Michi-no-Eki Minabe Ume Shinkokan
About This Destination
Michi-no-Eki Minabe Ume Shinkokan is a three-floor roadside station in Minabe, the number-one plum-producing town in Japan and the home of the prized Nanko-ume. The building has cultural and history exhibits, a plum-themed theater and a view over the plum groves, and a large shop selling umeboshi and other plum products on the top floor. In late winter the surrounding hills turn white with plum blossom, one of Wakayama's signature sights.
Location
Prefecture: Wakayama
Address: Minabe, Wakayama, Japan
Opening hours: Mon, Wed–Sun 09:00–17:00
Closed: Tuesdays (the next day if Tuesday is a national holiday) and 29 to 31 December. Open every day in February.
Hours note: Last entry to the exhibition rooms is 16:30.
Parking and toilets: Free, open 24 hours
Hours and fees checked against the official site on 9 October 2026.
Best time to visit: Late winter (February to March) for the Minabe plum blossoms; the ume soft serve is sold year-round
Visitor Information
Credit Cards: Unknown
Food Options: The local novelty is an ume (plum) soft serve at about 250 yen, sold year-round, with plum puree swirled through and pieces of fruit for a refreshing tang. The top-floor shop sells umeboshi, plum juice, and other Nanko-ume products to take home.
Access
Wakayama, Japan
Get DirectionsFrequently Asked Questions
What is the ume soft serve at Minabe Ume Shinkokan?
It is a plum (ume) soft serve, about 250 yen and sold year-round, with plum puree swirled in and pieces of fruit for a bright, refreshing tang rather than plain sweetness. It showcases Minabe's Nanko-ume, the premium plum variety the town is famous for. The top-floor shop sells umeboshi and other plum products to take home.
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