Hotomeki No Sato

Michi No Eki Kurume (Rest Stop)

Michi No Eki is essentially a rest stop on a bypass outside of a city in Japan. There are public restrooms, a restaurant, a supermarket with local products, vending machines, and small vendors. Ideally for drivers needing a break, I decided to take the bike ride to my city's Michi no eki for fun. As it's not really an area people normally go to by bike, there was no designated bike parking area, but there was space in the parking lot for long haul trucks. This rest stop is off of bypass 210 on the east side of Kurume City. It's surrounded by flower and plant garden shops and farther out, tons of farms. There is a space to take flyers and maps about the area while you sit and have a break. The shop was not entirely local products, but most fruits and vegetables were from the area and locally made products like Kurume Kasuri were also represented. I found the prices to be higher than usual, although some local people were there doing their regular shopping. There's a nice variety of fresh flowers, fish and snacks, and popcorn and puffed rice being sold outside the shop. Vending machines are affordable but there are also drinks available at the small shop selling ice cream and snacks next to the vegetable market. It was worth it to ride out to the countryside and see the plant nurseries, although I wouldn't go intentionally for shopping in the market because the same products are available next to home. I only got a 100 yen coffee from the vending machine and some bread because I needed a snack after the long bike ride. Open every day except the third Wednesday of every month.