What comes to mind when you hear the term "roadside station"?

You've probably imagined various uses for it, such as a rest stop during a long drive or a place to use the restroom.

While those roles are certainly important, recently there has been an increase in roadside rest areas that rival even small leisure facilities.

This article introduces five recommended roadside rest areas in southern Hokkaido that you should definitely visit at least once.

By the way, there are many other attractive roadside rest areas besides these five, so if you're ever in the area, be sure to stop by!

<Table of Contents>
1. "Misogi no Sato Kikonai" - the No. 1 in customer satisfaction.
2. Monju, Kaminokuni, boasts a restaurant with a spectacular view.
3. Shigejiro welcomes you at "Michi-no-Eki Esashi"
4. "Michi-no-Eki Assabu" is attractive for its fresh vegetables.
5. What does the guarana soft serve taste like? "Nanairo Nanae"
Final thoughts

"Misogi no Sato Kikonai" is a roadside station where you'll be greeted by Kiiko, the official character of Kikonai Town and a Hakodate Wagyu beef vendor.

This roadside station is adjacent to Kikonai Station, which is served by the Shinkansen bullet train. While roadside stations are usually imagined as places you stop by in your car while on a drive, this one can also be reached by train or Shinkansen.

"Misogi no Sato Kikonai," which just opened in 2016, was ranked No. 1 in the 2018 Roadside Station Satisfaction and Overall Ranking in the April issue of "Hokkaido Jalan," which went on sale on March 20th.

Some of you may be wondering, "What does 'Misogi no Sato' mean?" Actually, the name of this roadside station is derived from the "Kikonai Kanchu Misogi Matsuri," a Shinto ritual in Kikonai Town that has been held since 1831.

The Misogi Festival is an annual festival held around mid-January. It is a wild Shinto ritual in which young men wearing loincloths enter the freezing sea to pray for a bountiful harvest and a good catch of fish.

Kikonai Town has a population of 4300, but this "Misogi no Sato Kikonai" has achieved an incredible 100 million visitors.

One of the reasons is the delicious food. Leading the way is the restaurant "Donan de's Ocuda Spirits," supervised by Chef Okuda, who hails from Tsuruoka City in Yamagata Prefecture, a city with deep historical ties to Kikonai Town. There are plenty of attractive eat-in options and souvenirs to choose from.

Delicious aromas waft from all directions, making it hard to decide where to eat. If you're looking for a restaurant, be sure to check their opening hours on their official website.

At the "Monju" roadside station in Kaminokuni, you'll be greeted by Kamigon, the official character of Kaminokuni Town. Kamigon is a dragon based on the "Dragon Lantern Legend" that is passed down in Kaminokuni Town, and you can meet Kamigon on some days at Monju events.

Monju also sells "black silica," a specialty product of Kaminokuni. Black silica is expected to have various effects such as warming bath effects, healing effects, and health promotion, so please come and see it for yourself.

Gourmet Boutique Monju is a restaurant located on the second floor. On clear days, you can enjoy your meal in a superb location with a panoramic view of the Sea of ​​Japan.

The recommended items at that time were "Tekkui" and "Godzilla Shrimp." Tekkui is the local dialect word for flounder. Fresh flounder will bite your hand, so it got the name "Tekkui" (hand-eating) → "Tekkui."

Godzilla shrimp is a type of shrimp also known as demon shrimp or gasa shrimp.

A new shop opened in Monju on April 1st, 2018. Its name is "Kasho Amanogawa".

On the first floor, at the local products center, we are selling dorayaki and roll cakes, as well as seasonal Japanese sweets, all featuring the adorable Kamigon brand mark.

In addition to sweets, the local products center also sells a wide variety of other items, including fruit-fed pork, a specialty of Kaminokuni Town, and seasonal vegetables.

Many of you are probably wondering, "Who is Shigejiro!?" Shigejiro was a quick-witted man who used to live in Esashi.

Putting together the many stories that have been passed down, it appears that he was born during the Bunka era and lived until the beginning of the Meiji era.

Some of Shigejiro's witty stories are similar to those found in rakugo (traditional Japanese comic storytelling), while others are unique to Esashi.

He now stands on the beach in Esashi, serving as a guardian deity of laughter.

It is said that staying in the same position for long periods during long-distance drives can increase the risk of traveler's thrombosis (economy class syndrome).

In times like these, why not take a stroll along Shigejirohama Beach? On a clear day, you can enjoy a view of the calm horizon.

Also, the restrooms at this roadside station are quite unique, featuring an Edo-period style design using cypress wood from Esashi.

You should go and see what it's like inside.

At the roadside station in Atsusabetsu Town, the birthplace of the May Queen potato, you'll be greeted by Atsusabetsu Town's mascot character, "Oraimo-kun."

Next to Oraimo-kun are his wife, Satsuki-san, and his daughter, Poteko-chan. Oraimo-kun T-shirts are also on sale at the souvenir corner.

After considering how to make the local specialty, the May Queen potato, a local product, Atsusabetsu has been holding the "Assabu May Queen Croquette Contest" since 2014.

We've even received entries from as far away as Kagoshima Prefecture, and it's a popular contest that many people look forward to every year.

On this day, the 29 Grand Prix winner "Kinokojan! Croquette" and the 30 Grand Prix winner "Hikoma Pork Croquette" were on display.

Their specialty fresh vegetables sometimes sell out by late in the day. They're incredibly popular because they sell seasonal vegetables at unbelievably low prices.

In Nanae Town, the birthplace of Western apples, "Nanairo Nanae" offers a "Kikiringo" (apple tasting) experience where you can compare different apple juices.

The flavor of the apple juice changes depending on the season, so it's a surprise which apple you'll get.

On a more unusual note, they're currently selling guarana soft serve ice cream, which is incredibly popular in Hokkaido. Guarana is a carbonated drink that's just as popular as cola in Hokkaido, but what happens when you turn it into soft serve ice cream...? You'll have to try it for yourself to find out!

In addition, the shop also features fresh local vegetables and works by local handmade artists.

Each station had its own unique characteristics, and they were all fascinating places to visit.

In addition to the places I've mentioned, there may be other unexpected relaxing spots and delicious restaurants hidden away.

Please do stop by sometime!

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