Local Guide
It is also a good place to stop by during a drive! 5 recommended roadside stations on the Sea of Japan side of Yamaguchi Prefecture

Michi no Eki," where local specialties and gourmet foods are concentrated. Between sightseeing spots or as a stopover during a drive, there are plenty of places to stop for souvenirs, meals, and other enjoyable activities. There are as many as 24 Michi no Eki (Roadside Stations) in Yamaguchi Prefecture, and many of these properties have garnered much attention, including one that claims to be the "birthplace of Michi no Eki" and another that was voted the most popular in Japan by travel agencies. This article introduces five of the best roadside stations on the Sea of Japan coast. We recommend that you visit on a budget, as they are a gem of a place.

The first roadside station in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Boasts fresh seafood directly from Nako Port.

The Sea of Japan stretches out behind the Property, and Kashima Island off the coast is popular among locals as a
The Sea of Japan stretches out behind the Property, and Kashima Island off the coast is popular among locals as a "married couple island" for praying for happiness.

Located about 30 minutes north of downtown Hagi, Abu Town is adjacent to an old port town and boasts a beautiful view of the Sea of Japan. It was one of the registered Properties when the Michi-no-Eki system was established (1993), and also appeals as the birthplace of Michi-no-Eki. The highlight of the direct sales area is the fresh seafood landed every morning at Nago Port. The prices are surprisingly reasonable, and the store is crowded with customers right after it opens.
Meotojima," a couple's island off the coast, is a local symbol of family happiness. The "Monument of Happiness" on the premises is also known as a power spot for romantic fulfillment.

Enjoy seafood and hot springs with a spectacular view. Outdoor Experience is also recommended!

Kashima Gozen
Kashima Gozen" (1,980 yen), a specialty of Hajimari's Restaurant Kashima, with five kinds of sashimi, depending on the season.

The fresh fish sold at the fish market can be enjoyed at Hajimari no Restaurant Kashima as sashimi set menus or seafood rice bowls. Another attraction is the "Nihonkai Onsen Kashima no Yu," a natural hot spring pumped up from 1,000 meters underground. Along with the Restaurant, it boasts a view of the Sea of Japan.
Another key point of the Property is that visitors can enjoy leisure activities to the fullest. The "ABU CAMPFIELD," which opened in March 2022, offers a full lineup of rental items, including tents and barbecue sets. Even beginners can enjoy an outdoor experience with nothing to rent.

Local Guide Comment
Steamboat Manju," located in one of the tenants, is a well-known specialty of the Hagi and Abu area with a history of over 100 years, and as the name suggests, it is shaped like a steamboat. Carefully baked over a charcoal fire, the dough is filled with homemade bean paste.
Roadside Station Abu-cho
  • Address 2249 Nako, Abu-cho, Abu-gun, Yamaguchi MAP
  • Direction Approximately 60 minutes from the Edo IC of the Ogori Hagi Road
  • Direction Take a bus from Hagi Bus Center and get off at "Roadside Station Abu-machi".
  • Business Hours 10:00-18:00 (Product direct sales shop "Abu no Shunkan")
  • Closed January 1
  • TEL 08388-2-0355
  • Parking Free of charge
  • Memo Refer to the website of Roadside Station Abu-machi for the hours of operation and holidays of each Property in the museum.

Boasts fresh fish directly from the fish market. Hagi citizens' kitchen with a wide variety of fresh foods.

In addition to tourists, the restaurant is crowded with local shoppers. Hagi's best products, including fresh fish and seasonal agricultural products, are gathered in the store.
In addition to tourists, the restaurant is crowded with local shoppers. Hagi's best products, including fresh fish and seasonal agricultural products, are gathered in the store.

It is adjacent to the Hagi Local Wholesale Market, which sends a wide variety of brand-name fish to all parts of Japan. The Hagi Roadside Station is a must-see sightseeing spot in Hagi, a city full of tourist attractions such as "Shoin Shrine" and "Hagi Meirin Gakusha.
The fresh fresh fish directly delivered from the market is the center of Hagi's culinary attractions, and the array of fresh foods on display is truly the kitchen of the citizens of Hagi. In addition to local sake such as "Toyo Bijin" and "Nagato Kyo," there is a wide selection of souvenirs such as dried sea urchins, bottled sea urchins, and summer orange products. Be sure to check out the "Yoshida Shoin no Potato Chip," which has been introduced in the media.

From fresh fish dishes to sweets, gourmet delights abound!

Hagi Purintei
Hagi Purintei" is rapidly gaining popularity as a new Hagi specialty. The local sauces, such as natsumikan marmalade, are delicious!

Dining Areas "Hama Ryori Gangan," "Restaurant Kihagi," and "Restaurant Ishintei" are all popular. Visitors can enjoy a variety of fresh fish dishes, such as set menus and rice bowls, using seasonal "Hagi fish. In addition, sashimi packets, nigiri-zushi (hand-rolled sushi), and freshly fried tempura (fish paste tempura) are available at the fresh goods section. After making a purchase, we recommend snacking on the outdoor terrace while feeling the sea breeze.
In addition, the second store of "Hagi Purintei," which has its main store in "Hagi Castle Town," is not to be missed. The shop boasts of its melt-in-your-mouth smoothness and offers a wide variety of sauces such as "Hagi Natsumikan" and "Nagisa Purin.

Local Guide Comment
Events are also held in conjunction with seasonal fish, such as "Mafugi" (blowfish) and "Shirouo" (whitebait) through early spring, and "Setsukiji" (horse mackerel) from May to August. The adjacent "Shinsui Park" has about 120 Kawazu cherry trees, which are in full bloom from late February to early March.
Roadside Station Hagi Shimaato
  • Address 4160-61 Tsubaki-higashi, Hagi, Yamaguchi MAP
  • Direction Approximately 35 minutes from the Edo IC of the Ogori Hagi Road
  • Direction by bus Take a bus from Hagi Bus Center and get off at "Michi no Eki Hagi Shi-Mato".
  • Business Hours Monday-Thursday 9:30-18:00, Friday-Sunday and holidays 9:00-18:00
    Restaurant: 9:30 - L.O. 17:30 (varies according to other restaurants)
  • Closed January 1
  • TEL 0838-24-4937
  • Parking Free of charge

Hagi Oukan, a roadside station on the "Hagi Oukan" road that was traveled by the warriors at the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate

The
The "Nanairo Marche" agricultural products direct sales shop is full of seasonal Hagi vegetables and fruits. The best products are carefully selected by a vegetable sommelier.

Located at the southern gateway to Hagi, down the mountain to downtown Hagi, it also houses the Shoin Memorial Museum. Statues of Yoshida Shoin, Takasugi Shinsaku, and other Choshu clan warriors line the grounds, making it a popular photo spot.
The Property is proud of its mountain produce. Staff/staff members are certified by the Japan Vegetable Sommelier Association, and it is the only roadside station in the prefecture that handles fruits and vegetables certified by the association. The shop offers seasonal specialties such as "Hagi Tamage Eggplant" and "Aijima Watermelon" in summer, "Onihoppe" (Property's original brand of the "Benihoppe" strawberry variety) in winter, and "Amanatsu" (sweet summer) in early summer.

Enjoy Hagi at home! Lots of original products such as marmalade and bath salts

Hagi Kaori Scenery no Yu
Hagi Kaori Scenery no Yu" bath salts can be purchased in packages of just one.

The "Products Hall" has a wide variety of Hagi's prized specialties. In addition to agricultural and livestock products such as summer mandarin oranges and marmalade, Nagato Gorge and Yachiyo sake, processed Koran beef and Mutsumi pork, Hagi glass and Hagi pottery are also on display. Don't miss the original products such as ponzu (Japanese citrus fruit vinegar) and dressing, which are only available at the Property.
We recommend the "Hagi Kaori Scenery no Yu" bath salts. There are two types: "Hagi Camellia Lane" and "Hagi Castle Town Natsumikan-no-Hana," both of which come in stylish packaging and are popular as easy souvenirs. They are popular as easy souvenirs and are packaged in stylish packages.

Local Guide Comment
Miran Beef Dining Gen offers exquisite hamburgers and rice bowls made from Miran beef and Mutsumi pork! At "Udon Jaya Orange Tei," you can enjoy Yamaguchi Prefecture's famous "kawara soba" (kawara soba). For dessert, try the "Premium Natsumikan Soft" at the snack corner!
Roadside Station Hagi Oukan
  • Address 1258 Shikaboshigasaka, Oaza-Tsubaki, Hagi, Yamaguchi MAP
  • Direction Approximately 20 minutes from the Edo IC of the Ogori Hagi Road
  • Business hours 9:00-18:00
  • Closed No holidays
  • TEL 0838-22-9889
  • Parking Free of charge
  • Memo Refer to the Property's website for Restaurant hours.

A full lineup of delicacies from the mountains and sea of Nagato! A full lineup of souvenirs, including the famous Senzaki Kamaboko!

A wide variety of fresh fish, processed seafood, agricultural products, and prepared foods! Senzaki Kamaboko, a specialty product, has one of the best selections in the prefecture.
A wide variety of fresh fish, processed seafood, agricultural products, and prepared foods! Senzaki Kamaboko, a specialty product, has one of the best selections in the prefecture.

Facing Senzaki Bay in Nagato City, the shop offers a wide variety of specialty products, centering on fresh fish and processed marine products. The wide selection of goods makes it a fun place to pick out souvenirs. This is the newest Property among the 24 roadside stations in Yamaguchi Prefecture, and attracts not only tourists but also many shoppers from within the prefecture in search of the delicacies and delicacies that Nagato and its neighboring regions are proud of.
The "Nagato Toy Museum" on the premises is a hot spot for children, where they can play with a variety of toys made from local wood. The warmth of the wood is soothing and recommended for a refreshing break after a long day of traveling with the family.

Seafood and yakitori! Enjoy Nagato's gourmet food!

The dining area where
The dining area where "Sengoku" boasts seafood and "Chikuzen" Nagato's yakitori, along with the tourist information center "YUKUTE".

More than 10 restaurants line the street, where you can enjoy seafood, yakitori (grilled chicken), and other local delicacies. Popular restaurants include Chikuzen, a famous Nagato yakitori restaurant; Himonya Shokudo Hidamari, where you can enjoy local fish dishes; Sengoku, a live fish restaurant and sushi restaurant; and Senzaki Honmaru.
The "Grill House," where you can enjoy seafood barbeques without leaving the kitchen, has a system whereby customers purchase their own ingredients at the adjacent agricultural and marine products direct sales counter. In other words, all the products lined up in Senza Kitchen can be served as the menu. The menu includes a wide variety of shellfish such as turban shells and abalone, as well as dried fish, and seasonal specialty vegetables are not to be missed.

Local Guide Comment
Senzaki is famous for its "Yaki-nuki Kamaboko" (baked kamaboko), which has an elegant flavor without any peculiarities. The kamaboko corner has one of the largest selections in the prefecture, with some of the finest kamaboko available for over 1,000 yen a piece, a price that is hard to find even for locals.
Roadside Station Senza Kitchen
  • Address 4297-1 Senzaki, Nagato City, Yamaguchi Prefecture MAP
  • Direction Approximately 45 minutes from the Mine IC of the Chugoku Expressway
  • Bus Direction Take a bus from JR Nagato City Station and get off at Senza Kitchen.
  • Business Hours 9:00-18:00 (direct sales)
  • Regular holiday 2nd Thursday of the month (open on national holidays and in August), January 1
  • TEL 0837-27-0300
  • Parking Free of charge
  • Memo See Senza Kitchen website for hours of operation of each store and toy museum.

The westernmost roadside station in Honshu, the closest to the spectacular Kakunoshima Ohashi Bridge!

Restaurant
Restaurant "Wakuwaku-tei" offers a spectacular view. Kakunoshima Ohashi Bridge can be seen beyond the beautiful sea.

The Property is about 10 minutes from Kakunoshima, a popular spot in Toyokita-cho, Shimonoseki City, and the Kakunoshima Bridge can be seen from the Property in the distance. The facility is about 10 minutes from Kakushima, a popular spot in Toyokita-cho, Shimonoseki City! Michi no Eki Ranking 2016" and "Travelers' Choice! Michi no Eki Ranking 2018" (both on TripAdvisor), and is one of the most popular roadside stations in Yamaguchi Prefecture.
At "Umi to Sunset Restaurant Wakuwaku-tei," you can enjoy seafood from Kitaura with a variety of menu items such as "Omakase Kaisen-don" (bowl of rice topped with seafood). Don't miss the specialties of Shimonoseki such as "Fuku," "Anko," and "Kujira" (whale).

Original products recommended by Hokkun!

The product center is crowded with customers from the moment it opens. The orange character is the Property's mascot,
The product center is crowded with customers from the moment it opens. The orange character is the Property's mascot, "Hokkun.

The Hohoku Yume Ichiba (Hohoku Dream Market) is a product hall that offers a wide variety of fresh seafood landed in the Kitaura area, as well as fruits and vegetables produced in Toyohoku. Be sure to check the Property's website and SNS before visiting, which are full of information on seasonal arrivals and special deals. Popular items include "Crunch Chocolate" and "Premium Baked Chocolates," both of which feature the Property's mascot character, "Hokkun. Maison de la Mer" has a variety of freshly baked breads and original breads made with ingredients produced in Toyohoku. It is recommended for those who want to pick up some snacks for their trip.

Local Guide Comment
Don't miss the fresh fish corner for gourmet seafood. Nigiri-zushi (1,100 yen and up) of local fish purchased that day, jumbo-sized "Kaisen Inarizushi," "Akamoku Shirasu Donburi," and other items available only at the Property are a must-see.
Roadside Station Kitaura Kaido Toyokita
  • Address 314-1 Kandagami, Toyokita-cho, Shimonoseki-shi, Yamaguchi MAP
  • Direction Approximately 60 minutes from Shimonoseki IC on Chugoku Expressway
  • Bus Direction From JR Nagato Futami Station (Sanin Honsen Line), take the bus bound for "Hinaka", get off at "Waku", and walk about 4 minutes.
  • Business Hours 8:30-18:00 (Please check the Property website *Subject to seasonal changes; hours may be shortened depending on the status of the new Corona model)
  • Regular holiday The 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month (check the Property website *Subject to seasonal variations)
  • TEL 083-786-0111
  • Parking Free of charge
  • Memo Refer to the Property website for hours of operation of the Restaurant and Bakery.
The information in this article is current as of the date of the update. Please check before visiting as they are subject to change.