¥500/hour for up to six people. The rental fee includes all the equipment needed to have a successful BBQ experience. They do offer prepared meat and vegetable trays, however they were a bit expensive and the variety is limited. To keep costs down and maximize value we would recommend stopping by the local Kasumi supermarket to stock up on ingredients and drinks before coming to BBQ. The local Kasumi supermarket is a short 7 minute drive from the roadside station.

Note: Advance reservation is needed for the BBQ sites and ingredients.

It may seem like all roadside stations are the same, but here are some notable things about Roadside Station Hitachiomiya

Unique Things:

1. Hitachi Aki Soba (soba is a local specialty)
2. Perilla (shiso) Gelato
3. River view
4. BBQ Area

Final Thoughts

If we were going north from Mito towards Fukuroda Falls or Daigo, Roadside Station Hitachiomiya in Ibaraki is a nice place to stop. The facilities feel new and modern, and there were a number of nice amenities to enjoy. We will be sure to stop by Roadside Station Hitachiomiya again.

More to Come…

Here is the link to their website.