🌅 Yamagata / Akita / Aomori · 3 days
Tohoku Sea of Japan Coast: Chokai, Oga & the Shirakami Shore
The long northern coast drive up the Sea of Japan through three prefectures: Mt Chokai, the Oga Peninsula, the Shirakami coast and Lake Jusan — 9 michi-no-eki across Yamagata, Akita and Aomori.
This is one of the great long coastal drives in Japan and one of the least travelled: 400 km up the Sea of Japan from Yamagata through Akita to the top of Aomori, shadowing the old Gono railway line the whole way. The sea is on your left for most of it, and the traffic all but vanishes north of Akita city.
Landmarks stack up as you go: the twin peak of Mt Chokai rising straight from the shore, the Oga Peninsula with its Namahage demon folklore, the UNESCO Shirakami-Sanchi beech forest tumbling to the coast around Fukaura, and finally the brackish Lake Jusan near the Tsugaru tip. The michi-no-eki are pure local coast — grilled squid, hata-hata fish, Akita rice and Tsugaru apples.
The stops, in driving order
- 1 Michi-no-Eki Atsumi 道の駅 あつみ · Yamagata
Michi-no-Eki Atsumi (道の駅 あつみ) is a government-designated roadside station in 鶴岡市, Yamagata, Japan, registered in 1993 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, EV charging and showers. There is free parking for about 117 cars and 14 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 8:00–18:00（冬季は8:30–17:30） ＜休 毎月最終水曜日（7・8月を除く）、12/31–1/1＞. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Tohoku road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Sasagawa Nagare, Gassan and Asahi.
Nearby: ⛰Tenpakusan (4.5 km) · ⛰Mt. Yahazu (5.2 km)
- 2 Michi-no-Eki Choukai 道の駅 鳥海 · Yamagata
Michi-no-Eki Choukai (道の駅 鳥海) is a government-designated roadside station in 飽海郡遊佐町, Yamagata, Japan, registered in 1997 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a hot-spring (onsen) bath, a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop and a campground. There is free parking for about 201 cars and 12 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–18:00（3月–10月）、9:00–17:00（11–2月） ＜ 休 1/1 ＞. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Tohoku road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Kisakata, Shounai Mikawa and Shounai.
Nearby: 📸西浜海水浴場 (0.5 km) · 🌄出羽二見 (1.3 km)
- 3 Michi-no-Eki Kisakata 道の駅 象潟 · Akita
Michi-no-Eki Kisakata (道の駅 象潟) is a government-designated roadside station in にかほ市, Akita, Japan, registered in 1997 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a hot-spring (onsen) bath, a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop and free Wi-Fi. There is free parking for about 313 cars and 20 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–21:00＜休 12月–3月の第3月曜日＞. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Tohoku road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Choukai, Nishime and Oouchi.
Nearby: 🌄駒留島 (0.3 km) · 🌄Kisakata Beach (1.6 km)
- 4 Michi-no-Eki Iwaki 道の駅 岩城 · Akita
Michi-no-Eki Iwaki (道の駅 岩城) is a government-designated roadside station in 由利本荘市, Akita, Japan, registered in 1999 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a hot-spring (onsen) bath, a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop and a campground. There is free parking for about 120 cars and 20 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–18:30（4月–10月）、9:00–18:00（11月–3月）〔施設により異なる〕、温泉9:00–21:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Tohoku road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Oouchi, Nishime and Akita Minato.
Nearby: 🌄島式漁港公園 (0.5 km) · 📸亀田城跡 (5.6 km)
- 5 Michi-no-Eki Oga 道の駅 おが · Akita
Michi-no-Eki Oga (道の駅 おが) is a government-designated roadside station in 男鹿市, Akita, Japan, one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, EV charging and showers. There is free parking for about 150 cars and 7 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00~17:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Tohoku road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Tennou, Oogata and Shouwa.
Nearby: 🌄男鹿駅 屋上テラス (0.2 km) · 🌄第二船入場防波堤 (0.6 km)
- 6 Michi-no-Eki Minehama 道の駅 みねはま · Akita
Michi-no-Eki Minehama (道の駅 みねはま) is a government-designated roadside station in 山本郡八峰町, Akita, Japan, registered in 1999 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, lodging and hands-on experiences. There is free parking for about 48 cars and 3 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–18:00≪冬期・営業時間短縮あり≫ ＜休 12/31–1/3＞. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Tohoku road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Hachimori, Futatsui and Kotooka.
Nearby: 📸能代七夕 ねぶ流し (5.5 km) · 📸神輿の滝浴び (8.1 km)
- 7 Michi-no-Eki Hachimori 道の駅 はちもり · Akita
Michi-no-Eki Hachimori (道の駅 はちもり) is a government-designated roadside station in 山本郡八峰町, Akita, Japan, registered in 1995 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a cafe, a local-products shop, an observation deck, a park and a baby room. There is free parking for about 30 cars and 5 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–18:00 （冬季9:00–17:00） ＜休 12/30–1/2＞. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Tohoku road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Minehama, Fukaura and Futatsui.
Nearby: 📸Chigokimisaki Lighthouse (0.8 km) · 📸サンドイッチ岩脈 (1 km)
- 8 Michi-no-Eki Fukaura 道の駅 ふかうら · Aomori
Michi-no-Eki Fukaura (道の駅 ふかうら) is a government-designated roadside station in 西津軽郡深浦町, Aomori, Japan, registered in 2002 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a local-products shop, showers, a baby room and an accessible restroom. There is free parking for about 66 cars and 4 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–18:00（1–3月17:00）. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Tohoku road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Morita, Tsugaru Shirakami and Hachimori.
Nearby: 📸千畳敷 (5.2 km)
- 9 Michi-no-Eki Juusan Mizuumi Kougen 道の駅 十三湖高原 · Aomori
Michi-no-Eki Juusan Mizuumi Kougen (道の駅 十三湖高原) is a government-designated roadside station in 五所川原市, Aomori, Japan, registered in 1997 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a local-products shop, an observation deck, a park and a baby room. There is free parking for about 38 cars and 5 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–18:00（冬期・営業時間短縮あり）＜休 12/31–1/2＞. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Tohoku road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Kodomari, Imabetsu and Minmaya.
Nearby: 🌄吞龍岳展望台 (6.5 km) · ⛰Mt. Yotsudaki (8.6 km)
Make this route yours — load all 9 stops into the planner, reorder or remove stops, then open the finished trip in Google Maps.
Customize this route →Route tips
- Mt Chokai (the “Dewa Fuji”) is best in the morning light from the Yuza coast around the Chokai station.
- The Oga Peninsula is Namahage country — the demon-mask folklore museum is a short detour from the coast road.
- The stretch around Fukaura is the UNESCO Shirakami coast, where the Gono line hugs the sea — some of the best rail-and-road coast in Japan.
- This is a genuine three-day drive — don’t try to rush all three prefectures into one.
Before you drive
- Can you drive in Japan? License rules by country
- Renting a car in Japan: the complete guide
- Can you sleep overnight at a michi-no-eki?
FAQ — Tohoku Japan-Sea coast
How many days do you need for the Tohoku Japan-Sea coast route?
3 days is a comfortable pace: roughly 380 km of driving with 9 michi-no-eki stops along the way. You can compress it, but the stops are the point.
Where does the route start and end?
It starts at Tsuruoka (Yamagata) and ends at Lake Jusan (Aomori). Load all 9 stops into the free MichiStops route planner to reorder, add or remove stops, then open the finished trip in Google Maps.
When is the best season to drive this route?
May–October.
Do I need to rent a car?
Yes — michi-no-eki are roadside stations, realistically reachable only by rental car or campervan. Most visitors can drive in Japan with a 1949-convention International Driving Permit; check the license rules for your country before booking. License rules by country →
Can I sleep overnight at the michi-no-eki on this route?
Resting overnight in your vehicle is tolerated at most michi-no-eki (camping outside the vehicle is not), and 2 stops on this route have a proper campground next door. Read the overnight-stay guide for the etiquette. Overnight-stay guide →