Michi-no-Eki Hitachi-Omiya Kawa Plaza

Kawa Plaza means river plaza, and the Kuji River runs right behind the building. The station opened in March 2016 on Route 118, the road north from the Mito area toward Daigo and Fukuroda Falls. It was also designed as a disaster base for the area, which explains the large, open layout.

The farm shop is the main draw. About 270 local growers sell here, with something like 180 kinds of produce, and the organic and Western vegetables are the shop's best-known corner. Many visitors from outside Ibaraki come from Tokyo and Chiba. Look for freshly milled rice and the station's own perilla (egoma) oil. The restaurant, food court and gelato counter round out a lunch stop.

Down by the water there is a riverside plaza and a covered barbecue area, which needs a booking. The station closes on the third Thursday of each month (the next day if that is a holiday) and on 1 January, with shorter hours over the New Year. Allow 30 to 40 minutes from Naka IC on the Joban Expressway.