Kitakawabe Rice Park

Starting with the planetarium and the astronomical observation room, there are apparatuses for large images and trial study rooms along with a workshop making it a comprehensive learning facility marked with a unique appearance. It is established next to the restaurant, farmers' market, and the facility for processing Ukino Miso. In addition, the planetarium reopened on March 22nd of 2015 after renovating. With the latest monocular ultra-high resolution 8K compatible digital projector, starry skies and images of space are projected with reality and power that can evoke dreams and emotions in young and old alike.

The border for three prefectures lies across Tochigi Prefecture’s Tochigi City, Gunma prefecture’s Itakura Town, Saitama Prefecture’s Kazo City (around the Kitakawabe region), and comes together right at a rice field approximately 500 meters in the southeast of Roadside Station Kitakawabe. The border for the three prefectures used to be placed inside the Watarasegawa River, however, due to the restoration works of the river during the periods of Meiji and Taishō, the location has changed to the current river channel. From January to March of 2016, land measurements were carried out by Tochigi City, Itakura Town, and Kazo City. From these results, an old stake made from concrete was confirmed as the definite point of intersection for the three prefectures. Brochure introducing the boundary for the three prefectures

This is the birthplace of “Kan’ichi Shimofusa”, a musician who produced famous nursery rhymes. It is said that the atmosphere of the old town of Ōtone was imagined when composing songs such as “Tanabatasama”, “Nogiku”, “Hanabi”. And the “Ōtone Koshihikari” is harvested with rich water making it one of the leading “delicious Koshihikari” of Saitama, and is sold as “Dōyō no Furusato Ōtone”.

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.