If you follow the unique Michi-no-eki in HigashiKishu with the ``Answer, you're lucky! Viewable on your smartphone campaign'', you can enjoy an easy trip to discover the charms of the region.

Heading south on National Route 42 and entering KihokuTown, you will see a large green triangular roof that is the first "Michi-no-eki Kii-NagashimaManbo" in HigashiKishu region. The color and shape are said to be inspired by the Owase cypress, a local specialty.

Anyway, why is the station name "Sunfish"?

``Actually, the sunfish is the ``town fish'' of KihokuTown'' says Yoshihiko Higashi, who oversees the facility's operations. "It's been a popular catch for a long time and we've eaten it on a daily basis, so it's familiar to us," he said. I see! It's a name that is familiar to the local people, so it makes sense!

As Kihoku KihokuTown has one of the highest catches in the prefecture, there is an abundance of seafood and processed products, and you can enjoy just looking at them.

According to Azuma, ``People from the neighborhood come here because it's cheaper than supermarkets in the city.'' It's nice to be able to get high-quality products that are recognized by the locals.

As I was walking through the freezer case, I found a sunfish! Beautiful white meat and stiff. ``Kowata'' is said to refer to the internal organs of a sunfish. We asked Mr. Higashi again about the taste of sunfish.

``It's white, smooth, and has a firm texture, similar to chicken.In the past, I boiled it and ate it simply, but I took advantage of the opening Michi-no-eki and came up with a variety of menu options.''

This is how popular fries, skewers, fried chicken, nuggets, stamina grills, mirinboshi, retort curry, and more were born. It would be fun to take them as souvenirs and compare them.

*Kushiyaki is only sold at sunfish stalls on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

I also found something like this. It's completely dried. It's not a Japanese sardine, it's a whole dried saury. This is another taste of Kishu! Fried shark, fried moray eel! There was also something like that. In addition, there is a wide selection of seaweeds, including familiar ones from within the prefecture such as Aosanori and Hijiki, as well as Akamoku, which is attracting attention as a health food, and Hirome, which can only be found in the Kishu area.

Please try and compare different types of seaweed.

There is a lawn outside the building. Actually, this Michi-no-eki is located inside a large park called Katakamiike Park. Combined with the water surface of Katakami Pond spreading out in front of you, it gives you a feeling of openness. It's also very pleasant to take out and eat on the terrace! There is also an arbor, benches, and play equipment, so the children are sure to enjoy it. There is also a promenade that leads to the other side of the pond, making it the perfect spot to refresh yourself during a drive.

The adjacent KihokuTown Tourist Service Center is the Mie Travel Information Center where you can enjoy the Mie Benefits campaign using your smartphone. Be sure to visit and get a stamp at the start of Michi-no-eki.

About 30 minutes south from Michi-no-eki Kii-NagashimaManbo on the Kisei Expressway or continue on National Route 42. We have arrived at "Michi-no-eki Kaizan".

`` Michi-no-eki Kaizan'' is located right near the entrance to the Kumano Kodo `` Magose-togePass'', a world heritage site famous for its cobblestone pavement. Flowing right in front of you is the Choshi River, a clear stream that boasts some of the highest water quality in Japan. It is also close to the mouth of the Choshi River, and the Kumano Sea is just around the corner. It's a very convenient base for all kinds of leisure activities, including mountains, rivers, and the sea. It is a popular spot for people coming up from the river or sea to stop by, and for those heading for the mountain pass to get ready.

The store's product corner is lined with locally-produced items from KihokuTown and surrounding cities. Seafood and processed products, agricultural products with the name of the producer, sweets, wooden products and toys made from Owase cypress, etc. Kazuki Ishibashi, a staff member, says, ``This dried fish is from a fishing industry about 10km from here,'' and ``This cake is from a patisserie about 2km away.'' You can be sure that you are purchasing reliable products from reliable stores.

[Mie Travel Hospitality Facility Hospitality Service]

Log in by scanning the QR code for ``Answer and be lucky! View with your smartphone campaign'' located next to the information corner entrance. Stamp and scratch! First, get 1 point with Kokichi! Then, when you answer the questionnaire and show it to the staff, you will receive hospitality on the spot!

There is also a cafe space on the same floor as the product corner. The menu features dishes made with local produce and fresh seafood. Also, keep an eye out for the mini dogs, which you can order by choosing two items from eight types of toppings.

I noticed this while looking at the menu. Drinks and smoothies made with fruit physalis and ultra-high sugar content tomatoes stand out.

According to Ishibashi, ``This place is run by a producer who primarily grows tomatoes.The tomatoes are also used in the mini dogs.''

When I looked at the produce corner again, I saw bright red tomatoes that looked like they were about to burst. When I tried it, I was surprised at how sweet and delicious it was!

The 200% tomato juice, which is made by slowly boiling these tomatoes at low temperatures until reduced by half, was adopted at IseShimaSummit 2016 and is also served to the leaders of various countries.

A large screen with a width of 2m is installed at the back of the cafe space. It has been available since November 2020. In order to promote the attractions of KihokuTown 's tourism and industry through videos, it seems that dynamic videos using drones will be released in the future. I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of videos you'll make!

In addition, all the staff are currently studying so that they can properly guide sightseeing in the area. Please do your best as a concierge for local tourism.

The information corner is next to the product corner. We provide a wide range of information including KihokuTown information and road information. Construction is currently underway to install a nursing room here.
We will continue to grow as a facility that is kind to all users and provides detailed information.

From Michi-no-eki Kaizan, go south on National Route 42 for about 50 minutes and you will see Onigajo on the left side of the road. A tourist spot representing HigashiKishu, designated as a World Heritage Site, a national natural monument, and a place of scenic beauty.

Just looking at it from a distance will leave you overwhelmed by its majesty. Let's park our car at Onigajo Center and take a tour of the 1.2km long rock formations, which are filled with numerous large and small caves.

You can feel the greatness of nature with the spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean and rocks you've never seen before.

Michi-no-eki Kumano Hana-no-Iwaya Otsuna Chaya, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary in April 2021, is about a 10-minute drive south of Onigajo. It is located right in front of the torii gate of the World Heritage Site "Hana-no-Iwaya" Shrine. Even before it was registered as Michi-no-eki, it has been popular as a relaxing spot as a `` Hana-no-Iwaya'' hospitality place.

[Mie Travel Hospitality Facility Hospitality Service]

Log in by scanning the QR code for the "View with Smartphone Campaign" located next to the entrance to the souvenir and product sales corner. Stamp and scratch. Oh my God! Get 5 points with Daikichi! Perhaps there was a divine blessing from the `` Hana-no-Iwaya.'' Then, when I answered the questionnaire and showed it to the staff at checkout, I received a Mitarashi Dango with Izanami rice.

Service details: One Mitarashi dango with Izanami rice will be given as a gift.

*Valid only once per person for purchases of 1,000 yen or more.

Hana-no-Iwaya is the grave of Izanami no Mikoto, who introduced rice cultivation, and is the oldest shrine recorded in the Nihon Shoki.

Therefore, the ancient rice from the time when rice cultivation was introduced is called "Izanami rice" and is cultivated in special rice fields. We harvest just under 1 ton each year.

At the restaurant, you can enjoy udon noodles made with Izanami rice, rice balls made with Izanami rice, as well as regional specialty Mehari-sushi and saury sushi.

When it comes to sweetness, ``Izanami Rice Mitarashi Dango'' is a firm favorite. The dango has a unique purplish color due to the use of black rice called Izanami rice. Grill this to a golden brown and enjoy it piping hot with lots of sweet and spicy sauce!

A new addition to the group in February 2021 is ancient rice zenzai containing “Izanami rice.”

A sales corner with a wide variety of products, mainly Kumano specialties.

Surprisingly popular are locally produced cedar and cypress boards. ``Perhaps because of the popularity of DIY, some people buy about 10 pieces at once,'' says Mukaiyama.

In addition, it is attractive that you can come into contact with a variety of information, including the works of artists who are active in nearby cities and towns.

Just a little piece of information. ``The facility itself has an open design, so some people come because they think it's OK to bring their dog with them.That's why we limit the use of the facility to a certain area near the entrance.'' If you are driving with your dog, please check the rules and follow good manners.

It is located on the coastline along the Kumano Sea, where the ria coastline is thought to be the standard, and the gentle line continues from the south of Onigajo (KumanoCity) to KihoTown. The distance is approximately 22km. Shichirimihama, the longest gravel beach in Japan, has been selected as a World Heritage Site (Hama Kaido), one of Japan's top 100 beaches, one of Japan's top 100 natural beaches to preserve in the 21st century, one of Japan's top 100 white sand and green pine trees, and one of Japan's top 100 natural beaches in Japan. It is a beautiful coastal area that has been selected as one of the top 100 pine trees in Japan. It is also known as a place where loggerhead sea turtles come ashore from spring to summer.

If you drive south for about 15 minutes along Shichirimihama Beach, you will see a tangerine-colored building that stands out clearly against the blue sky. "Michi-no-eki Park Shichirimihama"

If you look closely, you can see "Mikan" in front of "Park". Michi-no-eki full of mandarin oranges located in MihamaTown, whose catchphrase is "A town where you can grow mandarin oranges all year round." Let's dive right in!

When you enter the entrance on the second floor, you will see a huge bottle of tangerine juice floating in the sky in front of you. Juice was pouring out of the mouth of the bottle, and most of what caught my eye was orange-colored! ?

This is Hamakaido, a souvenir shop. We have a rich lineup of local products and Kishu souvenirs, and are the best in HigashiKishu in terms of the number of products and sales area. Shopping at Hamakaido is eligible for the smartphone viewing campaign.

[Mie Travel Hospitality Facility Hospitality Service]

Log in by scanning the QR code for ``Answer and be lucky! View with your smartphone campaign'' located at the tourist center information counter. Stamp and scratch! Get 5 points with Daikichi again! This kind of thing does happen! Then, when I answered the questionnaire and showed it to the staff, I was given seasonal tangerine juice! I would like everyone to try the rich and mellow mandarin orange juice from the city of mandarin oranges.

<Service details> Get a free bottle of seasonal mandarin juice (200ml) with purchases of 2,000 yen or more at Hamakaido.

<Service provision conditions>

・One gift for each screen presentation

・Cannot be used in conjunction with other tickets

How many types of tangerine juice are there on this floor? Furthermore, there is also honey extracted only from mandarin orange flowers. It's said to have a slight mandarin scent.

There is also a wide variety of mandarin sweets, both Japanese and Western.

Various types of mandarin oranges are displayed in a glass case in front of the factory. In addition to edible mandarin oranges, there are also ornamental mandarin oranges, including a mysterious variety called ``Bushukan.'' Unfortunately, it is a model, but isn't this also a super rare mandarin orange that can only be seen here?

The restaurant ``Gochiso Dining'' on the same floor offers a panoramic view of ShichiriMihamaBeach, which has been selected as one of the top 100 beaches.

Popular menu items include the ``sashimi set meal'' and ``tuna bowl'' made with fresh fish caught in the Kumano Sea. The local food, saury sushi, and the Kishu specialty, Mehari-sushi are also must-sees.

If you drive south for about 10 minutes along Shichirimihama Beach, you will be greeted by a stone statue of a black sea turtle. This is the only Michi-no-eki in Japan where you can observe sea turtles.

This is "Michi-no-eki KihochoUmigamePark." This is the southernmost Michi-no-eki in Mie Prefecture. Loggerhead sea turtles come here to lay eggs, and it is a base for sea turtle protection and awareness activities.

Enter the sea turtle house where there is a breeding pool for sea turtles.

Finally, we headed to the breeding building where the sea turtles were.

You can watch them swimming smoothly in the huge pool from both above and from the side. Oh? The sea turtles approached when they saw a figure. Apparently, they are expecting to receive food. To avoid overfeeding, we also offer feeding experiences in limited quantities.

There is a black board like this in front of the pool. Zookeeper Shuya Ito answers simple questions from visitors. Answers will be published frequently on this board and Twitter. "Children's questions are more difficult than those of adults. 'What is a turtle?' Isn't that philosophical?" says Ito. I would love to hear it too! Please continue to answer everyone's questions!

You can also experience carrying a sea turtle's shell on your back. This shell weighs about 7kg.

There are also small shells for children, so parents and children can become ``Master Roshi''! It's a promise to upload it to SNS.

Moved to a separate product building.

Every day, you'll find rows and rows of fresh vegetables and other agricultural products grown in the local KihoTown, as well as seafood caught in the Kumano Sea right in front of you. Also, during mandarin orange season, mandarin oranges are lined up on shelves set up outside. This may be a sight unique to this facility.

The restaurant on the second floor has a rich menu using local ingredients. Menus using whitebait, including the famous whitebait bowl, are unique to this area.

For snacks, there are also ``turtle pancakes'' shaped like turtles.

It is at this restaurant that you can receive the ``Smartphone View Campaign'' service.

[Mie Travel Hospitality Facility Hospitality Service]

Log in by scanning the QR code for ``Answer and be lucky! View with your smartphone campaign'' located next to the elevator on the 1st floor of the local product building. Stamp and scratch! Get 1 point with Kokichi! Then, if you answer the questionnaire and show it to the staff, you will receive coffee with your meal at the restaurant on the second floor.

Service details: One cup of coffee service

This is the view inside the elevator.

It's a bit surprising for a moment, but if you look closely, you'll see that it depicts a scene under the sea. If you take the elevator up and down, you'll feel like you're floating in a blue world with the sea turtles swimming leisurely.

We recommend using the elevator even to the second floor!

Michi-no-eki in HigashiKishu end here. Using Mietoku on my smartphone made my trip very profitable and enjoyable. Michi-no-eki is packed with the charms of HigashiKishu, so please come and check it out!