Roadside Station Mino Shirakawa is located in Shirakawa Town, Kamo District, Gifu Prefecture, along National Route 41, which connects the Mino and Hida regions. Centered around an Italian-style building called Piacere, the roadside station welcomes travelers with local specialties, delicious food, beautiful natural scenery, and products that reflect the area’s traditions.
One of its main attractions is Shirakawa tea, a locally produced tea renowned for its rich flavor and fragrance. Visitors can also discover regional foods, browse fresh produce, and enjoy a relaxing break in a welcoming European-inspired setting.
The roadside station offers a variety of products made with Shirakawa tea grown in the surrounding area. The tea is carefully processed at the producer’s own factory, where skilled tea specialists oversee the roasting process to bring out its deep, full-bodied flavor.
A tasting corner allows visitors to sample the tea and find their favorite variety. One especially popular treat is Shirakawa Tea Soft-Serve Ice Cream, made with twice the usual amount of matcha green tea powder for a particularly rich taste. It is a delicious specialty worth stopping for during a drive through the region.
The facility has its own ham-processing factory, where Shirakawa Ham is made using locally sourced pork. In addition to traditional pressed ham, the product range includes distinctive sausages flavored with regional ingredients such as egoma, or perilla seeds, and roasted green tea.
These products offer visitors a chance to take home a taste of Shirakawa’s local food culture.
Among the varieties of Shirakawa tea, hand-rolled tea is particularly rare. It is produced using a traditional technique in which steamed tea leaves are carefully rolled by hand, one leaf at a time, without the use of machinery.
This painstaking process gives the finished leaves their distinctive, slender, needle-like shape. When hot water is poured over them, the leaves gradually unfurl and return to a shape resembling their original form.
At the tea shop known as Cha Cha Cha, visitors may even have the opportunity to observe the hand-rolling process, depending on the day and timing of their visit.
Another specialty is Omisore-don, a rice bowl featuring tofu produced in Shirakawa Town. The tofu is coated and deep-fried to create a crispy tofu cutlet, then topped with a specially prepared miso sauce.
The combination of the crunchy coating and the sauce’s sweet-and-savory flavor makes this dish a satisfying way to experience the region’s local cuisine.
Yasaimura Ciao offers fresh vegetables delivered every morning by nine producer groups from Shirakawa Town. The selection includes leafy greens, root vegetables, seasonal fruit, and nuts, with the available products changing throughout the year.
The shop also sells local wooden crafts and hinoki cypress products. These items reflect the area’s natural resources and traditional craftsmanship, making them appealing souvenirs for visitors who appreciate locally made goods.
The distinctive building at Roadside Station Mino Shirakawa is called Piacere. It was constructed to commemorate a sister-city partnership with Pistoia in Italy and features an inviting European-inspired design.
Its orange roof and carillon bells make the building easy to recognize. Inside, visitors will find facilities including the Shirakawa Ham and Shirakawa tea production areas, a restaurant, and shops selling local specialties. It is a lively place to sample regional flavors and discover products that are difficult to find elsewhere.
Visitors are offered a complimentary welcome drink made with Shirakawa tea, providing a pleasant opportunity to relax and enjoy the local flavor. The tea-tasting corner is located toward the back of the souvenir shop, so it is worth stopping by while browsing the products.
The restaurant inside Piacere serves a variety of dishes prepared with ingredients from the local area. Popular choices include Omisore-don and a set meal featuring skewered ham.
The menu also includes familiar Japanese dishes such as rice bowls, udon noodles, and soba noodles. With options suitable for both morning meals and lunch, the restaurant is a convenient place to take a break during a sightseeing trip or drive along National Route 41.
The souvenir shop offers products from Shirakawa Town and other parts of Gifu Prefecture, as well as seafood from areas such as Minamichita in neighboring Aichi Prefecture.
Popular items include Shirakawa tea, Shirakawa Ham, and Hida beef. These regional specialties are also suitable as gifts for friends and family. Visitors looking to bring home the flavors of the area will find plenty to explore.
Roadside Station Mino Shirakawa hosts a variety of seasonal events and activities throughout the year. These may include cooking classes featuring locally grown agricultural products and experiences introducing traditional crafts.
The fresh produce at Yasaimura Ciao and the selection of handmade goods in the hinoki cypress products section are also worth exploring. Depending on the season and event schedule, visitors may discover something new with each visit.
Roadside Station Mino Shirakawa is a welcoming destination where travelers can experience the rich natural environment and traditional culture of Shirakawa Town. Conveniently located along National Route 41, it makes an enjoyable stop during a drive through Gifu Prefecture.
From fragrant local tea and regional dishes to fresh produce and traditional crafts, the roadside station offers much more than a place to rest. Its combination of local hospitality and European-inspired architecture creates a pleasant atmosphere in which to relax and discover the area’s unique character.