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A Japanese “michi no eki” is like a roadside rest stop, but the clean facilities, interesting additions, and local connections make them much more appealing than the rest stops found in many places overseas. The farmer’s market and shops at Michi no Eki Yumeland Funo stock items like miso made from rice grown right in the Funo area, fresh vegetables from the surrounding fields, and flavorfully prepared hot meals that draw customers from near and farーwhether they’re just passing through or not. And as manager Jun Masui will tell you, this unlikely spot has grown into a cozy gathering place for the local community.

For travelers making a quick pit stop while driving through Miyoshi, the “Funo Fureai Market” and souvenir corner are great places to quickly see what the area has to offer. The market is stocked with huge crates of local fruits and vegetables, grown within shouting distance of the marketplace for unbeatably fresh flavor. The souvenir corner also stocks some produce, but for those without a kitchen handy, things get even more exciting when it comes to the prepared Miyoshi products. The shelves hold fragrant yuzu miso, aged black garlic, crunchy pickled veggies with a great snap and refreshing flavor, and of course local Miyoshi sake! These are the kind of souvenirs that travelers can’t help but bring back to fill their own pantries.

Michi no Eki Yumeland Funo is also a go-to destination for anyone with an empty stomach, because the restaurant Aji no Yakata is a popular local eatery. The sleek restaurant, right off the road but with a great view of the Miyoshi greenery, is a buffet with a focus on local produce and homey flavors. For many Japanese diners, the simple recipes like nikujaga stew and simmered hijiki seaweed are really “just like mom used to make,” but the restaurant’s use of uncommon plateau-growing vegetables gives some of the dishes a surprising twist. For a little extra entertainment, diners can even sometimes see the head chef preparing new dishes on the griddle in the open kitchen. Between the use of local ingredients, ranging from tofu made at Nakamura Tofu Shop to shiitake mushrooms grown nearby on big wooden logs, and the smell of home cooking that swirls through the air, lunch at Michi no Eki Yumeland Funo is really a taste of Miyoshi.

In the evening, the michi no eki draws in crowds of locals with its festive atmosphere, playing retro Japanese classics over the speakers and serving nibbles like yakitori grilled chicken skewers. There are even occasional events hosted at the restaurant in the evening, like special veggie pizza buffets, or “disco parties,” perfect for hanging out with the locals and making some new friends.

Even after a big lunch, visitors shouldn’t miss the ice cream at Marugoto Funo Ice Cream Shop before leaving the rest stop! The shop makes smooth and creamy gelatos in some unusual flavors with milk from local cows, inspired by the theme “made possible by Funo.” Thanks to this interest in local ingredients, the shop offers seasonal batches next to common Japanese flavors like strawberry, matcha green tea, or black sesame, whipping up some interesting ice creams with tomato, myoga ginger, watermelon, springtime cherry blossom, spinach and asparagus, or whatever local flavors seem like a good idea at the time! These surprisingly delicious taste sensations are the perfect way to finish a visit to this unique rest stop.