Tessei-cho, Niimi City, Okayama Prefecture, lies close to the border with Hiroshima Prefecture.
In this area, surrounded by the rich natural beauty of the Chugoku Mountains, is Niimi City’s only roadside station, “Koigakubo Roadside Station.” In addition to gourmet foods made with locally grown rice and vegetables, Chiyagyu Beef, and Tessei chestnuts, its popular offerings include bread and pizza made with rice flour milled on site.
It also serves as a hub supporting the lives of local residents, having been selected as a “Model Roadside Station” in the Resident Services category.
During our visit, we introduced the roadside station’s attractions and spoke with its manager, Mizukami Shinichi.
The information presented is current as of the article’s publication in August 2026. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What Is Koigakubo Roadside Station?
Located along National Route 182, Koigakubo Roadside Station takes its name from the nearby nationally designated natural monument, the Koigakubo Wetland.
Tessei-cho lies in the upper reaches of the Takahashi River and has long been a major rice-growing area, blessed with clear water and rich soil. A major feature of this roadside station is its on-site rice flour mill.
Since around 2005, the station has worked to create a cycle of value-added production: rather than simply selling rice grown by local farmers, it mills the rice into flour and turns it into new products and experiences, such as bread and pizza.
The grounds also include a lawn where children can play freely.
It’s a relaxing place where families can stretch their legs during a drive or take a leisurely break surrounded by nature.
“Shop and Vegetable Market” Featuring Local Specialties and Flavors
The “Shop and Vegetable Market” offers fresh local produce, processed foods, and souvenirs.
As you’d expect in a rice-growing area, the first thing to catch your eye inside is rice from Niimi. Seasonal vegetables and fruit grown by local farmers are also on display, offering a taste of Tessei unique to the time of year you visit.
A must-try here is the chestnut soft-serve ice cream made with Tessei chestnuts, a local specialty.
After harvesting, Tessei chestnuts are carefully aged for a month to bring out their sweetness before being processed. They have a rich, creamy texture and a wonderful chestnut aroma that fills your mouth. Harvests are limited, and this popular item sometimes sells out, depending on the year.
The shop also works to preserve flavors that have long been cherished in the community.
After the owner of a local rice-flour takoyaki shop passed away, residents said they wanted to taste that flavor again. In response, the shop recreated the owner’s recipe with its “rice-flour takoyaki.”
The inside is soft and gooey. This taste, cherished in local memories, has become a popular specialty at the roadside station.
Sanyosaikan Restaurant: Indulge in Chiyagyu Beef
When you’re hungry, head to Sanyosaikan, the restaurant on the grounds.
You can enjoy dishes made with local ingredients, including Chiyagyu Beef, a premium wagyu beef Niimi City is proud of.
I chose the Chiyagyu beef and egg rice bowl. It was generously topped with Chiyagyu Beef.
The meat has a robust savory flavor, yet the dish as a whole isn’t too heavy. The homemade, slightly sweet sauce coats the Chiyagyu Beef and glossy rice from Niimi beautifully.
The egg gives the rice bowl a mellow flavor. It pairs well with the rice, and I found myself reaching for another bite.
Other options include set meals and noodle dishes featuring Chiyagyu Beef, as well as dishes incorporating seasonal local ingredients.
“Kome Kobo” and the Rice Flour Pizza Experience, Showcasing the Appeal of Rice Flour
At “Kome Kobo,” a shop specializing in handmade rice-flour bread, local staff carefully bake bread every morning in the workshop at the back of the shop.
The rice flour used here is made from rice grown in Niimi at the mill on the premises.
Among the offerings, the popular “loaf bread” is prized for its uniquely chewy texture. In addition to local residents, fans come from places such as Okayama City and Fukuyama City in Hiroshima Prefecture to buy it in bulk.
The shop offers a variety of products, including savory breads made with local vegetables and eggs, as well as sweet breads perfect for a snack.
This rice-flour bread is made with a ratio of “80% rice flour and 20% gluten,” so please note that it is not suitable for people with wheat allergies.
Also, on the last Saturday of every month, a “rice-flour pizza experience” using a traditional brick oven is held (reservations required).
Supporting this experience are members of Tessei Mirai-kai, a group of local volunteers who came together to help revitalize the community.
Seasonal vegetables and other toppings are added to the chewy rice-flour dough. Once everything is ready, the pizza is baked quickly in a stone oven heated to about 400 degrees.
This rice-flour pizza experience uses local rice and vegetables, and gives visitors the chance to make and enjoy the pizza alongside local residents. It is more than just a meal; it is also an opportunity to connect with Tessei’s ingredients and people.
Supporting daily life: a “Roadside Station” model for resident services
Koigakubo Roadside Station has another role beyond serving as a hub for tourism and food.
In fiscal 2016, it was selected as one of six locations nationwide for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s “Roadside Station” Model for Resident Services.
In mountainous areas such as Tessei Town, where the population is declining and aging, a major challenge is how to maintain the services essential to daily life, including shopping, transportation, medical care, and welfare.
Koigakubo Roadside Station opened after incorporating residents’ opinions from the planning stage. Alongside serving tourists, it functions as a “small hub” where local residents can shop, meet people, and access services essential to daily life.
Working with the local government and the adjacent complex, it helps support community welfare services, including demand-responsive bus services for older residents, home delivery of goods that also provides a shopping service, and safety checks.
What inspired the creation of Koigakubo Roadside Station, and what kind of community does it hope to build in the future? We spoke with station manager Mizukami Shinichi.
Koigakubo Roadside Station Information
| Name | Koigakubo Roadside Station |
|---|---|
| Address | 3585-1 Yada, Tessei-cho, Niimi City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 0867-94-9017 |
| Website | Koigakubo Roadside Station Official Website |
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