When you hear the word “roadside station,” you think of it as a place to take a restroom break, but recently, the gourmet food unique to roadside stations has become a hot topic of conversation! Therefore, this time we will introduce the roadside station Mogami “Atsue” and the “River Station Yanachaya Mogami” located in the Mogami region of Yamagata Prefecture. The good news is that these two facilities are located side by side, so you can use both.

We will introduce you to the many charms of the facility, which can be enjoyed not only as a restroom break but also as a gourmet spot!

Roadside station Mogami “Atsue” and River Station Yanachaya Mogami spot information

Exterior of Roadside station Mogami “Atsue” and River Station Yanachaya Mogami

Roadside Station Mogami “Atsue” and River Station Yanachaya Mogami are roadside stations located along National Route 47 that passes through Mogami-cho, Mogami-gun, Yamagata Prefecture.
Roadside Station Mogami “Atsue” is a relatively new roadside station in the prefecture that opened on November 26, 2023.

Facility overview and recommended gourmet food at Roadside Station Mogami “Atsue”

Exterior of roadside station Mogami “Atsue”

First, I would like to introduce you to the roadside station Mogami “Atsue”.
First of all, do you know the word “Atsue”?
“Atsue” means “there is” and is used in words such as “n-ma-i-mo-no atsue” and “resting place Atsue.”

The goal is to create a place where the many fun, gentle, and delicious foods found in Mogami-machi will connect people who use the national highway with the local community.
The roadside station Mogami Atsue has the following facilities.

• Toilet
• Parking lot
• Road information corner
• Rest space
• Tourist information center
• Community space
• Snacks corner

What I’m interested in is the roadside station gourmet food! Next, we will introduce some recommended gourmet food.

Recommended gourmet food at Roadside Station Mogami “Atsue”

What caught my attention was the asparagus croquette made with plenty of asparagus, a specialty of Mogami Town! Adding asparagus to croquettes is a novel idea. You must try this! So I received it right away!

The ingredients are potatoes and lots of small pieces of asparagus. It’s delicious with the steamy potatoes and the sweetness of the asparagus!

Facility overview and recommended gourmet food at River Station Yanachaya Mogami

Exterior view of the river station Yanachaya Mogami

Next up is the river station Yana Chaya Mogami, which is attached to the roadside station Mogami “Atsue”! The clear Oguni River flows right next to it, and there is a wonderful view of fresh greenery and autumn leaves, and you can see the traditional sweetfish fishing called “Yana”.

Click here to see the facilities at the river station Yanachaya Mogami!

• Restaurants
• Directly produced “Mogami Shikika”
• Souvenir shop
• Lawson Mogami store

The Lawson Mogami store is a log house-style building built using the ancient Yamato-zukuri construction method, and is said to be the first of its kind in the industry, using plenty of local wood, Mogami cedar.
Lawson looks stylish. We are open 24 hours a day, so please stop by.

Recommended gourmet food at River Station Yanachaya Mogami

The specialty of River Station Yanachaya is Ayu tempura soba!
A whole sweetfish is used, grilled over charcoal, made into tempura, and served on top of soba noodles. Apparently you can eat the whole head!

You can eat the whole sweetfish from head to tail, so you can fully enjoy its deliciousness.

Making tempura makes it easier for people who are concerned about the unique flavor of river fish to eat it, but it still retains the original aroma and flavor of ayu, and goes great with soba! This is a dish that lets you experience a new charm of sweetfish. (The head is edible, but it’s a little hard, so people who don’t like it may not be able to eat it.)

Speaking of Yana, you can’t forget Charcoal-grilled Ayu Matsubara.
The sweetfish is slowly grilled over charcoal, resulting in a crispy skin and fluffy flesh. I feel like I can eat as much as I want!

Directly produced “Mogami Shikika”

At Mogami Shikika, where fresh vegetables and wild plants are delivered daily from farmers in Mogami Town, you can enjoy local seasonal ingredients. You can also use the courier delivery service, so you can have fresh ingredients delivered to your home.
Payment method is cash on delivery.

Introduction of spots around Roadside station Mogami “Atsue”

There are many sightseeing spots in Mogami Town, so I would like to introduce just a few of them.

Although the number of hot spring areas has increased, Mogami Town, which is rich in nature and hot springs, has a unique charm. Please come and enjoy a moment of relaxation for both mind and body.

Summary

Roadside Station Mogami Atsue and River Station Yanachaya Mogami in Mogami District, Yamagata Prefecture are an unusual combination of a roadside station, a river station, and the industry’s first Lawson, allowing you to fully enjoy the unique charm of the area. It is a spot where you can enjoy the clear Oguni River and the nature of Mogami Town while enjoying delicious gourmet food.

There are many delicious gourmet dishes that you should try at least once, such as croquettes made with local ingredients and salt-grilled sweetfish! It is a perfect place not only for sightseeing but also for eating and resting.

There are plenty of hot spring resorts and ski resorts in the area, making it worth visiting as a tourist destination! Next time you’re on a trip, be sure to stop by and experience the “atsue” of the area!

Click here for store information for Roadside Station Mogami “Atsue”