【Midnight Service Area】Arrived at 1 AM! Exploring the Kanetsu Expressway "Takasaka SA (downbound)"

When you set off by car at night, it's nice to stop at a service area for a break. The night air and the quiet parking lot stir feelings of travel. This time, I stopped by the Takasaka SA (downbound) on the Kanetsu Expressway.

At 1 AM, I tried going to "Takasaka SA" on the Kanetsu Expressway

located in Higashimatsuyama City, Saitama Prefecture, which boasts a large parking space with 102 large and 267 small parking spots at "Takasaka SA (Service Area)." According to the NEXCO East Japan website, it is operated by Japan Food Management, and in addition to this SA, they also manage the Hasuda Service Area (downbound) and Pasar Moriya (upbound).

I learned that the services differ at each SA, and the distinct characteristics are attributed to the differences in operating companies. It was surprising to know that even the same Takasaka SA has different management for the upbound and downbound sides.

I arrived at Takasaka SA at 1 AM, and as you can see, there are many trucks. In a somewhat peripheral area of the parking lot, a lot of regular cars were parked, and I could see many people taking a break. It is said that when taking a break for sleep in a parking lot, it is better to park in a place with little vehicle traffic, and the edges fulfill that condition, giving it the impression of being an easy-to-rest SA.

The lack of people in a typically bustling area during the day creates an extraordinary atmosphere. The food court here is open 24 hours, so the indoors are bright, but outside, it is dark enough to hear the sound of truck engines, creating a very quiet ambiance.

The food court, where you can eat ramen, udon, and rice dishes, has many seats and seems easy to use, so I can imagine it being lively during the day. In addition to a house-style ramen, there seems to be a local menu named after the region of Higashimatsuyama. Besides udon, there were many hearty menu items, giving it the feel of a lineup aimed at working drivers.

I usually never touch capsule toys, but if I continue this series of articles, I think the day will come when I put a coin in and turn the handle.

Now popular not just with children but also with adults, there are plenty of capsule toys. They feature nostalgic Famicom cartridge figures, and prices are 400 or 500 yen, reflecting a lineup aimed at adults.

When visiting an SA, I often find myself using the cup-style drink vending machines. Drinking from one of these enhances the travel feeling immensely, so I tried it this time as well. Although the coffee is described as freshly ground, I opted for cocoa to avoid being unable to sleep afterward. The whipped topping also caught my eye, and I was surprised that the lid attaches automatically. Since it had been a while since I last used an SA, I wonder if that is normal.

The cocoa was very rich, and perhaps because of the whipped cream, it was delicious enough not to lose to any café. Drinking it while inhaling the midnight air adds to its depth of flavor.

The combination of the quiet midnight air and the illuminated SA evokes a sense of travel nostalgia, bringing back memories of past trips. If I ever want to soak in a nostalgic mood again, I would love to ride the expressway at midnight to visit an SA.

Text and interview by Kazuma Tanaka

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