We stopped by Roadside Station Katsura in Ibaraki Prefecture on the way back from a camping trip at nearby Pacific Camping Ground. It was located right off of National Route 123 and was situated on the southern bank of the Naka River. From the road the roadside station looked pretty small with a compact footprint and a small main parking lot.

It was a three day holiday weekend, but we were surprised with how busy it was. We got lucky and were able to secure a spot in the main lot. There was a supplemental lot located down the street.

The bathrooms at Roadside Station Katsura were surprisingly really modern and clean. The sinks had the latest technology which included automatic dispensers for the soap & water as well as a built in air dryer.

Roadside Station Katsura Local Products Store

The Local Products Store at Roadside Station Katsura was really big considering how small and compact the station was. They had a large assortment of fresh produce including seasonal fruits and vegetables. These rare cheese tarts caught our eye, so we decided to pick up a couple and give them a try. They crust was nice and flakey, while the inside had a very rich flavor. We would recommend.

Inside the Local Products Store there was a small soba restaurant that was only open for lunch. The greater Hitachi area is known for their Hitachi Aki Soba. The prices however, were pretty steep especially considering it was just soba.

Outside, there were two food stands. One had a variety of grilled foods like ayu and rice cakes, while the other was a gelato shop. We stopped by the gelato shop and ordered a cup which came with our choice of two flavors. They had a good selection to choose from. We asked for a recommendation and ended up going with the seasonal melon and pumpkin flavors. The melon had a nice crisp flavor, while the pumpkin was more subtle.

One unique part of Roadside Station Katsura is the Friendship Square. The Friendship Square is an informal car camping area located between Roadside Station Katsura and the Naka River. The area is open for both day camping and overnight camping. Best of all, it is completely free to use. Since there are no reservations, it is a first come first serve type system.

Note: If there are special events going on, they may suspend camping. Check their website for more details.

Final Thoughts

We enjoyed our time at Roadside Station Katsura in Ibaraki Prefecture. The gelato was delicious, the bathrooms were clean, and the Local Products Store had a good variety of goods to choose from. If your in the area, we recommend stopping by for a quick break. In the future, we look forward to day camping or spending the night at Friendship Square.

More to Come…

Here is the link to their website.