Uryu Roadside Station, officially called Roadside Station Den-en-no-sato Uryu (田園の里・うりゅう) is one of the 129 roadside stations of Hokkaido Prefecture. It is located at 28-3 Manju along Route 275 in the town of Uryu in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan.
|
Uryu Roadside Station / Roadside Station Den-en-no-sato Uryu |
Uryu Roadside Station details
In 1899, Uryu Station was established as a stop on the Japanese railway system. The area around the station grew as a result, with a market and other services catering to travelers.
|
Uryu Roadside Station - Uryu town, Hokkaido Prefecture |
In 1993, the Japanese government established the "Michi-no-Eki" program, which aimed to create rest areas and markets for travelers along the country's highways. The program allowed local governments to establish roadside stations offering food, souvenirs, and other services.
|
Uryu Roadside Station marker as seen from Route 275 |
Uryu Roadside Station was registered as a roadside station on April 11, 1997, and was given the registration number 46. The roadside station was designed to showcase the local agriculture and industries of the area, with a market offering fresh produce, processed foods, and handicrafts.
|
Uryu Roadside Station facade |
|
Uryu Roadside Station's vending machines |
|
Roadside Station Den-en-no-sato Uryu |
|
Uryu Roadside Station's toilet area |
Since then, the station has become a popular stopover destination for travelers visiting the Uryu District of Hokkaido. At present Uryu Roadside Station has the following:
|
Special Product Direct Sales Facility |
Special Product Direct Sales Facility – You can buy the town`s famed Uryu Rice and Shokan melon here. There is also a plethora of locally produced vegetables and fruits sold here. In addition, a group of local housewives sells dried flower wreaths and dolls here too.
|
Kyoun Tsujii Gallery |
Kyoun Tsujii Gallery - The Kyoun Tsujii Gallery proudly showcases a collection of artistic masterpieces created by the renowned calligrapher, Kyoun Tsujii, hailing from the town of Uryu.
|
Uryunuma Nature Museum |
Uryunuma Nature Museum - It houses numerous photographs of the Uryunuma Wetland taken by Hironori Okamoto who is a photographer who lives in town.
|
Isukan / Icekan |
Isukan / Icekan - Ice-kan sells “Uryu rice ice cream,” “pumpkin ice cream,” and “blueberry soft-serve ice cream.” |
Suzuki Kamaboko Store |
Suzuki Kamaboko Store - This store sells kamaboko that is made the traditional way.
Team Nicerio visits Uryu Roadside Station
|
We won two packs of rice in the Uryu Rice UFO Catcher game |
My family and I visited Uryu Roadside Station for the first time during our road trip last August 27, 2022, which was my 43rd weekend here in Japan as an ALT under the JET Programme. The Uryu Roadside Station was our first stop during the said road trip. We were lucky as the roadside station was celebrating its anniversary for the whole month and the locals were giving away free rice. Aside from that, we also won premium rice from the claw machine with rice packs as prices. Of course, my daughter and I did not miss getting the roadside station stamp for our Hokkaido Stamp Rally collection.Overall, it was a fun and memorable roadside station experience for me and my family.
Uryu Roadside Station Stamp
|
Uryu Roadside Station Stamp |
|
Uryu Roadside Station Stamp |
Uryu Roadside Station Entrance Fee
It`s FREE to enter and explore Uryu Roadside Station. Parking is also FREE. However, it is highly recommended that you bring some cash in case you need something to eat or drink or if you want to buy locally grown and made products.
Uryu Roadside Station Operating Hours
Uryu Roadside Station is open from:
9:00-17:00 (March-October)
9:00-18:00 (May Golden Week and July-September)
10:00-16:00 (November-February)
Special Product Direct Sales Facility
Summer season (May to October) 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Winter season (November to April) 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Uryunuma Nature Museum
Summer season (May to October) 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Winter season (November to April) 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Kamaboko Shop
Summer season (May to October) 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Winter season (November to April) 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Isukan
Summer season (May to October) 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Winter season (November to April) 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Why visit Uryu Roadside Station?
Uryu Roadside Station is a good place to rest if you are on a long drive. There are many products sold here that are worth buying. I highly recommend buying the Uryu Rice as it is high quality. If you after the harvest season the price of the rice would be cheaper than most brands in the market. Aside from that, it is also a must-visit if you are participating in the Hokkaido Roadside Station Stamp Rally.
Getting to Uryu Roadside Station
The best way to reach Uryu Roadside Station is by private vehicle. From Asahikawa, Drive westward via Route 233, 12, and then 279. Once you reach the town of Uryu, drive northwards via Route 275.
If you plan to commute, then here's what you need to do:
From Asahikawa JR Station, take the Hakodate Line (Local Iwamizawa) and alight at Takikawa Station. From there, make your way to the nearby Takikawa Eki Mae Bus Stop. At the bus stop, transfer to the Sapporo-Rumoi route, specifically the Takigawa bus operated by Chuo Bus Company. Disembark at the Oiwake Shigai bus stop. You will then need to retrace the path taken by the bus for approximately 1.9 kilometers in order to reach Uryu Roadside Station.
Travel time: 1 hour and 40 minutes
Fare: 1,790 yen
Ratings
|
Crowd |
|
Cleanliness |
|
Overall Rating |
A rice UFO catcher? Looks fun.
ReplyDeleteIt is fun! We used up 500 yen and won 2 packs. =)
Delete