If you plan to take the Tadami Line, the train will stop at Tadami Station for 10 to 30 minutes. Why? So the passengers can explore the area around the train station. Located in the second half of the Tadami Line, the town makes a great place to spend a night after exploring the scenic spots along Japan’s most picturesque local train line!
Table of Contents
- Tadamimachi Information Center (只見町インフォメーションセンター)
- Guest House Tadamisō (只見荘)
- Furusatokan Tagokura (ふるさと館 田子倉)
- Bakery Mitsuishiya (三石屋)
- Tadami Recreation Center Hitopuro Machiyu (只見保養センター ひとっぷろまち湯)
- Mitsuishi Shrine (三石神社)
- Sake Brewery Nekka (ねっか)
Tadamimachi Information Center (只見町インフォメーションセンター)
The Tadamimachi Information Center on your right after getting out of Tadami Station is the town’s tourist information center. It also has a souvenir corner and also a dining space for you to enjoy the big spicy miso rice ball (大きな辛みそおにぎり) sold in the shop while waiting for the next train. Depending on the season, the miso paste’s flavor changes!
You can also rent a bicycle and explore Tadami Town between spring and autumn. Electric-assisted bicycles are also available to make your life easier when traveling between attractions.
Moreover, Tadamimachi Information Center offers a free luggage storage service. Snow boots rental service is also available in winter.
- Tadamimachi Information is open from 9 am to 5 pm.
Tip: Tadami Town’s fall foliage season usually peaks from late October to early November.
Bicycle Rental Service at Tadamimachi Information Center
- The bicycle rental service is available from 9 am to 4:30 pm.
- The one-day bicycle rental cost is:
- 500 yen for children and normal bicycles
- 1,000 yen for electric-assisted bicycles
- 1,000 yen for up to 4 hours for ISSIMO electric-assisted bicycles
- 2,000 yen for a one-day rental for ISSIMO electric-assisted bicycles
- ISSIMO electric-assisted bicycles are suitable for those who are 160cm or taller.
- The rental bicycles can be reserved by calling +81-241-82-5250.
- Refer to HERE for the recommended cycling course.
- If you understand Japanese, you can also refer to the Hand Drawn Cycling Map.
Tips:
☛ The Tomato Ramen (トマトラーメン) made using Tadami’s tomatoes is a must-eat at Restaurant Yamabiko (レストランやまびこ) at Tadami Ski Resort (只見スキー場). It is around a 10 to 15-minute walk from Tadami Station. Remember to let the staff know to exclude meat and seafood if you are a vegetarian. After a couple of mouthfuls, you can add butter, garlic, and powdered cheese to change the soup flavors!
☛ The Tagokura Dam Curry (田子倉ダムカレー) at Mutton Kebab Cafe (マトンケバブカフェ) is also loved by the locals.
Note that we haven’t confirmed whether the broth is vegetarian or not.
Guest House Tadamisō (只見荘)
Spending a night in Tadami is a great idea if you want to experience Japan’s countryside, and Tadamisō opposite Tadami Station is an inn loved by those who have stayed there. While everything is in the Japanese style, and there might be things you aren’t used to, the host couple do their best to ensure your stay is comfortable.
The food is prepared using fresh ingredients found locally, including vegetables and mushrooms harvested from the nearby mountain. The handmade soba noodles made from 100% buckwheat flour are particularly delicious.
Important: If you are a vegetarian, check with Tadamisō first to see if they can exclude meat and seafood from your meal. Booking the accommodation plan without meals can be another option if you want to stay in Tadamisō.
Furusatokan Tagokura (ふるさと館 田子倉)
Furusatokan Tagokura is one of the main attractions near Tadami Station. Before the construction of the Tagokura Village (田子倉集落), the villagers lived in harmony with the rich nature by making a living from collecting wild vegetables and mushrooms, hunting, and fishing. All these were submerged due to the construction of the dam. So, the former villager, Minagawa Wataru (皆川 弥), opened a museum that conveys the history and culture of the disappeared village in his residence. Many of the exhibits were collected by his father, Minagawa Bunya (皆川 文弥). Approximately 200 items, including hunting tools and folk implements collected from villagers, are on display. His residence was later taken over by Tadami Town and renovated into Furusatokan Tagokura in 2016.
The second floor of the museum features exhibits that illustrate the construction of the Tadami Line between Aizu-Kawaguchi Station and Tadami Station. This part of the Tadami line was built as a dedicated railroad for transporting construction materials for the construction of the Tagokura Dam, which opened in 1971.
Furusatokan Tagokura’s Opening Hours and Access Information
- Furusatokan Tagokura is open from 9 am to 5 pm from Wednesday to Monday.
- The last admission is at 4 pm.
- If Tuesday is a public holiday, it closes the next business day.
- The museum is also closed from the end of December to the beginning of January.
- The admission fee is
- 310 yen for adults
- 210 yen for elementary and junior high school students
- Furusatokan Tagokura is a 4-minute walk from Tadami Station (只見駅).
Bakery Mitsuishiya (三石屋)
If you are a foodie, visit Mitsuishiya for its famous bread called Sobaro-pan (そぼろパン). The bakery, which opened in 1953, has been loved by the locals, and the owner has been putting much effort into creating new bread since its opening. His most successful creation is Sobaro-pan. The bun sandwiching buttercream has been on Mitsuishiya’s shelf since 1963 and has been selling out fast each day. While the bun’s name suggests it is a flavored mince-covered bun, the mince is used to describe the bun that appears to be covered by it.
Other delicious bread is also on the shelf. For example, the Age-an pan (あげあんぱん) and honey pudding (なめらかはちみつプリン) are two other Mitsuishiya’s top-sellers. The Age-an pan is made by deep-frying the normal an-pan (bun filled with red bean paste). Although the outer skin is fried crisply, you can hardly feel the oiliness! Also, the bean paste inside isn’t overly sweet.
If you don’t like deep-fried food, the genmai-pan (玄米パン) is a good alternative. The brown rice bun is also filled with Mitsuishiya’s well-made red bean paste.
In summer, grab a coffee ice shake to combat the heat!
Tip: If you like alcohol, the brandy cake (ブランデーケーキ) would be a good choice for you.
Bakery Mitsuishiya’s Business Hours and Access Information
- Bakery Mitsuishiya is open from
- 8 am to 7 pm on weekdays
- 8 am to 6 pm on weekends
- The bakery is a 4-minute walk from Tadami Station (只見駅).
Tadami Recreation Center Hitopuro Machiyu (只見保養センター ひとっぷろまち湯)
For those who like taking a bath and don’t mind bathing with strangers, visit Tadami Recreation Center Hitopuro Machiyu to relax your body in their public baths. Although the center’s onsen source was lost in a flood in 2011, indulging in hot water still helps to relieve your tensed muscles resulting from a day of exploration.
Although there is no outdoor bathing area, there is a sauna in one of the bathing areas. The gender assigned to the two baths changes daily. So, if you utilize Hitopuro Machiyu two days in a row, you will definitely be able to try their sauna out.
Before you leave, remember to adore the natural scenery created by the surrounding mountains, Ina River (伊南川), and Tadami River (只見川)!
Tadami Recreation Center Hitopuro Machiyu’s Business Hours, Admission Fee, and Access Information
- Tadami Recreation Center Hitopuro Machiyu is open from 12 pm to 8 pm from Tuesday to Sunday.
- The admission fee is
- 500 yen for adults
- 300 yen for elementary and junior high school students.
- The facility is around a 10-minute walk from Tadami Station.
Mitsuishi Shrine (三石神社)
The east and west sides of Tadami Station have completely different vibes. The west side is filled with nature. Apart from the Tadami Sky Resort (只見スキー場), the main reason people venture out of the town center is Mitsuishi Shrine and hiking. The shrine buried in a low mountain near the station is where you can perform an interesting ritual to pray for good relationships!
For more information, refer to our Mitsuishi Shrine article!
Sake Brewery Nekka (ねっか)
Tadami is a town surrounded by rich nature and clear streams. The peaceful and rural landscape hasn’t changed much ever since Japan was civilized in the late 19th century. To continue preserving what has been passed down from the ancestors, four local farmers and a sake brewer started Nekka in 2016 in the middle of massive rice fields. By making sake in winter when nothing can be grown on the field covered by deep snow, they have created a way to support the local farming industry. In addition, they want to use local rice to make local sake that the locals will appreciate.
The sake brewer is now Japan’s smallest distillery. The sake made from mineral-rich snowmelt water and rice grown by the farmers in Tadami is characterized by its strong aroma and refreshing taste. Ever since Nekka’s high-quality sake was introduced to the market, it has been recognized internationally and has won several awards.
Nekka means completely or at all in the local dialect. The brand name is based on the spirit of nekka sasukenee (ねっかさすけねぇー). It means to approach things with a positive attitude without denying one’s potential. The spirit is fully reflected by the sake made by the studious and hardworking locals. While they can’t cultivate rice without pesticides, Nekka’s farmers do their best to minimize the adverse environmental effects caused by their farming. The fine rice from the paddy fields is thus the best raw material for sake-making.
Sake-Tasting and Distiliery Tour at Nekka
Although not free of charge, you can do sake-tasting in Nekka’s tasting room between 10 am and 4 pm (excluding 12 pm to 1 pm). Distillery tours are also held twice a day.
- Nekka’s distiliery tour is held at 10 am and 1:30 pm.
- The cost is 550 yen.
- Please email [email protected] to reserve.
Because the sake brewery is far away from Tadami Station, you can purchase its top-seller, Rice Shōchū Nekka (米焼酎ねっか), from the Tadamimachi Information Center.
Sake Brewery Nekka’s Business Hours and Access Information
- Sake Brewery Nekka is open from 10 am to 4 pm with a lunch break from 12 pm to 1 pm.
- The distillery is a 25-minute drive from Tadami Station (只見駅).
Discover the Stunning Scenery Along the Tadami Line
Tadami Station is on the second half of Japan’s most stunning train line, the Tadami Line. From the local train’s window, which runs through the mountains, breathtaking natural views unfold one after another throughout the year. Several tourist spots worth checking out are also dotted along the Tadami Line, enriching your visit to Japan’s rural towns.
So, refer to our Tadami Line article for more information on expanding your itinerary to include a couple of scenic spots!
