Roadside Station Kawaba Den-en Plaza is a popular roadside station located in Hagi-muro, Kawaba Village, Tone District, Gunma Prefecture. Situated along Gunma Prefectural Route 64 in a beautiful natural setting at the foot of magnificent Mount Hotaka, it serves as a tourism and community hub where visitors can experience local food, culture, and nature in one place.
The extensive grounds feature a farmers’ market selling fresh local produce, as well as restaurants, cafés, a bakery, a beer brewery, and a cheese-making facility. There are also hands-on activities and play areas for children, making the complex enjoyable for visitors of all ages.
Known as a roadside station where you can spend an entire day, Kawaba Den-en Plaza offers an easy way to experience the rich natural surroundings and food culture of Kawaba Village while also serving as an important center for promoting the attractions of the local area.
Kawaba Den-en Plaza is surrounded by beautiful rural scenery at the foot of Mount Hotaka. Its grounds cover an area equivalent to approximately 1.5 Tokyo Domes, and the various buildings and facilities spread throughout the property give it the appearance of a small village.
In addition to shops and restaurants, the grounds include nature trails, open spaces, and facilities for hands-on activities. Visitors can spend their time at their own pace, whether enjoying a meal, shopping for local products, walking through nature, or participating in an activity.
Hot spring facilities and other sightseeing attractions can also be found nearby, making the roadside station a convenient base for exploring Kawaba Village.
Kawaba Den-en Plaza opened in 1998. Since then, it has continued to develop as a facility promoting the attractions of the local community and has grown into a popular destination attracting approximately 1.9 to more than 2 million visitors a year.
In 2015, it was selected by Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism as one of the country’s “National Model Roadside Stations.” It is also the only roadside station in Gunma designated as a “Disaster Prevention Roadside Station,” with facilities such as emergency stockpiles and a heliport that can support the local community in the event of a disaster.
The facility has also received recognition for its design and community initiatives. In 2017, it received an Encouragement Award from the Japan Society of Civil Engineers Design Awards. In 2022, it was ranked first in the nationwide roadside station grand prix conducted by the travel magazine Jalan.
Local Beer Restaurant Hotaka serves “Kawaba Beer,” brewed using the clean water of Kawaba, together with dishes prepared using local ingredients. A beer brewery and bakery are also located within the facility.
Kawaba Beer has a rich yet easy-to-drink character and pairs well with dishes featuring fresh local vegetables and “Mochi Pork,” a Gunma-branded pork variety. It is one of the signature food experiences at Kawaba Den-en Plaza.
At Soba Restaurant Kokuzo, visitors can enjoy handmade soba noodles made with buckwheat flour produced in Kawaba and pure local spring water. Carefully prepared by skilled artisans, the noodles are known for their fragrant aroma and firm texture.
Enjoying authentic soba surrounded by the natural scenery of Kawaba offers a delicious way to experience the village’s local food culture.
Menya Kawasho offers distinctive dishes incorporating ingredients from Kawaba Village. One of its popular menu items is “Kawaba Don,” which is served with a distinctive tartar sauce made using locally produced konjac.
Café de Campagne is a relaxed café where visitors can enjoy sweets, coffee, and other refreshments. Its peaceful atmosphere makes it a pleasant place to take a break while looking out over the surrounding natural scenery.
The Farmers’ Market sells fresh vegetables and fruit harvested in Kawaba Village, rice, and a variety of processed agricultural products. Seasonal produce is displayed throughout the year, allowing visitors to discover the changing flavors of Kawaba’s countryside.
Depending on the season, visitors may find blueberries in summer, apples and grapes in autumn, and strawberries from winter into spring.
Popular local products also include the branded rice “Yuki Hotaka,” drinkable yogurt, Kawaba Beer, and fresh cheese.
Den-en Plaza Bakery bakes bread every day using domestically produced wheat. In addition to classics such as white bread and French bread, the bakery offers specialties including apple pie made with apples from Kawaba and rice-flour bread made using the branded rice “Yuki Hotaka.”
The breads made with local ingredients are ideal not only for enjoying at the facility but also for taking home as souvenirs.
KAWABA YOGURT makes yogurt using fresh milk from cows raised at farms in Kawaba. The products have a naturally rich flavor without added ingredients, and the drinkable yogurt is particularly popular.
Its smooth and creamy taste is a favorite way to enjoy the natural bounty of Kawaba.
KAWABA CHEESE produces fresh cheese using techniques inspired by traditional Italian cheese-making. Fresh milk delivered daily from nearby farms is combined with natural water from Mount Hotaka and carefully crafted into cheese.
The cheese has a delicate, gentle flavor and is also used in dishes served at restaurants within the complex.
The Meat Factory produces ham, sausages, and other meat products using branded pork from Gunma Prefecture. Its products are made using techniques inspired by traditional German methods, making this an appealing stop for visitors who enjoy high-quality meat products.
In summer, visitors can enjoy blueberry picking at the Blueberry Park within the grounds. Depending on the season and program, visitors may also have the opportunity to make jam using freshly picked blueberries.
Getting close to seasonal fruit and harvesting it in a natural setting makes this a popular activity for families.
At the pottery class, visitors can use an electric potter’s wheel to create their own original ceramic pieces. The activity is suitable for beginners, with instructors providing guidance throughout the process.
Creating a one-of-a-kind vessel makes for a memorable souvenir of a trip to Kawaba.
The spacious grounds also include a Play Zone where children can enjoy themselves freely. Athletic play equipment and grassy areas provide plenty of space for children to run around and enjoy the outdoors.
The net-based athletic equipment allows children to jump, lie down, and play in an open environment surrounded by nature.
Near Den-en Plaza is a pedestrian suspension bridge approximately 226 meters long. From the bridge, visitors can admire the clear waters of the Usune River and the mountain scenery of Mount Hotaka, offering a beautiful view characteristic of Kawaba Village.
Combining a visit to the roadside station with a walk around the surrounding area is a pleasant way to experience the local landscape.
Across the suspension bridge is an area surrounding Hotel Den-en Plaza, which serves as a base for green tourism in the region.
The area was once home to Hotaka Kogen Station and D51 steam locomotive No. 561, which were popular with railway enthusiasts and visitors. Today, the site is used as accommodation.
Kawaba Den-en Plaza is much more than a conventional roadside rest stop. It is a comprehensive tourism and community facility where visitors can experience the nature, food, and culture of Kawaba Village.
Visitors can shop for fresh agricultural products, enjoy dishes made with local ingredients, and sample regional specialties such as freshly baked bread and dairy products. The facility also offers pottery and fruit-picking activities, as well as play areas for children, making it well suited to family trips.
Its major attraction is the opportunity to enjoy dining, shopping, walking, and hands-on activities all in one place, surrounded by beautiful scenery with views toward Mount Hotaka.
Kawaba Den-en Plaza is approximately 10 minutes by car from the Numata Interchange on the Kan-Etsu Expressway. It is relatively easy to reach by car from the Tokyo metropolitan area and makes a convenient stop when touring northern Gunma.
From Jomokogen Station on the Joetsu Shinkansen, the journey takes approximately 30 minutes by taxi. Alternatively, from Numata Station on the JR Joetsu Line, visitors can take the Kawaba Loop Bus for approximately 30 minutes to the Den-en Plaza bus stop, which is located immediately near the facility.
Roadside Station Kawaba Den-en Plaza is a popular destination at the foot of Mount Hotaka where visitors can enjoy the food, local products, activities, and outdoor attractions of Kawaba Village in a beautiful natural setting.
Beyond shopping for fresh produce and enjoying local cuisine, visitors can take nature walks, pick seasonal fruit, try pottery, and let children enjoy the play areas. The surrounding scenery and available foods change with the seasons, offering something different each time you visit.
When exploring Kawaba Village and northern Gunma, Kawaba Den-en Plaza is worth visiting not only as a place to eat or take a break, but also as a destination where you can spend time discovering the nature, food, and local culture of Kawaba.
9:00 - 20:30 (varies by facility)
Varies depending on the store
Automobile:
Accessible to Gunma Prefectural Road 64, Hirakawa-Yokotsuka line (registered route).
It takes about 10 minutes from the Numata IC of the Kanetsu Expressway.
Railroad:
It takes about 30 minutes by cab from Jomo Kogen Station on the Joetsu Shinkansen Line of East Japan Railway Company (JR East).
From Numata Station on the East Japan Railway (JR East) Joetsu Line, take the Kawaba Circulation Bus for about 30 minutes, get off at the “Denen Plaza” bus stop, and walk for 1 minute to get there.