Things to Do Near Chikuma: Tokura-juku Kitty Park & a Japanese Roadside Station

This is another stop from our trip to Togura Kamiyamada Onsen in Chikuma, Nagano Prefecture.

This time, we are introducing two places we visited during the trip:

Tokura-juku Kitty Park, located near Club Wyndham Chikumakan, and Raiden Kurumi no Sato, a Japanese roadside station we stopped at on the drive back toward Tokyo.

Both offered a different side of Nagano beyond hot springs and traditional inns.

Walking Around Tokura-juku Kitty Park

Tokura-juku Kitty Park is a large park located about a 10-minute drive from Club Wyndham Chikumakan.

We were told that the park becomes especially beautiful during cherry blossom season, when the area is filled with blooming sakura.

We visited in autumn, so there were no cherry blossoms.

The weather had also remained relatively warm, and the autumn leaves had not yet changed much in color.

Even so, the enormous tengu statue was quite impressive.

It is not every day that you find a park with such a large tengu, so it immediately caught our attention.

We visited on a weekday and there was almost nobody around, which made the huge park feel surprisingly peaceful.

Feeding Goats and Rabbits

During our visit, visitors could give cabbage to the goats and rabbits.

The goat took a small bite at first...

...and then walked away.

A staff member told us that the goat preferred bananas, which apparently made cabbage much less exciting!

It was a funny little moment during our visit.

Next, we fed cabbage to the rabbits.

The rabbits were separated into male and female areas.

This was the female section.

As soon as the cabbage appeared, it became a little competition!

We had never seen so many rabbits together in one place before.

There were so many of them, and they were adorable.

If you enjoy animals, this can be a fun little stop while staying in the Chikuma area.

Animal-feeding rules and availability may change, so check the latest information when you visit.

We imagine the park would feel especially beautiful during cherry blossom season or when the autumn leaves are at their best.

How to Get to Tokura-juku Kitty Park

Tokura-juku Kitty Park is located a short drive from the Togura Kamiyamada Onsen area.

Some of the roads on the way were narrow during our drive, and there was also a railway crossing, so it is worth driving carefully.

Raiden Kurumi no Sato: A Japanese Roadside Station with Local Produce

On our way back toward Tokyo, we stopped at Raiden Kurumi no Sato.

This is a Japanese michi-no-eki, or roadside station.

Roadside stations in Japan are convenient places where travelers can take a break, buy local produce, find regional foods and shop for souvenirs.

Raiden Kurumi no Sato was busy during our visit and had a wide selection of fresh vegetables, fruit and local products.

So Many Nagano Apples

There were many varieties of apples for sale.

Nagano is well known for fruit, so it was fun simply looking at the different kinds.

We also saw yellow apples.

During our visit, one package was priced at ¥480.

We later saw apples again at a highway service area, and they were more expensive there.

So if you find fruit you like at the roadside station, buying it there may be worthwhile.

Prices naturally vary by season and year.

Shine Muscat grapes were also available during our visit.

Fresh Vegetables at Local Prices

The vegetable section was also impressive.

During our visit, this winter melon was priced at ¥180, so we bought one.

We also found a large zucchini at a reasonable price and decided to buy it.

There were also paprika peppers and thick green onions that looked fresh and delicious.

For travelers returning home by car, a roadside station like this is a convenient place to stock up on local vegetables.

We also found unusually large mushrooms.

We bought some large nameko mushrooms and later used them in miso soup.

They were delicious.

Local Juice and Souvenirs

For a gift, we thought the bottled Kyoho grape juice looked especially attractive.

It was a 100% straight grape juice made with ripe Kyoho grapes.

The bottle looked almost like wine or champagne, which made it feel a little more special than an ordinary souvenir.

We did not need to buy many gifts, so we chose a bottle of Shinshu red grape juice for ourselves.

It cost ¥540 during our visit and tasted very good.

Dried apricots and apples were also available.

These made nice examples of local Nagano products that are easy to take home.

Popular Oyaki and Walnut Ohagi

The oyaki were especially popular.

Oyaki are a regional Nagano specialty: small dumpling-like buns filled with savory or sweet ingredients.

When we first checked the display, they had sold out, but more were later brought out.

During our visit, fillings included miso potato, red bean paste and mushrooms.

The oyaki we tried had a pleasantly chewy texture and tasted homemade.

We also tried walnut ohagi.

Ohagi is a traditional Japanese sweet made with glutinous rice, and the walnut version was something we do not see very often.

It was another fun way to try one of Nagano's regional flavors.

Walnuts were also sold in many forms.

Nagano is known for walnut products, so the roadside station is a good place to browse them along with local fruit, vegetables, rice, prepared foods and souvenirs.

Why We Enjoyed Raiden Kurumi no Sato

For international travelers, a Japanese roadside station can be a surprisingly enjoyable part of a road trip.

If you are traveling through Nagano by car, stopping at a michi-no-eki can be a simple way to experience regional food that you may not find in larger tourist areas.

Raiden Kurumi no Sato Access

• Address: 4524-1 Shigeno Otsu, Tomi, Nagano 389-0512, Japan
• Phone: 0268-63-0963
• Opening hours during our visit: 8:00–18:00

Opening hours, produce, prices and product availability may change depending on the season and date of your visit.

More from Our Chikuma and Nagano Trip

We stayed at Club Wyndham Chikumakan in Togura Kamiyamada Onsen and also enjoyed local Shinshu soba nearby.

Club Wyndham Chikumakan Room Review

Club Wyndham Chikumakan Onsen & Dining Review

Shinshu Soba in Chikuma: Walnut Soba, Sake Tasting & Local Food