Located in the mountainous region of Mine city, Yamaguchi prefecture, Roadside Station Ofuku is surrounded by several famous sightseeing spots.
While to the east, there is the Akiyoshi plateau [https://setouchifinder.com/en/detail/510] and the Akiyoshido cavern [https://setouchifinder.com/en/detail/610], to the north there is the town of Misuzu Kaneko (children’s poet) [https://setouchifinder.com/en/detail/514]…

The facilities at Roadside Station Ofuku include a hot spring and footbaths, the water to which flows directly from the source – a great place to heal travel fatigue!

As well as the hot springs, the other thing that blows fatigue away is the wide variety of local gourmet on offer, as you might expect from a roadside station located in the mountains.

Without further ado, I’d like to introduce my personal favorites from among the delicacies on offer. This is my top 3!

Best No.1 : Spinach Salad Sherbet

Mine city’s specialty definitely has to be spinach! The sherbet is a gem of a sweet that has condensed within it the delicious flavor of fresh spinach, which is filled with iron and vitamins. Its slight sourness just takes away that travel fatigue… It’s especially delicious after relaxing in the hot springs.

Best No.2 : Great Burdock Croquette

Made with an abundance of great burdock, another of Mine city’s specialties are these croquettes. The flavor of the salty-sweet seasonings is followed by the lingering flavor of great burdock, which further stimulates the appetite. At the restaurant, you can also enjoy mixed great burdock tempura. The root that is filled with nutrition warms both the body and the mind.

Best No.3 : Ohmine Junmai 100ml

Brewed by Ohmine Shuzo, a local brewery established during Edo period, Ohmine Junmai sake is praised for its peach‑like fragrance and sweetness. As it’s a well-known sake drank worldwide in places such as New York and Hong Kong, it makes a perfect souvenir for sake-loving friends especially since the packaging is so chic.

Making it a tranquil spot where you end up staying for a while, the roadside station is surrounded by traditional Japanese countryside. Welcoming you at the entrance is the station’s mascot character, Kero-kun. Why does he have a microphone? Do drop by to check out why!

Oidemase! Come to Yamaguchi!

Roadside Station Ofuku
Address: 4383-1 Ofukuchokami, Mine city, Yamaguchi prefecture
Tel: 0837-56-5005
Open:
Specialties sales corner: 9.00-18.00
Restaurant: (Weekdays) 10.00-15.00, (Sat, Sun, National holidays) 10.00-20.00 * 10.00-11.00 is café time
Ofuku Onsen: 10.00-21.00
URL: http://www.michinoeki-ofuku.jp/ (Japanese)

Setouchi Finder Photo-writer: Masashi Fujimoto