Roadside station Kazo-Watarase

Located by the roadside station, Lake Yanaka (Watarase Retarding Ground) can be fully viewed. There is a facility selling products such as the brand rice, Koshihikari, which is grown in the fertile land of Kitakawabe area, and fresh local vegetables such as the Momotarō tomato. Further, at the farm restaurant, the handmade soba with its deep flavors is popular, with many visitors coming back for more. This new attraction is unique in Japan since it crosses into three prefectures, resulting in the roadside station being responsible for its overall promotion.

“Kiyasse Hanyū” is the nickname for Hanyū City Mitakaya agricultural and forest park. At the park, with an area of roughly 3.6 hectares, there is a “Shiki no Oka” with lots of flowers, a production building that boasts local vegetables taken in the morning, a beer factory that manufactures Hanyū’s local beer “Kobushi Hana Beer”, and a restaurant where you can enjoy handmade udon. Inside the park, there are playground equipment for kids to play with and events allowing you to experience harvest all year round.

“Kiyasse Hanyū” is the nickname for Hanyū City Mitakaya agricultural and forest park. At the park, with an area of roughly 3.6 hectares, there is a “Shiki no Oka” with lots of flowers, a production building that boasts local vegetables taken in the morning, a beer factory that manufactures Hanyū’s local beer “Kobushi Hana Beer”, and a restaurant where you can enjoy handmade udon. Inside the park, there are playground equipment for kids to play with and events allowing you to experience harvest all year round.

From the moment you pass through the Nagaya gate, you will find yourself in an atmospheric space where you can feel the peace and nostalgia of an old traditional house. In the garden, roses are in full bloom, and inside the facility, there is a restaurant where you can eat and a center specializing in local produce, allowing you to buy and bring home fresh vegetables. This is a great place to enjoy an atmospheric and relaxing time.

From mid-June to early August, 12,000 stocks of 42 different types of lotus flowers bloom on the surface of the lotus pond. The Gyōda lotus (ancient lotus) takes a primitive form with the number of petals being few; it is said to be a lotus from about 1,400 to 3,000 years ago. Lotus flowers are best-viewed midmorning. There are botanical gardens for aquatic plants, lakes for aquatic birds, peony gardens, ume gardens, and a hanami place with sakura trees, making it a place where one can feel the beauty of nature all year round. In addition, from mid-July to mid-October, rice paddy art is at its prime and can be viewed from the Ancient Lotus Hall’s Observation Room. The rice paddy art of Gyōda City started in 2008, with rice transplanting taking place yearly due to several volunteers and participants; not only are the designs original, but some have been collaborations with movies, TV shows, games. In 2015 it has been recorded in the Guinness World Records due to the area of the art being “the world’s largest (rice paddy art)”.