Service Area on a High Way

There still remains two days for this year's Golden Week. Despite of the predictions in advance of the Golden Week, it seems that the number of the travelers inside Japan is coming back to normal. Probably 75% of the normal year.

I think this is because the aftermath of the earthquake is getting settled recently, such as
- few aftershocks recently
- Temporaly stop of planned blackout operation (until summer season)

But this year's trend is to pick nearest locatons, which might be one-day trip. In that case, many will drive to the destination by high way.

In Japan, each highway has to locate Service Area(SA) or Parking Area(PA) every 30 km.
PA has a small parking lot and small kiosk. But SA usually has decent restaunrants and food court and, might have Onsen (Hot-Spa) in it. Foods provided at SA are usually local foods, and facities are gorgeous these days. So there are some people whose travel destination is just SA on highway.

Major highways started from Tokyo and its famous SA are  (from Pacific Ocean Side)

-Tou Mei Highway: (Tokyo - Osaka thru Nagoya):  Ebina Service Area
-Chuou Hhighway: (Tokyo-Osaka thru Nagano) : Dango Saka Service Area
-Kan Etsu Highway:(Tokyo-Niigata): Kamisato Service Area
-Touhoku Highway:(Tokyo-Aomori):  Sano Service Area

If you have a chance to use these highways, I suggest you better stop by one of Service Areas and enjoy local foods.

I personally stopped at Yokokawa Service Area. This Yokokawa is famous for Kama-meshi, which is rice Obento, with some seasonal ingredients on top of .)  The restaurant was once at the top of the mountain and delivered this Kama-meshi for the people who walk up and down the mountain to go to Karuizawa.

I beleive this Kama-meshi is the best Kama-meshi in Japan. So, just try if you have chance to go to Karuizawa.

Yokokawa Service Area: outside of this pic, there are small lawn yard where you can enjoy Obento,

Sorry for the mess around this Kama-meshi.