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In Japan, a “michi no eki” is a little like a roadside rest stop. But a visit to Aji no Yakata, the restaurant at Michi no Eki Yumeland Funo, makes it abundantly clear why so many travelers fall in love with these roadside oases. The dark wooden counters of this relaxed lunch buffet hold a treasure trove of Japanese dishes with a little Miyoshi inspiration, made with an abundance of fresh local vegetables and some uncommon ingredients!

Michi no Eki Yumeland Funo isn’t just a great lunch stop off the road for travelers passing through MiyoshiーAji no Yakata is also a popular destination among locals who want a taste of Miyoshi home cooking done right (and with a little extra flair). The simple recipes include homey Japanese favorites like nikujaga stew and simmered hijiki seaweed, and the dishes are the perfect platform to show off the flavors of the fresh ingredients used in all the dishes. The chefs at this restaurant really make the most of Miyoshi’s many farms and fields, using local rice and vegetables picked right in the Funo neighborhood. There’s tofu made locally at Nakamura Tofu Shop and shiitake mushrooms grown nearby on big wooden logs, while the restaurant’s miso is made in Funo using Funo rice! The head chef has also become an expert on using the local highland plants that have long grown wild in Miyoshi, adding unique additions to the restaurant’s traditional Japanese dishes.

Inside the restaurant, sunlight shines in through large windows, which look out onto the bright greenery of Miyoshi’s wooded mountains and farmland. But for a glimpse of how all the fresh mountain vegetables get turned into so many different buffet options, the head chef frequently sets up at the restaurant’s open kitchen, preparing new dishes at the griddle.

The buffet is closed in the evening, but the local community still gathers after dark for occasional events hosted at Michi no Eki Yumeland Funo! Stop in for special veggie pizza buffets and “disco parties” to make some new friends in Miyoshi.

After a big meal at Aji no Yakata, travelers shouldn’t leave the “michi no eki” before taking a look around! The rest stop’s Funo Fureai Market is a farmer’s market with crates lining the counters, full of locally grown fruits and vegetables, and the souvenir shop sells a variety of products made in Miyoshi. Some of the more popular options, great for gift-giving back home, include crunchy tsukemono pickled vegetables, savory yuzu miso paste, and aged black garlic. For a final sweet treat, Marugoto Funo Ice Cream Shop whips up creamy gelato “made possible by Funo,” by combining milk from Funo cows and some unusual local ingredients. Travelers can try ice cream made with tomato, watermelon, or myoga ginger, and leave Michi no Eki Yumeland Funo with plenty of sweet memories!