Michi-no-Eki Kaki-no-Sato Kudoyama (Roadside Station)

Overview

Michi-no-Eki Kaki-no-Sato Kudoyama is a roadside station in Kudoyama, a small town in the hills of north-east Wakayama that has long served as a gateway to the sacred mountain of Koyasan. Its name means 'persimmon country', and with good reason: the local kaki, ripened by Kudoyama's soil and mild climate, are counted among the finest in Japan. This is also the town where the samurai commander Sanada Yukimura lived out his years of exile — a history the station is glad to tell.

Three things share the site. The World Heritage Information Center introduces Koyasan and the Choishi-michi pilgrimage trail across three themed zones; the 'Yottette' produce market — one of a Wakayama chain — piles up seasonal persimmons, citrus and vegetables beside local souvenirs, from umeboshi and kinzanji miso to several kinds of kakinoha-zushi (persimmon-leaf sushi); and Bakery Café Persimmon serves persimmon bread and a soft-serve made from the local fruit. Outside there is a soft-floored playground for children, a lawn, and a workshop room for soba-making and sushi-rolling. It sits about 40 minutes from the Wakayama IC with free parking; opening hours differ by facility, so check ahead.