🗺️ The Ninth Station of the Road道の駅 第九の里

The Ninth Station of the Road is located in the German Village in Naruto City, Tokushima Prefecture. It was originally transformed from a prisoner of war camp that housed German soldiers during World War I and initially served as a rest stop on the road. Additionally, since the first performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in Asia took place in Naruto City, it has earned the nickname "Ninth Station." The building of the product hall within the Ninth Station has been renovated from the barracks of the "Old Bandō Prisoner of War Camp," which is registered as a national tangible cultural asset. In this historically rich building, visitors can purchase local seasonal agricultural products such as Tokushima's specialty sudachi and Naruto sweet potatoes, as well as famous confections and processed products that make excellent souvenirs, making it an ideal stop for touring Naruto. The Ninth Station also features a food street offering dishes related to Germany, such as hot dogs made with German sausages and German beer. Additionally, there is a "Naruto City German Hall" that showcases materials related to the German soldiers captured during World War I.

The roadside rest area in Naruto German Village Park. The rest area building is the former Bando POW camp barracks, which is registered as a tangible cultural property of the country. It showcases various local specialties from Tokushima and fresh agricultural products. The snack street inside the roadside rest area offers a variety of German-style dishes.