Ebina Service Area (Photo by Hyemin Lee)
On our journey to the sacred Mt. Fuji, my teammates and I stopped at the Ebina Service Area for a quick breakfast. This rest stop, located on the outskirts of Tokyo, is famous for its plentiful food and shopping options, as well as its clean facilities.
Japanese rest stops and service areas are quite similar to Korean ones, functioning like shopping malls. Visitors can take a break, enjoy a meal, buy snacks, grab a coffee, access free Wi-Fi and shop for travel essentials and local specialties. The layout is almost identical, featuring restroom facilities, a convenience store, outdoor vendors selling tasty snacks, and an indoor food court and shopping area.
At Ebina, exploring Japanese snacks was like discovering a collection of popular local treats. Outdoor vendors offered dango (rice cake), takoyaki (octopus balls), skewered fish cakes and more. Inside, a bakery displayed various kinds of melon bread and a baked sweet potato vending machine caught my eye. Japan’s creative vending machine culture is always a fun part of traveling in Japan.
In the food court, I was tempted by dishes like yakisoba, udon, and ramen. Ultimately, I chose a salmon flake onigiri rice ball, a large melon bread and green tea. I enjoyed a breakfast I’d only seen in anime before.
Ebina is also perfect for finding souvenirs. The Pokémon Tokyo Banana products especially stood out as adorable and delicious! Whether you’re looking for a tasty bite or fun souvenirs, Ebina has it all. Make sure to stop by if you’re heading to Mt. Fuji from Tokyo!
Address: 5 Chome-2-1 Oyaminami, Ebina, anagawa 243-0418 (EXPASA Ebina)
Hours: 24 hours
(Photo by Hyemin Lee)
(Photo by Hyemin Lee)
(Photo by Hyemin Lee)
(Photo by Hyemin Lee)
(Photo by Hyemin Lee)
(Hyemin Lee)
