00:10
Japanology Plus
00:16
Service areas are found alongside
Japan's expressways—
00:20
and they offer a lot more
than a place to rest and refuel.
00:25
Some have hot spring baths.
00:29
Or amusement parks.
00:32
This one recreates
a samurai-era townscape.
00:36
They're evolving into popular
destinations in their own right.
00:41
There's usually plenty
of food to choose from,
00:44
including local dishes and familiar
meals from chain restaurants.
00:51
Service areas are now seen as
a great way to boost local economies.
00:58
This time on Japanology Plus,
01:00
we'll investigate Japan's service areas,
and introduce the latest developments.
01:12
Hello, and welcome to Japanology Plus.
I'm Peter Barakan.
01:15
If you take a drive on one
of Japan's many highways,
01:19
you'll find that at regular intervals
they have areas where you can park,
01:23
stretch your legs, get a bite to eat,
use the restrooms, et cetera.
01:28
They call them service areas.
01:31
I'm not a regular highway user myself,
01:33
but recently, when I visited
one of these service areas,
01:37
I was amazed to find
how well equipped it was.
01:40
In fact, some of these areas
have such good facilities
01:43
that people will actually make
a trip to visit the service area itself.
01:48
So on today's program, we'll take
a look at Japan's service areas,
01:53
and how they differ from
those in other countries.
02:02
Ishida-san. Nice to meet you.
02:04
Nice to meet you too. I'm Ishida Haruo.
02:08
Professor Emeritus Ishida Haruo
from the University of Tsukuba
02:12
is an expert in transportation policy.
02:16
He researches policies
in different countries
02:19
and the relationship between
roads and local economies.
02:25
In Japan they call these stops
along the highways “services areas.”
02:28
Is there actually
a definition of a service area?
02:32
Service areas are facilities
located along Japan's expressways,
02:37
which are all toll roads.
02:40
Long drives are tiring,
and safety is important.
02:43
So they're places to take
a break and use the restroom.
02:47
You can also get a bite to eat
and refuel your vehicle, too.
02:51
These service areas can be found
every fifty kilometers or so.
02:57
But in the sixty years since
Japan's expressways were built,
03:01
they've changed in many ways.
03:04
They're continually evolving.
03:07
And today, I'd like to show you around
03:09
and introduce you to
various different examples.
03:14
There are nearly nine hundred
service areas in Japan,
03:17
including facilities
known as parking areas.
03:24
Annual sales are close to
six hundred billion yen—
03:28
nearly twice the Japan sales of
a world-famous coffee shop chain.
03:34
That success comes from
each service area's effort
03:37
to establish a unique identity.
03:43
In 2013,
03:44
the Hanyu Parking Area in northern
Saitama Prefecture was fully renovated.
03:51
It now looks like
an eighteenth-century shopping street.
03:59
Construction cost a billion yen.
04:02
Artisans who build sets for film and TV
04:05
took part to create extremely
detailed buildings.
04:12
There was once a checkpoint around
here for travelers on their way to Tokyo,
04:16
then called Edo.
04:18
This recreated townscape evokes
a sense of life in those days.
04:25
The setting is based on a series of
historical novels called Onihei Hankacho.
04:33
I like period dramas,
so I come here often.
04:38
I come to experience
the 18th-century atmosphere.
04:42
Original dishes have been
developed for the facility.
04:48
They're not available anywhere else.
04:52
This one is a single, thick udon noodle
that's fifty-five centimeters long,
04:58
a much sought-after dish in those days.
05:02
Here's the favorite food of the main
character from the novels.
05:09
Grilled eel.
05:13
When the sun goes down,
the lighting changes,
05:16
and it truly feels like
stepping back in time.
05:22
Up next is the Ebina Service Area
in Kanagawa Prefecture.
05:28
It's actually one of the best-known
service areas in Japan.
05:34
I wanted to visit the service area,
so I drove here with work friends.
05:38
I stopped for a rest and for melon bread.
05:42
For many visitors,
05:44
this isn't just a place to stop
while on a journey elsewhere—
05:48
it's the destination.
05:51
On busy days,
it attracts a hundred thousand people.
05:58
Melon bread is what made
this service area so famous.
06:03
It contains actual melon juice and
comes in about ten different varieties.
06:11
It's produced on-site,
06:13
and as many as five thousand
buns are sold each day.
06:17
Some customers make a special
trip to get it while it's fresh.
06:26
Striking images are
projected onto the ceiling.
06:30
This facility stands shoulder-to-shoulder
with any major shopping center.
06:37
In Gifu Prefecture,
there's a service area with an aquarium.
06:43
It showcases the creatures living
in and around the local waterways.
06:52
This one, in Shizuoka Prefecture,
has a giant Ferris wheel.
06:57
Some passenger cars even
have a transparent glass floor.
07:02
Riders can enjoy an unobstructed
view in every direction.
07:09
There's a great view of Mt. Fuji.
07:12
And this facility makes
the most of a nearby lake
07:16
by offering a sightseeing cruise.
07:21
Service areas throughout
Japan attract and entertain visitors
07:25
by making the most
of local characteristics,
07:28
including natural features,
culture, and food.
07:36
Peter's first stop is in Aichi Prefecture.
07:40
He's come to visit the
Nagashino-Shitaragahara Parking Area.
07:45
Is there something
special about this place?
07:48
Does the place name “Nagashino”
mean anything to you?
07:53
To be quite honest, no.
07:57
There's a famous battle
in Japanese history,
07:59
called the Battle of Nagashino.
08:02
OK.
08:03
The combined forces of Oda Nobunaga
and Tokugawa Ieyasu
08:08
used firearms to defeat their enemy,
Takeda Katsuyori.
08:14
This paved the way for
the unification of Japan.
08:18
So this area has important
historical associations.
08:24
The site of the battle is not far away.
08:28
And that's why this parking area has
the word “Nagashino“ as part of its name.
08:33
OK. I can see kind of
traditional designs here.
08:36
This is Oda Nobunaga's crest.
08:40
OK. Let's go and have a look.
08:51
Well this I wasn't expecting to see.
08:54
They all have prices on them,
so they're selling these swords.
08:57
In a parking area, on a highway.
09:00
I'm kind of relieved to know
that they're just souvenirs.
09:03
Yes, it's not something
you'd normally see.
09:08
All of these facilities
are now privately run,
09:12
and as a result, they're coming
up with all sorts of new ideas.
09:17
They're trying to grow as businesses,
and this is an example of that effort.
09:22
And next to these...
09:26
muskets!
09:27
And these are the sort
09:28
that presumably were being used
at the Battle of Nagashino.
09:32
Yes.
09:32
OK.
09:33
Guns already existed in Japan,
09:37
but the Battle of Nagashino
was the first time
09:40
they were a prominent
feature of battle tactics.
09:46
These are helmets.
09:49
OK, little souvenir helmets.
Samurai helmets. Yeah.
09:52
And even a full-sized set
of samurai armor as well.
09:57
So presumably...perhaps you can put it
on and take a photograph or something?
10:01
It says that you can hold the weapons.
10:04
You can hold a rifle or a sword...OK.
10:09
This is a fairly typical menu
for this sort of place,
10:11
but I notice they have this ramen here,
10:14
which is named after Takeda,
10:17
who was on the losing
side of the battle, right?
10:19
That's right.
10:21
So the battle is even
represented in the menu here.
10:24
OK.
10:25
I don't think that they had ramen
in the 16th century, did they?
10:28
I suppose not.
10:31
And you actually get to learn
a little bit about history as well,
10:34
while you're eating and
buying souvenirs and stuff.
10:38
That's right.
10:40
That's a folding screen,
depicting the battle.
10:44
And I notice, over here,
there's another case of guns.
10:47
And these are not for sale.
10:48
These look like they're
probably the real thing.
10:50
They are. Amazing, right?
10:52
So they're displaying
some very old muskets.
10:56
Their decoration is very Japanese.
10:59
It uses mother-of-pearl.
11:01
That's beautiful.
11:03
Not to mention, a cannon.
11:04
Indeed.
11:06
And down here,
they've got a gunpowder holder,
11:10
made from a tortoise shell.
11:12
That's interesting too, isn't it?
11:15
This isn't really the sort of thing
11:17
that you would have expected
to see in a service area.
11:21
That's true.
11:22
They make good use of the area's history
as a battlefield, like this exhibition.
11:28
The historical theme is also visible
in the various products that are on sale,
11:33
and it's reflected in the menu, too.
11:36
I think this is one of the most
elaborate service areas
11:39
that you can find in Japan.
11:43
Japan's first expressway toll
road was built in 1963.
11:49
The Tokyo Olympics were
just around the corner.
11:54
It was the Meishin Expressway.
11:57
Japan's first service
area was built along it,
11:59
between Ritto and Amagasaki.
12:02
At first, it offered only basic amenities:
12:06
parking spaces and restrooms.
12:08
Three months later, a restaurant opened.
12:13
Over time, more and more service
areas appeared on Japan's expressways.
12:18
But they were virtually identical.
12:20
This is because they
were public facilities.
12:27
The Japan Highway Public Corporation
maintained consistency
12:31
from place to place.
12:33
Food had the same taste,
volume, and price.
12:40
A major turning point came in 2005,
12:44
when the corporation was privatized.
12:48
Privately-owned service areas quickly
sought to differentiate themselves.
12:55
They began developing new
dishes to add to their menus.
13:01
This led to intense competition
among Japan's service areas
13:05
that continues to this day.
13:10
The earliest improvements
were made to the restrooms.
13:15
Here's one with a chandelier,
13:17
and plenty of places to sit
down and fix your makeup.
13:23
It's far from the only service area
with such luxurious restrooms.
13:31
Elsewhere,
13:32
the pursuit of comfort and convenience
has resulted in surprising innovations.
13:39
Stalls at the Ebina Service Area
have a thoughtful new feature.
13:46
Make sure you didn't leave behind
any personal belongings.
13:52
Here, a system detects a phone
that's been left behind and talks to you.
13:58
When the door to the stall opens,
it triggers a sensor in the ceiling.
14:02
The sensor detects
the outline of physical objects,
14:06
determines if there's a forgotten item,
and issues an alert.
14:10
Restroom users often forget their phones,
14:12
so this system has been a big help.
14:18
It can also sense when someone
has collapsed and needs assistance.
14:22
They can be quickly found.
14:28
Another new feature promotes safe driving.
14:35
Users can answer questions on a screen.
14:38
In about a minute or so, the system
assesses their level of fatigue.
14:43
It takes into account their heart rate,
measured through a sensor in the seat.
14:51
By alerting tired drivers,
the system helps to prevent accidents.
14:59
The aim is to make Japan's
expressways as safe as possible.
15:04
Service areas are expected
to keep evolving.
15:09
How much changed in service
areas with privatization?
15:13
Privatization allowed service
areas to compete freely,
15:17
and come up with many new ideas.
15:20
I believe that it energized the industry.
15:24
Here's an example.
15:26
It says, “deluxe toilet.”
15:28
The restrooms in service areas
have drastically changed.
15:32
Yeah, this is a bit of a surprise
I didn't expect to see.
15:36
Women in particular appreciate
the special features of these restrooms.
15:41
When evaluating a service area,
restrooms are a crucial element.
15:46
Interesting developments
keep people coming back.
15:51
They may bring their family, and so on.
15:53
I can imagine that.
15:55
So I think restrooms actually
play a significant role.
16:00
Right. I mean,
it's always one of the things
16:03
that you know that you're going
to take advantage of
16:05
when you stop off at a service
area on the highway.
16:09
So to have that be nice and clean
16:12
is obviously...in a way,
it's a very obvious thing,
16:17
but nobody did it until very recently.
16:20
Absolutely.
16:22
Service areas can now use their own
finances to make those improvements.
16:29
And that's because of
the change in management.
16:32
It's one of the big advantages
of privatization.
16:38
Next, Kariya in Aichi Prefecture.
16:44
It's home to one of the largest
service areas in Japan.
16:50
For a highway service area,
16:52
this place has some unusual
attractions to say the least.
16:56
A Ferris wheel!
16:58
I was not expecting to see one of those.
17:01
And it's called the Kariya Highway Oasis.
17:04
What's going on?
17:06
Highway Oasis is an example
of a new type of service area
17:10
that started to appear
around thirty years ago.
17:15
Expressway users can pull into
a parking lot and visit as normal.
17:20
But on the other side,
17:22
there's a second parking lot
that's connected to local roads.
17:26
Cars cannot move between the two sides.
17:29
But everyone can park and freely
enjoy all of the amenities on foot.
17:35
It's not just for long-distance travelers;
17:37
it's for nearby residents, too.
17:40
It's Japan's most successful
example of this.
17:44
Because with Japanese highways,
they all have a toll charge.
17:48
So you can't get on
the highway unless you pay.
17:51
So, theoretically, you would think that,
17:54
if people that haven't been
on the motorway
17:57
can get into the service area,
18:01
then they'd be able to get
onto the highway without
18:03
paying the toll charge.
18:05
But the two parking areas
are totally different.
18:07
They're separate.
18:09
I see.
18:11
And because there's an expressway here,
there's no train station close by.
18:17
But some people take a taxi from
the nearest train station, just to visit.
18:23
It receives around
8.5 million visitors a year.
18:28
Eight and a half million.
18:30
In terms of visitor figures,
it's number three in Japan,
18:34
after Tokyo Disney Resort
and Universal Studios Japan.
18:38
Really?
18:41
Good lord.
18:43
I imagine it's the only one of its kind.
18:45
Maybe.
18:51
The site is centered around a food court.
18:55
Expressway users stop here to
take a break from the long drive,
18:59
but locals pop in too.
19:01
This food court appeals to both groups
by offering a wide variety of food.
19:07
Some dishes feature local ingredients.
19:10
Others are familiar offerings
from national chains.
19:19
Excuse me, do you have a minute?
19:22
That's quite an assortment of dishes.
So much food!
19:28
It feels like a picnic.
19:30
Where are you all from?
19:33
Nagoya.
We're coming back from a trip.
19:39
We came here to shop.
At the supermarket here.
19:45
That's why I have this bag.
19:48
Ah, I see!
19:51
Shopping is indeed another of
the service area's key attractions.
19:57
This market is known for having cheap,
fresh produce.
20:03
In fact, freshly picked fruit and
vegetables are brought in every morning.
20:10
They bear the name of the producer,
20:12
and by the evening, most of them sell out.
20:17
Any recommendations?
20:19
The eggplants and watermelons.
20:24
They're fresh and juicy today.
20:28
There's also a good selection of fish,
brought in daily from the local coast.
20:34
Being able to put fish in a car makes
even the big ones popular purchases.
20:43
There is so much fresh fish.
It's quite surprising.
20:50
They were caught in local bays.
20:56
- The fish change seasonally?
- That's right.
21:00
People come from
quite far away, don't they?
21:04
They do.
21:07
- It's all fresh.
- And affordable.
21:10
No fish like this in the Tokyo area.
21:14
- Where are you from?
- Just around here.
21:19
- You came for the service area?
- Yes, we did.
21:22
We brought our daughter.
21:24
- Ah, because there's a Ferris wheel.
- Yes. We rode it.
21:27
- You already did?
- Yeah.
21:29
Was it fun?
21:33
And now you're buying
ingredients for dinner?
21:37
Since we're here, we might as well.
21:41
The service area has an amusement park,
21:43
which attracts plenty of
families with small children.
21:49
It has many different rides,
costing just fifty to a hundred yen.
21:59
Most staff are sixty-five or older.
22:03
The park plays a role
in supporting local employment.
22:09
And now, it's time.
22:13
Peter's going to ride the Ferris wheel.
22:18
The parking lot’s so big.
22:22
It really is.
22:25
- Just like at a theme park.
- Yes.
22:29
That’s how many people come.
22:33
There's a carousel.
22:36
There's one for kids, yes.
22:38
And go-karts, too! Looks fun.
22:46
Here's yet another attraction
that's always crowded.
22:52
A hot spring bath.
22:54
It opens early and is especially
popular with the elderly.
23:00
Bedrock baths are apparently
popular with women.
23:06
Be careful not to get your clothes wet.
23:11
It's hot.
23:13
A bit too hot!
23:15
Well this is yet another
added attraction, I guess.
23:18
Yes, yes. Exactly.
23:22
But I guess it's one more reason why
people will seek out a place like this,
23:27
rather than just stopping off on their
way to somewhere on the highway.
23:31
Right.
23:32
Most people aren't
stopping here by chance.
23:35
Instead, they're making a special trip.
23:39
That's true for expressway users, too.
23:43
It's a destination for
people on a long drive,
23:47
and for those using regular roads.
23:50
Visitors come from across the region.
23:53
They come here to go shopping,
or buy something tasty to eat.
23:58
They might use the bath.
24:01
Or this foot bath.
24:04
That's the kind of place this is.
24:07
While service areas have
been improving in many ways,
24:11
there are also some concerns.
24:15
The original purpose was
to boost road safety
24:18
by reducing the burden
on long-distance drivers.
24:21
Service areas were built
at fifty-kilometer intervals,
24:25
to provide food and fuel.
24:29
For that reason, the dashboard
in a Japanese car will indicate
24:33
when only fifty kilometers' worth
of fuel is left in the tank.
24:40
However, since privatization,
many unprofitable facilities have closed.
24:45
There's an increased risk
that drivers may run out of fuel
24:49
while driving on the expressway
and cause an accident.
24:55
Although the government
is aware of the problem,
24:58
its options are limited.
25:00
But now, the private expressway operator
has stepped up with a new initiative.
25:07
Leaving and reentering an expressway
usually means paying a fresh toll.
25:15
Removing this re-entry fee encourages
cars to access regular roads.
25:21
This system has been implemented
at a location in Gunma Prefecture.
25:26
Drivers can leave the expressway
to get fuel and use other amenities.
25:31
If they return within two hours,
they are not charged extra.
25:36
The main goal is to ensure road safety.
25:42
Drivers get the chance to refuel,
and to rest.
25:46
But there's another benefit.
25:48
Facilities just off the expressway have
seen an unexpected jump in revenue.
26:01
Sales increased by over
a hundred million yen!
26:06
Thanks to the new scheme,
26:08
local facilities are attracting customers
who previously would have driven right by.
26:18
Service areas are also in the spotlight
in the context of disaster mitigation.
26:26
Japan suffers from torrential rain,
26:29
earthquakes, volcanic eruptions,
and so on.
26:34
And service areas are equipped
with a lot of spaces to park.
26:39
They have sturdy buildings.
26:42
In times of need, they're very useful.
26:45
They can be a base for rescue operations,
or emergency medical treatment.
26:51
Preparations are advancing
at service areas across Japan.
26:56
They're being equipped
to fulfil that role.
27:01
In many ways,
expressways now do a lot more
27:05
than simply move a high volume
of traffic at a high speed.
27:12
Various initiatives are building
connections between expressways
27:16
and the local community.
27:19
That's happening more and more.
27:23
Japan's population is declining.
27:26
So in each region, people need to
think about what they have to offer,
27:32
what will attract customers.
27:34
The operators of service areas
27:36
and other facilities along
toll roads are doing that,
27:40
and it's helping them thrive.
27:43
In many ways, they're doing a lot
of good for the local community.
27:50
That's happening all across the country.
