MOBY introduces an article written by a writer who actually enjoys staying in the car and camping car from the web magazine DRIMO, which distributes information on camping, staying in the car, van life, outdoor & car trips, including camping car information. To do. *The contents of the following article are quotes and references from DRIMO
On June 26, 2020, the fourth roadside station in Kanagawa Prefecture opened in Minamiashigara City.
that name as well“Roadside Station Ashigara/Kintaro’s Hometown”.
It is located in a place rich in nature surrounded by mountains of the Hakone and Tanzawa mountains, while being easily accessible from the city center by car in about 1 hour.
As a base for mountain climbing and hiking, as well as a base for enjoying Hakone’s hot springs, this newly built roadside station is likely to be a strong ally for camper users.
Roadside Station Ashigara/Kintaro’s hometown facilities?
Michi-no-Eki Ashigara/Kintaro-no-Furusato has a capacity of 65 standard-sized cars, 8 large-sized cars, and 2 covered parking spaces for the disabled and pregnant women, for a total of 75 cars. It’s the station.
Ashigara City is famous for the legend of Kintaro.
This roadside station was opened with the desire to convey the charm of Ashigara to the whole country.
Facilities include public toilets, a farmer’s market, and a restaurant called Furusato Gohan Shokudo.
The restaurant is open from 10:00 to 17:00 (last order at 16:00).
Luxurious gourmet food using local specialties is a must!
At Furusato Gohan Shokudo, you can enjoy original creative gourmet dishes that use plenty of local specialties such as “Soshu beef”, “Yamayuri pork”, “Kanagawa chicken”, and “Ashigara tea”.
The photo above is the shop’s most recommended item, “Soshu Beef Uni Toro Gyumeshi” (3,480 yen).
Minami-Ashigara City’s Soshu Beef, which has won the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister’s Award twice, has fine texture, moist, high-quality fat that melts in your mouth!
Soft roasted Soshu beef and rich sea urchin are surprisingly compatible! It’s a very luxurious menu.
In addition to this, there are “Soshu Beef Roast Beef Ramen” (2,180 yen) and “Soshu Beef Beef Tendon Curry” (1,380 yen) that use “Soshu Beef”.
It’s a little pricey, but it’s a must-try when you come to this roadside station.
Also, for the upcoming hot season, we recommend the “Ashigara Cha Soba” (680 yen), which is smooth and smooth.
Ashigara tea, which is kneaded into the dough, contains a large amount of total nitrogen, which is a measure of tea quality, and amino acids, which are the ingredients of umami, and the rich tea flavor spreads in your mouth.
In addition, the Yamayuri Pork Butadon Teishoku (980 yen, all tax included), which is a local brand of pork, is also excellent.
The “Yamayuri Pork”, which is so generously piled up, is juicy and elastic, and the sweet sauce goes well with the rice.
At Furusato Gohan Shokudo, there are many other menus that use local specialties, so be sure to check them out.
There are plenty of original souvenirs at the roadside station!
Michi-no-Eki Ashigara/Kintaro-no-Furusato also has a very complete farmer’s market, with fresh vegetables and fruits delivered daily from local producers.
In addition, many original souvenirs such as tea crackers, tea cookies, and tea sprinkles made with Ashigara tea are also on sale!
The “Ashigara Tea Snack Arare” in a box with a cute illustration is sure to please women and children as souvenirs.
In addition to sweets, furikake and soba noodles made with Ashigara tea are also on sale.
The bite-sized yokan comes in a wide variety of flavors, including green tea, adzuki beans, strawberries, and sweet potatoes.
They are sold for 150 yen each, so you can buy as many as you need.
The rounded appearance is cute, and the packaging is different for each flavor, so you might end up wanting to collect all the varieties.
Roadside Station Ashigara/Kintaro’s Hometown
Location: 1117-1 Takematsu, Minamiashigara City, Kanagawa Prefecture 250-0111
Phone number: 0465-70-1815
Business hours: 9:00-17:00, Furusato Gohan Shokudo 10:00-17:00 (LO 16:00) *Business hours may change depending on the season
Parking: Large: 8, Ordinary: 65 (2 for disabled)
Toilet: Yes
Bathing facilities: None
Sleeping in the car: Yes
Official site here
The information and photos posted may not be the latest information. Please be sure to check it yourself before using it.
Things to do near Michi-no-Eki
Speaking of Minamiashigara City, it is the base of various mountains, including Mt. Kintoki, which is deeply related to Kintaro.
With Hakone just a stone’s throw away, Minami-Ashigara has good access to hot spring resorts such as Hakone-Yumoto.
This time, we will introduce two mountains and three hot spring facilities in Minamiashigara City that you should definitely visit.
Mt. Kintoki (about 45 minutes by car)
Mt. Kintoki, where the legend of Kintaro remains, is popular for its view of Mt. Fuji from the summit, making it an easy mountain for beginners to try.
There is a free parking space for about 10 cars next to Kintoki Shrine, so we recommend parking your camper here.
There is also a paid parking lot around the Kintoki Shrine Iriguchi bus stop.
There are two teahouses on the summit that are open all year round. Please enjoy the large panorama overlooking Mt. Fuji to your heart’s content.
The climbing time required is about 2 hours and 50 minutes (not including breaks), and the total walking distance is 6.4km.
It is a mountain that even elementary school students can easily climb, so let’s take on the challenge of climbing it as a family.
Komagatake (about 1 hour by car)
You can go to the summit by Komagatake Ropeway from Hakone-en Station on the east bank of Lake Ashinoko.
From the top of the mountain, you can enjoy a large panorama overlooking Lake Ashinoko, Mt. Fuji, the Tanzawa Mountains, Amagi Mountains, Sagami Bay, Suruga Bay, and the seven islands of Izu.
It takes about 2 hours and 50 minutes (not including breaks) and the total walking distance is 6.5km.
Hakone-en’s large parking lot is free except for Saturdays, holidays, and specific days.
Yunosato Okada (about 40 minutes by car)
This is a day-use hot spring facility attached to Hotel Okada.
The spring quality is a weakly alkaline simple hot spring, and it is attractive that you can enjoy about 10 kinds of open-air baths.
In addition to jet baths, plasma baths, and bubble baths, there are also saunas, water baths, and free massage chairs, making it one of the most cost-effective hot spring facilities in Hakone.
There is a large parking lot, so you don’t have to worry about parking even if you have a camper.
Yunosato Okada
Address: 191 Yumotochaya, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa 250-0312
Phone number: 0460-85-3955
Official site here
Hakone Kowakien Yunessun (about 50 minutes by car)
A theme park facility with unique hot springs.
There is a zone where you can play in a bathing suit and a zone where you can enjoy a bath.
Not only towels but also swimsuits can be rented, so you can come empty-handed on a whim.
We have a large parking lot that is open 24 hours a day, so you don’t have to worry about parking your camper.
Hakone Kowakien Yunessun
Address: 1297 Ninotaira, Hakone-cho, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa 250-0407
Phone number: 0460-82-4126
Official site here
Modern Touji Only You (about 15 minutes by car)
This is an Asian-style hot spring facility located in Minami Ashigara City, which also has accommodations.
In a quiet environment surrounded by forests, you can relax and enjoy not only hot springs, but also body care, foot care, and scalp care.
The spring quality is alkaline, and it is called “beauty hot spring” because it makes the skin smooth.
There is a parking lot that can park about 80 cars, so there is no need to worry about parking even with a camper.
Modern Touji Only You
Address: 1520-1 Hiromachi, Minamiashigara City, Kanagawa Prefecture 250-0121
Phone number: 0465-72-1126
Official site here
The Ashigara Kintaro Festival is also a must-see!
The Ashigara Kintaro Festival is held every year on the first Sunday of August in Minami Ashigara City.
Although this year’s event was forced to be canceled due to the novel coronavirus, it is still a big festival where citizens gather together once a year.
Bon Odori is held, and Kintaro Nebuta appears, and it is a great excitement every year.
It might be a good idea to plan your trip around this festival.
Please enjoy sightseeing in Minami-Ashigara City based on the “Michi-no-Eki Ashigara/Kintaro no Furusato” introduced this time.
Writer: DRIMO Editorial Department
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