Michi-no-Eki Tono Kaze-no-Oka

Tono is the countryside of the Tono Monogatari folk tales, and Kaze-no-Oka, "the windy hill," is where most drivers enter it. The station stands on a rise beside Route 283, about a kilometer from Tono IC, and its two wind turbines are hard to miss. They are not just decoration: the power they generate melts snow on the forecourt in winter and helps run the lights and air conditioning the rest of the year.

Inside, the product hall sells vegetables from local farms alongside Tono sweets, folk crafts, sake and craft beer. The building was renovated in April 2021, and the observation deck looks out over rice fields toward the town. Tono is known for Genghis Khan grilled mutton, and the station is one of the places to try it; the bucket-grill version is described as a seasonal offer in the warmer months, so ask before counting on it.

MLIT picked this as one of its national model michi-no-eki, partly for its role as a support base after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami on the coast. It is open all year, but closing time moves from 18:00 to 17:00 between November and March.