Yamaguchi
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[Yamaguchi] A Driving Trip to Encounter Superb Views of the Sea of Japan. 6 Roadside Stations with Delicious Souvenirs & Local Gourmet Food

"Roadside Stations" (Michi-no-Eki) are hubs where local specialties and gourmet foods are gathered. As spots to stop by while sightseeing or driving, they offer plenty of fun, such as buying souvenirs and dining. Yamaguchi Prefecture has as many as 24 Roadside Stations, and it is packed with noteworthy facilities, including those that claim to be the "birthplace of Roadside Stations" and those that have been ranked number one in the country in popularity polls by travel agencies. In this article, we will introduce the best Roadside Stations on the Sea of Japan side. Because they are full of excellent items, we recommend visiting with a larger budget.

The first roadside station in Yamaguchi Prefecture. It prides itself on incredibly fresh seafood delivered directly from Nago Port.

The Sea of Japan stretches out behind the facility, and the offshore Kashima Island is cherished by locals as a "married couple island" for praying for marital harmony.
The Sea of Japan stretches out behind the facility, and the offshore Kashima Island is cherished by locals as a "married couple island" for praying for harmony.

Located about 20 minutes north of Hagi city, this spot is adjacent to an old port town in Abu Town and boasts beautiful views of the Sea of Japan. It is one of the facilities registered when the Roadside Station system was launched (1993), and it also promotes itself as the birthplace of Roadside Stations. The highlight of the direct sales store is the incredibly fresh seafood landed every morning at Nago Port. The prices are also surprisingly reasonable, and it is bustling with many customers right after opening.
The "Meotojima" (Married Couple Islands) floating offshore is a symbol of domestic harmony among locals. The "Monument of Happiness" on the premises is also popular as a power spot for fulfilling romantic wishes.

Enjoy seafood gourmet with a spectacular view and hot springs. Outdoor experiences are also recommended.

The famous "Chiyomaru Gozen" at "Abu Chokubai Chiyomaru Shokudo".
The famous "Chiyomaru Gozen" at "Abu Sanchoku Chiyomaru Shokudo".

The fresh fish sold at the direct sales store can be enjoyed in dishes like the Chiyomaru Gozen or seafood bowls at "Abu Sanchoku Chiyomaru Shokudo." Another attraction is the "Nihonkai Onsen Kashima no Yu," a natural hot spring pumped from 1,000 meters underground. Along with the restaurant, it boasts a view of the Sea of Japan.
Being able to fully enjoy leisure activities is another point of this facility. It features a heated swimming pool, which is rare for a Roadside Station, and can be used casually without a reservation. At "ABU CAMPFIELD," which opened in March 2022, rental items such as tents and barbecue sets are well-stocked. Even beginners can enjoy an outdoor experience empty-handed.

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Located in a corner of the tenant area, "Jokisen Manju" is a hidden gem of the Hagi/Abu area with over 100 years of history, shaped, as the name suggests, like a steamship. It is carefully grilled over charcoal and filled with plenty of homemade sweet red bean paste.

Roadside Station Abu-cho
  • Address2249 Nago, Abu-cho, Abu-gun, Yamaguchi Prefecture MAP
  • AccessApprox. 60 minutes from the Edo IC on the Ogori-Hagi Road
  • Bus accessTake a bus from Hagi Bus Center and get off at "Michi-no-Eki Abu-cho"
  • Business hours10:00–18:00 (Local Produce Market "Abu no Shunkan")
  • ClosedJanuary 1st, January 2nd, and the first Wednesday of every month (excluding May and August)
  • TEL08388-2-0355
  • ParkingFree
  • NotesPlease refer to the Roadside Station Abu website for the business hours and holidays of each facility in the building.

Boasting fresh fish delivered directly from the fish market, this is the kitchen for Hagi citizens, well-stocked with fresh food.

Bustling with local shoppers in addition to tourists. Excellent Hagi products, such as fresh fish and seasonal agricultural produce, are gathered inside the store.
It is bustling with local shoppers in addition to tourists. Hagi's finest products, such as fresh fish and seasonal agricultural produce, are gathered inside the store.

Located adjacent to the Hagi Regional Wholesale Market, which ships a wide variety of branded fish across the country. In a city like Hagi, packed with attractions such as Shoin Shrine and Hagi Meirin Gakusha, this roadside station is always mentioned as a must-visit tourist spot.
It brings together the culinary charms of Hagi, centered on fresh, live fish delivered directly from the market, and the rows of fresh food products make it truly the kitchen for the people of Hagi. In addition to local sakes like "Toyo Bijin" and "Chomonkyo," there is a rich selection of souvenirs, including dried fish, bottled sea urchin, and summer orange products. Also, be sure to check out the "Yoshida Shoin Potato Chips," which have become a hot topic after being featured in the media.

From fresh fish dishes to sweets, there is a wide array of gourmet delights to enjoy.

"Hagi Pudding-tei," which is rapidly gaining popularity as a new Hagi specialty. The local sauces, such as summer orange marmalade, are delicious.
"Hagi Pudding Tei" is rapidly gaining popularity as a new Hagi specialty. The local sauces, such as summer orange marmalade, are delicious.

The dining establishments "Hama Ryori Gangan," "Restaurant Kihagi," and "Restaurant Ishintei" are all popular spots. You can enjoy a variety of fresh fish dishes, such as set meals and rice bowls featuring seasonal "Hagi fish." In addition, the fresh food section sells sashimi packs, nigiri sushi, and freshly fried tempura (fish cakes). We also recommend grabbing a snack and enjoying it on the outdoor terrace while feeling the sea breeze.
Furthermore, don't miss the second branch of "Hagi Pudding Tei," which has its main store in the Hagi Castle Town. They pride themselves on a melt-in-your-mouth smoothness and offer a wide variety of sauces, including "Hagi Summer Orange" and "Nagisa Pudding."

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Events are also held to match seasonal fish, such as "mafugu" (pufferfish) in early spring and "setuki-aji" (horse mackerel) from May to August. The adjacent "Shinsui Park" features about 120 Kawazu cherry trees, which reach full bloom from late February to early March.

Roadside Station Hagi Sea Mart
  • Address4160-61 Chinto, Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture MAP
  • AccessApprox. 35 minutes from the Ogori-Hagi Road "Edo" IC
  • Bus accessTake a bus from Hagi Bus Center and get off at "Roadside Station Hagi Sea Mart" (right there).
  • Business hoursMon-Fri 9:30-18:00, Sat, Sun, and holidays 9:00-18:00
    Winter season (Nov-Feb) until 17:00
  • ClosedJanuary 1st and one irregular day per month (see website for details)
  • TEL0838-24-4937
  • ParkingFree

A roadside station on the "Hagi Okan" road, once traveled by the patriots of the Bakumatsu period.

The "Nana-iro Marche" agricultural direct sales store is full of seasonal Hagi-grown vegetables and fruits. It offers excellent items carefully selected by vegetable sommeliers.
The "Nana-iro Marche" direct sales store for agricultural products is full of seasonal Hagi-grown vegetables and fruits. It offers a selection of items carefully chosen by a vegetable sommelier.

Located at the southern gateway to Hagi, where you descend the mountain into the city, this station features the attached Shoin Memorial Hall. On the premises, statues of Choshu domain samurai such as Yoshida Shoin and Takasugi Shinsaku stand in a row, making it a popular photo spot.
The facility's pride is its mountain bounty. As the only roadside station in the prefecture that is a "Japan Vegetable Sommelier Association Certified Fruit and Vegetable Retailer" with a professional vegetable sommelier on staff, it offers a selection of carefully chosen fruits and vegetables. Seasonal recommendations are packed throughout the year, such as "Hagi Tamage Nasu" eggplant and "Aishima Watermelon" in summer, "Oni Hoppe" (the facility's original brand of "Beni Hoppe" strawberries) in winter, and "Amanatsu" oranges from early summer onwards.

Enjoy Hagi at home! Full of original products like marmalade and bath salts.

You can purchase the "Hagi Kaori Fukei no Yu" bath salts by the single packet.
You can purchase the "Hagi Kaori Fukei no Yu" bath salts starting from a single packet.

The "Bussankan" (Product Center) is lined with Hagi's proud specialty products. In addition to agricultural and livestock products such as summer orange sweets and marmalade, local sakes like "Chomonkyo" and "Yachiyo," and processed goods made from "Kenran beef" and "Mutsumi pork," you will also find "Hagi glass" and "Hagi ware." Don't miss the original items exclusive to the facility, such as ponzu sauce and dressings.
We recommend the "Hagi Kaori Fukei no Yu" bath salts. Available in three types—"Hagi Tsubaki no Komichi," "Hagi Castle Town Summer Orange Blossoms," and "Hagi Kikugahama White Sand and Green Pines"—they are popular as easy souvenirs thanks to their stylish packaging. You can soothe your travel fatigue while immersing yourself in the scenery of Hagi.

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"Kenran-gyu Dining Gen" offers exquisite hamburg steaks and rice bowls made with "Kenran-gyu" beef and "Mutsumi" pork! At "Udon Chaya Daidai-tei," you can enjoy the Yamaguchi Prefecture specialty, "Kawara Soba." For dessert, the "Premium Natsumikan Soft Serve" at the snack corner is a must!

Roadside Station Hagi Okan
  • Address1258 Kasegasaka, Tsubaki, Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture MAP
  • AccessApprox. 20 minutes from the Ogori-Hagi Road "Edo" IC
  • Business hours9:00–18:00
  • ClosedOpen every day
  • TEL0838-22-9889
  • ParkingFree
  • NotesPlease refer to the facility website for restaurant business hours.

A full lineup of Nagato's land and sea delicacies! A great selection of souvenirs including the famous "Senzaki Kamaboko".

A wide array of fresh fish, processed seafood products, agricultural produce, and deli items! It boasts one of the best selections of the local specialty, "Senzaki Kamaboko," in the prefecture.
A wide array of fresh fish, processed seafood products, agricultural produce, and deli items are lined up! It boasts one of the best selections of the specialty "Senzaki Kamaboko" in the prefecture.

Facing Senzaki Bay in Nagato City, this roadside station is packed with a wide variety of specialty products, centered on fresh fish and processed seafood. With such a broad selection, choosing souvenirs is a delight. As the newest facility among the 24 roadside stations in Yamaguchi Prefecture, it attracts not only tourists but also many shoppers from within the prefecture seeking the delicious foods and fine items that Nagato and the surrounding areas are proud of.
The "Nagato Toy Museum" on the premises is a notable spot for those with children, where they can play with various toys made from local wood. Soothed by the warmth of the wood, it is also recommended for refreshing yourself from travel fatigue during a family trip.

From seafood to yakitori! Enjoy Nagato's gourmet food to the fullest.

The dining building features the "YUKUTE" tourist information center, along with "Sengoku," which prides itself on its seafood, and "Chikuzen," known for Nagato yakitori.
The dining building features the "YUKUTE" tourist information center, along with "Sengoku," which prides itself on its seafood, and the Nagato yakitori restaurant "Chikuzen."

With over 10 restaurants lined up, you can fully enjoy local gourmet foods such as seafood and yakitori. Popular shops are all gathered here, including the famous "Nagato Yakitori" restaurant "Chikuzen," and "Himonoya Shokudo Hidamari," "Katsugyo Ryori Sushi Sengoku," and "Senzaki Honmaru," where you can savor local fish dishes.
The "Grill House," where you can enjoy a seafood barbecue empty-handed, uses a system where you purchase ingredients yourself at the adjacent agricultural and marine products direct sales store. In other words, every product lined up inside Senza Kitchen can become a menu item. There is a rich selection of shellfish such as turban shells and abalone, as well as sun-dried fish, and you shouldn't miss the seasonal specialty vegetables either.

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Senzaki is famous for its "yakinuki kamaboko" (grilled fish cake), which has an irresistible, refined flavor without any strong aftertaste. The kamaboko section has one of the best selections in the prefecture, including high-end items costing over 1,000 yen per piece that are rarely seen even locally.

Roadside Station Senza Kitchen
  • Address4297-1 Senzaki, Nagato City, Yamaguchi Prefecture MAP
  • AccessApprox. 45 minutes from the Mine IC on the Chugoku Expressway
  • Bus accessTake a bus from JR Nagato-shi Station and get off at "Senza Kitchen"
  • Business hours9:00–18:00 (Direct sales shop)
  • ClosedSecond Thursday (open on holidays and in August), January 1st
  • TEL0837-27-0300
  • ParkingFree
  • NotesPlease refer to the Senza Kitchen website for the business hours of each store and the Toy Museum.

The westernmost roadside station on Honshu, located near the scenic "Tsunoshima Bridge".

The restaurant "Wakuwaku-tei" offers a spectacular view. You can see the Tsunoshima Bridge across the beautiful sea.
The restaurant "Wakuwaku-tei" offers a spectacular view. You can look out over the beautiful sea toward the Tsunoshima Bridge.

Located about 10 minutes from the popular spot "Tsunoshima" in Hohoku-cho, Shimonoseki City, the facility also offers a distant view of the Tsunoshima Bridge. It was ranked number one in the country in both "Travelers' Choice: Best Roadside Stations 2016" and "Travelers' Choice: Best Roadside Stations 2018" (both by TripAdvisor), making it one of the most notable roadside stations in Yamaguchi Prefecture.
At the "Sea and Sunset Restaurant Wakuwaku-tei," you can enjoy a variety of seafood from the Kitaura region, including the "Wakuwaku Seafood Bowl." Don't miss the dishes featuring Shimonoseki specialties like "fuku" (pufferfish) and whale.

Packed with original products recommended by "Hokkun".

The product hall is bustling with many customers right from opening time. The orange character is the facility's mascot, "Hokkun."
The product hall is bustling with many customers right from opening time. The orange character is the facility's mascot, "Hokkun."

The "Hohoku Yume Ichiba" product hall is packed with fresh seafood landed in various parts of Kitaura, as well as fruits and vegetables special to Hohoku. Be sure to check the facility's website and social media before your visit for the latest seasonal arrivals and special offers. Popular staples include products featuring the facility's mascot character "Hokkun," such as "Hohoku Okoge Senbei" (scorched rice crackers) and "Hohoku Pudding." The "Freshly Baked Bread Workshop Maison de la Mer" offers a wide array of loaves and original breads made with ingredients from Hohoku, making it a great place to pick up snacks for your trip.

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Don't miss the fresh fish section for seafood gourmet. It is packed with facility-exclusive items such as "omakase nigiri sushi" made with local fish caught that day, jumbo-sized "seafood inari," and "akamoku shirasu rice bowls."

Roadside Station Kitaura Kaido Hohoku
  • Address314-1 Kanda-kami, Hohoku-cho, Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture MAP
  • AccessApprox. 60 minutes from the Shimonoseki IC on the Chugoku Expressway
  • Bus accessTake the bus bound for "Tsunoshima" from JR San-in Main Line Takibe Station and get off at "Michi-no-Eki Hohoku"
  • Business hours8:30–18:00 (Please check the facility website; hours vary by season and may be shortened due to COVID-19)
  • Closed1st and 3rd Tuesday (Please check the facility website; subject to seasonal changes)
  • TEL083-786-0111
  • ParkingFree
  • NotesPlease refer to the facility website for the business hours of the restaurant and bakery.

An experiential roadside station where you can enjoy the rich nature and food of Shimonoseki.

A wide variety of products are lined up, including pears, game meat, and honey, which are specialties of Toyota-cho.
A wide variety of products are lined up, including pears, wild game, and honey, which are specialties of Toyota-cho.

Located in Toyota-cho, about a 50-minute drive from Shimonoseki Station, this roadside station features a specialty product shop, dining facilities, and a hot spring facility. Surrounded by mountains, the area is known as a famous spot for fireflies, and in June, many tourists from all over the country visit to enjoy the magical sight.
The shop offers agricultural products and processed goods carefully grown locally, with a focus on pears, a specialty of Toyota-cho. Game meat is also famous, and wild boar and deer processed at the town's game center are reputed to be delicious with little odor. Some items sell out by the afternoon, so it is better to visit in the morning.

Enjoy a relaxing moment at the "Hotaru no Yu" hot spring facility.

The hot spring facility has two baths with different themes (alternating between men and women each month), both of which are equipped with indoor and outdoor baths.
The hot spring facility has two baths with different themes (swapped between men and women monthly), both of which are equipped with indoor and outdoor baths.

The Hotaru-no-Yu hot spring facility features weakly alkaline natural spring water known for its skin-beautifying properties, complete with a large public bath, an open-air bath, and a sauna. A relaxation area is also available, allowing you to soothe your travel fatigue in a leisurely atmosphere. Before you head out, we also recommend stopping by the restaurant or café to recharge with dishes made from local ingredients.
Furthermore, the facility hosts events in collaboration with local businesses, such as honey sales by weight and sake tasting, to promote the charm of the town. It is one of those roadside stations worth visiting specifically to fully experience the appeal of Toyota-cho.

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The roadside station also accepts reservations for the "Firefly Boat" held in June and for pear picking at 15 nearby pear orchards. When visiting Toyota-cho, please be sure to enjoy these unique local experiences.

Roadside Station Hotaru Kaido Nishinoichi
  • Address876-4 Nakamura, Toyota-cho, Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture MAP
  • AccessApprox. 50 minutes by car from JR Shimonoseki Station
  • Business hours8:30–21:00
  • Closed4th Tuesday *Subject to change in some months
  • TEL083-767-0241
  • ParkingFree

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Nearby Hoshino Resorts facilities
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*The information provided is current as of the date of the article's update. Please check in advance as it may be subject to change.