New Local Delicacies Now Available at the Highway Rest Area with a View of Mount Fuji!

The Tomei Expressway, a major route frequently used when traveling from the Tokyo and Yokohama areas to Nagoya, is a crucial highway for many drivers. EXPASA Ashigara (outbound), located just before the Gotemba Junction, where it branches off to the Shin-Tomei Expressway, is a key traffic hub and attracts many drivers, bustling with activity on both weekdays and weekends.

In recent years, highway rest areas have been developing food menus and souvenirs that reflect the region's history, culture, and local specialties, which makes it tempting to stop and enjoy the drive. Of course, it is the same with EXPASA Ashigara.

EXPASA Ashigara is located in Koyama Town, Sunto distinct, Shizuoka Prefecture, known for being the birthplace of Kintaro (a legendary folk hero from Japanese folklore, often depicted as a strong boy ) and for having Mount Fuji's summit. Visitors can enjoy spectacular views of both Mount Fuji and Mount Kintoki, where Kintaro is said to have been born.

Starting December 25, 2024, the "Ashigara Highway Restaurant" inside EXPASA Ashigara, located on the Tomei Expressway (outbound), began offering two new dishes at the food court "Chuka Banri," focusing on the region's proud symbols of Mount Fuji and Kintaro.

The first new dish is the "Mount Fuji Mapo Fried Rice with Fried Chicken," which beautifully represents the spectacular view of Mount Fuji seen from EXPASA Ashigara. The fried rice is shaped to resemble Mount Fuji, topped with white rice to mimic the snow-capped peak. Surrounding the mountain are cabbage, representing the lush forests (Jukai), Mapo sauce that resembles volcanic lava, and crispy fried chicken, representing rocks.

Actually, there was a long-time favorite at "Chuka Banri," known as "Mount Fuji Mapo Chicken." This dish featured a mound of rice shaped like Mount Fuji, topped with Mapo sauce and fried chicken. The "Mount Fuji Mapo Fried Rice with Fried Chicken" is an upgraded version of this classic.

The restaurant's general manager, Yoichi Ito, explains, "We revamped the dish to make it more appealing to a wider range of customers. To attract families and younger generations, we focused on creating a dish which is so visually striking that customers would want to snap a photo of it on their smartphones."

Ito continues, "It's not just about the look; we also increased the portion size. Priced at 1,600 yen, it might seem a bit expensive, but it's actually the perfect size for two people to share."

Shinichi Kobayashi, the manager who worked alongside Ito to refine the dish, adds, "For our regular set meals at Chuka Banri, the rice is typically around 130g. But for this dish, when you combine the fried rice and white rice, it's about 300g—roughly two bowls' worth. With the added Mapo sauce and fried chicken, it’s quite a substantial meal. It's great for families, couples, or anyone looking for a hearty meal. We’ve also made the Mapo sauce milder so even kids can enjoy it."

The second new menu item is the "Kintaro Power Ramen." Named after Kintaro, who was known for his strength in wrestling with bears, this hearty ramen is a fitting tribute to his power. It was launched alongside the "Mount Fuji Mapo Fried Rice with Fried Chicken" as a completely new dish.

The soy sauce-based ramen comes loaded with toppings such as chicken tatsuta-age (fried chicken), deep-fried gyoza, and fried garlic. It lives up to its name with these bold and robust ingredients. Both General Manager Ito and Manager Kobayashi look back on the development process:

"We've always wanted to create an impactful dish that would delight our customers. Nowadays, every rest area offers unique and diverse menus and items, so to differentiate ourselves, we decided to develop a dish that highlights the local character of 'Ashigara.' With the input from everyone on the restaurant team, the 'Kintaro Power Ramen' was born," says General Manager Ito.

"One of the challenges was figuring out how to float the toppings beautifully in the soup without them sinking too quickly. Simply placing them on top wouldn't work, as the fried chicken would sink immediately. After numerous meetings and trials, we found the perfect way to present the toppings without them sinking," adds Manager Kobayashi.

In addition to its toppings, the "Kintaro Power Ramen" also focuses on local ingredients. The soup’s base is made with "Kanro Soy Sauce" from Amano-Shoyu Co., located in the neighboring city of Gotemba, Shizuoka Prefecture. This soy sauce is crafted with water from Mount Fuji and a unique yeast found only at the foot of the mountain. The noodles are made by "Katsumata Seimen," also from Gotemba, using Mount Fuji’s water in their production process.

General Manager Ito comments, "These are truly one-of-a-kind flavors that you can only experience here." With two equally tempting new menu options, it's sure to be a tough decision for customers on which one to try!

In addition to the new menu items "Mount Fuji Mapo Fried Rice with Fried Chicken" and "Kintaro Power Ramen," there are many other items and products that highlight the charm of the region. Here are just a few examples.

First, from the takeout shop "Sugar Mountain" near the entrance of the building, there's a one-handed snack that you’ll crave during this season: a warm meat bun. But this isn’t just any meat bun—it’s called the "Kintaro Meat Bun." Inspired by Kintaro’s strength, which symbolizes "Chikaramochi,"(it means powerful man in Japanese. “Chikara” means power, and “mochi” has two　meanings: to have and stickey rice cakes) the bun contains pieces of mochi inside the filling. The mochi is warmed and has a soft, gooey texture, providing a satisfying bite. It’s the perfect snack when you're feeling a little hungry during your drive.

Next, from the same "Sugar Mountain" shop, there’s the "Kintaro Sumo Soft." At first glance, it looks like a vanilla soft serve topped with a cookie imprinted with Kintaro’s image, but the twist is that the soft serve contains a pinch of salt. "Kintaro used to wrestle with bears, so we were inspired by the 'purifying salt' used in sumo rings," explains general manager Ito. The combination of sweet and salty creates a unique, addictive flavor.

In the shops inside the building, you can also find souvenirs such as "Kanro Soy Sauce Senbei" (rice crackers made with local soy sauce made by Amano-shoyu ) and "Habutae Mochi Amano Hagoromo," along with "Kintaro Meat Buns" for takeout.

Just like the two new menu items, these one-handed snacks and souvenirs are exclusive products that can only be found here.

"We hope to continue developing menu items and products that showcase the local charm," says general manager Ito with a smile. "It would make us happy if people thought, 'I want to buy that souvenir, so let's visit Ashigara' or 'I want to try that menu, so let’s extend our trip and take a break at Ashigara.'"