Convenience; the joys of road tripping in Japan

As much as Michi-no-eki add heart to a road trip, parking areas (PA) and service areas (SA) add heartbeat. They’re quite literally the steady pulse that keeps you moving, with the practical services required for a long journey, and figuratively the reassuring rhythm beneath the adventure, allowing peace of mind when you are travelling far afield. 

Michi-no-eki are usually along a principal road, but not a highway (there are exceptions). But parking and service areas are stops on a highway. The name sounds similar and on a map they may even look similar, but there is an important difference. A parking area is more for a break and sometimes literally only has toilets. A service area offers much more, with, at the very least eatery options. Most have information areas with live traffic information. Some SA have gas stations too. Others have things like dog runs or playgrounds. In addition, many of them sell souvenirs and local produce.

When you use the highways on a road trip in Japan, the PA and, more so, the SA can add an extra layer of flavor to the trip. Some are sightseeing locations in themselves.  They can even be part of the road trip if you opt to stay at one of the SA with a hotel or inn. But more than anything they are a wonderful convenience that make a road trip more enjoyable while making it go smoothly too.

The photo in this post is of the "Evangelion" Service area, real name "Ashigara Service Area" (outbound) on the Tomei Expressway.