Roadside Station Kawaba Denen Plaza

This roadside station is located in a rich natural environment at the foot of Mt. Muson, with a wide variety of facilities located on the premises, and has a vast site where visitors can enjoy themselves all day long. It attracts approximately 2.5 million visitors annually.

In 2015, it was selected as a national model roadside station and was also recognized as the only “disaster prevention roadside station” in Gunma Prefecture. It received the Incentive Award of the Japan Society of Civil Engineers (JSCE) Design Award, and was voted No. 1 in the Jaran National Roadside Station Grand Prix 2022.

Here, visitors can enjoy a farmer’s market where fresh vegetables and fruits grown by the great nature of Kawaba are available, restaurants using local ingredients, a bakery, a beer studio, and a cafe.

Many attractive homemade products are available, and craft beer, yogurt, and natural cheese are made on the premises.

There is a nature trail and hot spring nearby, allowing visitors to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of the beautiful rural landscape.

Soba Restaurant “Torakuzo

Visitors can enjoy handmade soba noodles kneaded with raw materials made from Kawaba’s own flour and Kawaba’s famous water, with a focus on the real thing.

Menya Kawasho

Kawaba-don” is popular and features tartar sauce made from local konnyaku.

Kawaba Beer Restaurant Takezo

There are a “beer studio” and a “bakery” in the building, where visitors can enjoy authentic cuisine prepared by a top chef while enjoying Kawaba Beer. Dishes using fresh vegetables and other local ingredients from Kawaba are perfectly matched with Kawaba Beer brewed in the beer atelier in the plaza.

Bakery

We bake safe and delicious bread using domestic flour. Popular items include apple pie made with locally grown apples and gold medal-winning rice-flour bread.

The “Fluffy Bread” is also well-reputed, using rice flour and domestically produced Yamatoimo potatoes for a fluffy texture.

Plaza Center

The Roadside Station Hall, tourist information, conference room, hands-on workshops, and the Rural Plaza Office are located in the Plaza Center, which is the core facility of the Plaza.

Blueberry Pavilion

There is a restaurant Akakura and two product stores. The product shops offer a large selection of souvenirs such as locally brewed sake and processed local food products.
At Akakura Restaurant, visitors can enjoy the popular Jyoshu Okirikomi and Pork Donburi, as well as barbecue on sunny days on the outdoor terrace.

Kawaba Beer Factory

Beer suited to the Japanese palate is brewed using locally pure water. Several types of beer, mainly weizen, are available in bottles for take-out.

The beers include “Kawaba Ale” and “Yukikotada Pilsner,” and are brewed using water from the Muson Mountains.

Farmer’s Market

Freshly picked vegetables, fruits, rice, and processed agricultural products from Kawaba are sold at this market, where visitors can enjoy the tastes of Kawaba.

Milk Factory

Fresh milk squeezed from cows in Kawaba is used to make drinkable yogurt and ice cream.

Yogurt is made with locally produced raw milk and without additives, and “nommu yogurt” and large yogurt are also available. Natural cheese is authentic Italian cheese, and rare varieties are also produced.

Meat Kobo

Handmade ham and sausages from Gunma pigs are sold here.

Suspension Bridge

Around the Rural Plaza, there is a suspension bridge for pedestrians only, where you can view the clear waters of the Usune River and the mountains of Muson.

Blueberry Picking

During the summer, visitors can enjoy picking blueberries, a specialty of the area. Visitors can also try their hand at making jam from the blueberries they pick at the Denen Plaza’s hands-on workshop.