#38- Jukai Road Hidaka 樹海ロード日高

After Shimukappu, I traveled a short distance to the Michi no Eki in Hidaka. If you are on your way to either of these spots and looking to collect stamps, I suggest that you swing by the other as well. They are very close, and it can be hard to get out to rural areas without some sort of purpose, so you might as well get one while you are there, especially if you don't live nearby.

The squirrel on the sign is meant to be cute, but I find him unnerving.

Contact Info:
Address: 沙流郡日高町本町東1丁目298番地1 Sarugawa-gun, Hidaka-cho, Honcho Higashi 1 chome, 298 banchi
Telephone: (01457)6-2008 (This number may connect you to the Hidaka town office)
Closings: Please call to ask about New Year's closings.
                Restaurant is closed every Thursday
                Local goods direct sales shop is closed every Wednesday
                Coffee shop is closed every Monday
Hours:
          Shop: 9:00 am ~ 8:00 pm
          Restaurant: 11:00 am ~ 7:00 pm
          Rest Area: 9:00 am ~ 8:00 pm (closes at 6:00 pm on Thursdays)- The stamp rally corner also follows these hours.
          Local goods direct sales shop: 10:00 am ~ 5:00 pm
          Coffee shop: 9:00 am ~ 7:00 pm

Hidaka's country sign

Hidaka's stamp

Michi no Eki official site facility guide:
Parking: 133 cars, 12 van/buses
Restaurant: Yes
Crib/place to put your baby: Yes
Campsite: No
Interactive facilities: No
Toilet: 2 stalls and 6 urinals in the men's, 6 stalls in the women's
Coffee: Yes
Observation Deck: No
Gas Station: No
Electric Car Charging Station: Yes
Handicapped Parking/Toilets: 2 parking spots and 1 restroom. There may be another restroom facility for ostomy-related needs
Rest Area: Yes
Museum/Art Gallery: Yes
Place to Shower: No
Credit Card: No
Bidet Toilets: Yes
Information: Yes
Hot Spring Bath: No
Fax: No
Dog Run: No
Telephone: Yes
AED: No
Sports Facilities: No
Internet: No
Shop: Yes
Park: No
Hotel: No
Post Office: Yes

Stuff to Do:
1. Rest

There is a nice rest area with a table and some benches. You can look at the wall-sized map of the area while you plan your drive or have a snack. The map also has some information about famous things in the town. One of the two televisions shows a real-time update of a dangerous section of road in the Nissho Pass. In winter, it is particularly recommended that you use this television to check the road conditions before you continue your drive. 

2. Shop

Like at most Michi no Eki's, there is a little shop corner across the hall from the rest area. This one has a drink cooler and a lot of snacks. You can also get soft ice cream there. They might have a really interesting flavor or something, because I recall the line getting very long in the summer. I only wanted to buy a magnet, but the ice cream was quite popular with other tourists coming through. 

3. Eat/Drink

There is a handmade soba restaurant associated with the Michi no Eki, as well as a coffee shop. I haven't been to either, and I didn't get any pictures, so I can't speak to how good they are.

4. Museum

The Tudor-style building is the Michi no Eki itself. Behind it, you can a strange building with a pointed roof. This is the Hidaka Mountain Museum (日高山脈博物館). Apparently it themes itself around nature, and you can attend a nature seminar there.

The hours are 10:00 am ~ 5:00 pm, although in winter (November ~ March), the museum closes at 3:00. The museum is also closed on Mondays, and for the New Year's holidays from December 28 ~ January 1. 

Admission is 200 yen for adults, and 100 yen for elementary, junior high, and high school students. 

More information can be found at the website here.