Michi no eki (Roadside Station) Woody Keihoku

　When visiting the Miyama Thatched-Roof Village, a stop at Michi no eki Woody Keihoku is an absolute must. As it is about an hour’s drive from Kyoto, it is the perfect place to take a break. Michi no eki is a government-designated roadside station found along roads and highways in Japan.

　Like other Michi no eki, the premises are lined with locally grown seasonal vegetables, which are so popular that they often sell out before midday. You can also try Keihoku’s speciality: natto mochi, where salty natto is wrapped in mochi and coated in kinako. However, my personal recommendation is the local soft-serve ice cream. These are unique soft-serve flavours made using local ingredients such as red shiso and kuromoji (Japanese spicebush). This time, I tried the red bean soft-serve (left) and the limited-edition black bean soft-serve (right). They look very similar, but the taste is completely different.