‘Michi no Eki’ Offer More Than A Place to Park Your Car!

A michi no eki in Aomori Prefecture.
Michi no Eki are Japanese roadside stations that offer more than parking and toilets. They also engage in various support initiatives!

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If you’ve ever traveled anywhere in Japan by bus, car, or train, you may have stopped in a Michi no Eki. Michi no Eki are roadside stations that line the highways and byways all across Japan. However, these are nothing like your typical roadside station. At these upgraded rest stops, there’s much more to see than parking lots, gas stations, and toilets!

Michi no Eki Are Not Your Typical Roadside Station

Though the name literally translates to ‘roadside station,’ Japan’s Michi no Eki are nothing like what you would expect to see in western countries. Launched in 1993, Michi no Eki are a system of government-designated roadside rest stops that aim to make travel more convenient for people on the road. [1]

But they don’t just provide a place to gas up, take a bathroom break, or grab a quick vending machine coffee. They also provide opportunities to explore the area, buy local products, and learn about local customs. They even function as hubs to help stimulate and revitalize the economy of the surrounding local towns. [2]

Some of these stations even have tourist attractions and sightseeing spots, acting more as travel destinations than random stops along the way. Contrary to being a rest station, when visiting a Michi no Eki, you may not want to rest at all!

image of gas station in the middle of nowhere
You’ll find more than gas and cheap coffee at a Michi no Eki! (Image Source: Pexels.com)

History of Michi no Eki

Although Michi no Eki are relatively new, they arose from the concept of post towns and the communications system from the days of Japan’s Ritsuryo system. Japan attempted to adopt the Ritsuryo system as a form of centralized government, based on China’s central government at the time, during the late 7th century to mid 10th century. Under this system, the government divided the entire country into areas they called ‘Goki-Shichido’, or ‘five provinces and seven circuits’. Under this system, the new government worked to improve existing transportation networks (tenma) in order to transmit information between the capital and local regions. [3][12]

Similar to how the post towns of the olden days evolved into Japan’s modern postal system, these stations also provided travelers with a place to rest, replenish supplies, and exchange messages. However, the introduction of railroads and marine transport in the 20th century deemed the system obsolete, and they soon vanished from sight. [3]

In the 1990s, the government decided to bring back a modern version of the system in order to suit people’s increasing modern needs. Japan launched its first Michi no Eki network in 1993, beginning with 103 self-sustaining, government-certified public facilities run by municipalities, public-private entities, and private firms. Today, there are over 1,150 stations around the country. Most of them serve as travel hubs that benefit tourists and locals alike.

image of Japanese regions under ritsuryo system
Division of regions in Japan as Gokishichido (5 provinces and 7 circuits) [11] (Image Source: Wikipedia)

What Can You Do at a Michi no Eki?

As roadside stations, Michi no Eki naturally offer all the amenities you’d expect to find: free parking, clean toilets, vending machines, ATMs, and free wifi. Some even have shower facilities! However, they offer much more than a place to rest after a long day on the road. [9]

A 2018 survey revealed that nearly half of all people in Japan (49%) visit Michi no Eki at least once a month. Only 2% of respondents were unfamiliar with them! It’s pretty clear what an important role these stations play not only for tourists, but for Japanese locals, as well. [4]

An important part of Michi no Eki are the shopping and service centers. Each shop has a corner specializing in regional products, as well as promotions for local events and attractions. These promotions serve an important function in the support and revitalization of the local community. Many stations also offer services for local residents, such as medical and housing assistance, administrative services, and natural disaster relief. 

Specific attractions and services vary by location, however, as it is the locals who manage daily operations, implementing their own original, creative ideas.

A michi no eki in Obira, Hokkaido.
A modern Michi no Eki in Obira, Hokkaido.

Two Types of Michi no Eki

There are two main types of Michi no Eki, which I break down further below. Many stations, however, include elements of both. [5]

Gateway Michi no Eki

Gateway Michi no Eki seek to revitalize local areas from the outside. Their main function is as a one-stop tourist center that simultaneously promotes the local area to unfamiliar visitors. You’ll usually find this type of Michi no Eki along highways in strategic locations to attract their target customers: tourists and passing drivers.

Gateway Michi no Eki achieve their goals by selling local foods and crafts as souvenirs to visitors. This stimulates the local economy while promoting tourism to new areas.

Area-Based Michi no Eki

Area-based Michi no Eki harness activity from within for the purpose of community development. This includes welfare activities, cultural promotion, and assisted living for locals. Some stations even function as industrial promotion zones and disaster prevention sites. You’ll usually find these Michi no Eki in or around small villages.

Michi no Eki in Wakayama with ashiyu foot onsen.
A Michi no Eki in Wakayama Prefecture offers a free ashiyu – a small hot spring into which you can dip your feet.

Michi no Eki Functions and Purposes

The following are some general functions of Michi no Eki.

Traveler Safety

With the increase in female and senior drivers has also come an increased need for safe, comfortable rest facilities that consider women’s concerns and the specific needs of the elderly.

Women’s Initiatives

Women are key players in the promotion of regional economies and the development of local communities. Many of the women who work at Michi no Eki are local housewives! [7] There’s even a collective women’s group for female station masters and staff members, which focus on supporting each other, as well as female travelers. The group aims to make improvements to Michi no Eki from a woman’s perspective. Some initiatives include installing diaper vending machines, selling baby products, and establishing private nursing room stations. [6]

Disaster Prevention

Some Michi no Eki served as disaster prevention hubs during the Great East Japan Earthquake. Survivors in disaster zones gathered at these roadside stations to exchange information and deliver aid to people in need. Also, as they tend to focus on sales of local produce from nearby farmers, they have a significant advantage as an emergency food distribution center in the event of a disaster. [7][8]

Revitalizing Local Economies 

Michi no Eki are convenient places for passing drivers to learn about the area they happen to be passing through. This promotes tourism to areas that travelers normally might not visit. Because many Michi no Eki are located in rural areas with dwindling populations, they are vital resources for local revitalization. More attractions and services also create more employment for locals. More things to do also means a higher chance of visitors staying longer. This also means spending more money on goods and services that support that economy.

image of a small rural town in japan
Michi no Eki act as revitalization hubs to support small rural towns. (Image Source: Pexels.com)

Model Michi no Eki

The government designates six stations as National Model Cases (three from both categories above), and 35 others as Cases with Significant Potential. The National Model Case designation is comparable to a Michelin three-star rating. These stations are those that tend to show continual, growing success and profit. While these model stations boast consistent success, however, not all Michi no Eki are profitable. The role of these model stations is to serve as examples from which struggling municipalities and unprofitable stations can model their own businesses to improve their results. [6]

Importance of Michi no Eki in Covid Times 

Over the past two years, travel and tourism have taken a big hit thanks to Covid-19. And while we don’t promote traveling for leisure in the middle of a pandemic, the fact remains that there will always be some cases in which travel becomes necessary or unavoidable.

Luckily, Michi no Eki have made efforts to promote safe travel during times of Covid as well. They offer ways for people who must travel domestically to do so without having to rely on crowded tour buses or public transportation. In emergency situations, you can park your car in the 24-hour lot and rest. This lets you skip visiting a hotel. And by focusing on sales of necessities and local goods such as food, the stations continue to support the economies of local towns that were negatively impacted by Covid-19 and the tourism decline.

man stands inside a crowded train (michi no eki let you avoid that!)
Michi no Eki make it easier for travelers to avoid crowded public transportation during necessary travel. (Image Source: Pexels.com)

Michi no Eki are more than just convenient places to stop by during a trip. For many, they have become travel destinations themselves. And thanks to their localized approach, many Michi no Eki have found great success in promoting tourism to lesser-known areas, as well as stimulating and reviving struggling local economies. 

Although travel has dwindled since the onset of Covid in 2020, my hope, and the hope of many others longing for the day we can travel safely again, is that Michi no Eki continue to prosper through all the other services they offer outside of travel. I also hope that one day in the near future, tourists and locals alike can once again experience the joys of traveling to a Michi no Eki. 

Sources

[1] 道の駅. wikipedia

[2] 進化する道の駅:地域のニーズに応える「にぎわいの場」. nippon.com

[3] 古代の交通制度. asahi.net 

[4] 道の駅の概要と調査の目的. Japan Small and Medium Enterprise Management Consultant Association

[5] Handbook on Michi-no-Eki for International cooperation. Scenic Landscape Research Team

[6] 女性の目線で新しい「道の駅」を. 女性駅長会

[7] A New Era of Michi-no-eki Takes Off! – Ever-evolving community hubs for local rejuvenation. Discuss Japan

[8] 道の駅案内. Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

[9] 快適な「道の駅」を目指した取組について. Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

[10] 道の駅の概要と調査の目的. Japan Small and Medium Enterprise Management Consultant Association

[11] 道の駅公式ホームページ.道の駅

[12] 伝馬 (Tenma). Japanese wiki corpus 

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