Arisoumi Rest Area

Sweet rest area with lovely staff

This service area is in Toyama, on the side bound for Niigata Prefecture. It’s a fairly standard rest area in terms of amenities, but there are a couple of unique things about it. You can get a pretty view of the ocean from a viewing area, and there’s also a “love locks” concept where couples write their names and sweet messages on padlocks and attach them to a wire fence near the lookout area. There weren’t a ton of those love locks on display sadly, but if you want to add one to the bunch they sell them at the shopping area inside. The staff here were super lovely and even gave my daughter a balloon in the shape of a flower that they were making for in store displays. They weren’t supposed to give them away but gave her one anyway when they saw she was interested in them -which I thought was really sweet. Anyone who brightens a kids day when you’re traveling is a gem in my book! Plenty of omiyage to choose from inside too, and fun knick knacks.