Tsuga Nishikata Parking Area Outbound (Toward Fukushima)

Small, but well maintained Parking area on the Tohoku Expressway

Tsuga Nishikata Parking Area is the 2nd parking area in Tochigi, as you drive away from Tokyo, on the Tohoku Expressway. It is just after the Tochigi Tsuga junction and before the Kanuma Interchange. There is a Tsuga Nishikata parking area on the inbound route also. There is no connecting road or walkway between the two. If you miss this parking area the next one is Oya Parking Area. Tsuga Nishikata Parking Area is one of the smaller parking areas, with only car parking spaces for 80 cars and 12 large sized vehicles. They don't have a large number of toilets either, but enough for the amount of car spaces provided. They have 1 large entrance toilet for wheelchair users and people with lower mobility. There is a smoking area. The restaurant and shops are open from 7 am to 7.30 pm, but they also have a food vending machine that dispenses fast food such as tako yaki and french fries. They also have a good selection of drinks vending machines. They have made a name for themselves by providing a popular ramen dish made from local produce. The garlic chives are a specialty of Tochigi and other ingredients are sourced from Utsunomiya. One bowl costs 710 yen (winter 2016). The shop sells some local produce and some souvenirs too. There is a food van on the pavement outside the main building which sells coffee and ice-cream. There is no information desk or highway information terminal at this parking area. There is no baby area or dog run or any extra facilities. It is quite basic, but clean and well maintained.