【Hidden Gem】 Enjoying Local Delicacies while Feeling the Atmosphere of a Post Town at the Ken'o Expressway Atsugi PA Outer Ring

Atsugi PA (Parking Area Outer Ring) in Atsugi City, Kanagawa Prefecture, offers a quieter space compared to other service areas, but it also has delicious local specialties, making it a true hidden gem. How about trying a PA like this once in a while instead of the usual service area?

Have you ever been? Atsugi PA on the Ken-O Expressway

The other day, while heading from the Ken-O Expressway to the Tomei Expressway, a friend who lives nearby mentioned that "this parking area is a bit unusual." It's "Atsugi PA Outbound" on the Ken-O Expressway. What is this place...?

Compared to the Ebina SA I often stop by, it has a Japanese atmosphere. I wondered why the design is like this. I asked the friend who introduced it, but they didn't seem to know. My interest grew further. Does Atsugi have such a history?

Atsugi PA Outbound
Opening hours / Atsugi Dining Hall 6:00–23:00, Nigiwaiya Tonton 6:00–23:00, Shopping Corner open 24 hours

During the late Edo period, it seems that Atsugi, called "Ko-Edo," was a hub for goods

As I took a little walk around the PA, I found this kind of information. Atsugi has a history as a hub for goods, with the Ooyama Road and Sagami River. It was also referred to as "Ko-Edo" in the late Edo period. Speaking of Ko-Edo, I think of Kurashiki in Okayama and Kawagoe in Saitama, but I never expected there was one so close.

Atsugi PA is said to have been built with the atmosphere of a post town in mind, based on this historical background of Atsugi. I see, that’s why it has a design like a row house.

I stopped by the restroom that's right nearby, and it was quite a surprise. Being a restroom, I didn't take any photos inside, but each stall had a roof and there were shoji-like doors, making it feel less like a toilet and more like a traditional washroom.

Compared to SA, it is a compact PA, but it has a food court with two stores, a shopping area, an ATM, and an EV fast charging station, making it more fulfilling than I had imagined. The parking lot was mostly full, and it seemed that many people were resting in their cars, creating a quiet and calm atmosphere compared to the Ebina SA on the Tomei Expressway.

Must-try Atsugi PA gourmet

As soon as I thought about entering the store, I discovered a sign for the "Ebina Melon Bread," a specialty of Ebina SA! I had thought this was exclusive to Ebina SA, but it seems that you can also buy it at Atsugi PA.

The seemingly signature "Ton-zuke Don" is a hearty dish.

On this day, I overslept and rushed out, so I'm incredibly hungry and at my limits. What I craved was the "Tonkotsu Rice Bowl," which is recommended by the shop and featured on their sign. According to the description, "Atsugi Tonkotsu" was certified by the Agency for Cultural Affairs in March 2023 as part of the "100-Year Tradition Food Section ~Local Cuisine Continuing Since the Edo Period~." It's quite a hearty local dish.

After purchasing the meal ticket, it's a style where you wait at your seat. Recently, there have been more shops where it's not necessary to submit the meal ticket, right? While sitting at my seat, I was called in order, but as someone who was extremely hungry, this waiting time felt incredibly long. After 5 minutes of waiting, I was finally called!

On the rice bowl, large pieces of pork are placed so that they completely cover the rice. There are also plenty of green onions as toppings, making it look even more delicious than I imagined. Usually, I would take some water from here... but today I'm skipping that.

Oh! The flavor of the miso seeps into the tender pork, making it go perfectly with the rice. I ended up eating too much. This is really delicious. The crispiness of the green onions adds an accent, and before I knew it, I finished it all.

The manager's recommendation! "Atsugi Pork Croquette" is probably related to the area.

Having my stomach already filled from my recent ramen shop visits, I'm still not satisfied! Initially, I thought I would burst from just one bowl of ramen, but now I've grown to enjoy convenience store desserts after meals.

I also got the "Atsugi Pork Croquette (280 yen)," which seemed related to Atsugi! It appeared that they could also add sauce, but since I prefer to have croquettes as they are, I held back and decided to enjoy the original flavor.

Although it wasn't freshly fried, it was warm enough. There are rare occasions when it's cold, so this is pleasantly surprising. The outer layer is crunchy, and you can also feel the savoriness of the pork.

If I see it, I’ll buy it: Ebina Melon Bread

I was full, but somehow it felt insufficient. Ah… I see. Something sweet! So, I went and bought the "Ebina Melon Bread" that had been stuck in my mind. It seems like I can hear voices saying this is why I can't lose weight, but I immediately dug in!

As expected, the melon flavor is much stronger than other melon breads. Ebina Melon Bread is in a class of its own.

Terrace seating where you can relax with pets

Atsugi PA has many terrace seats. The terrace seats are recommended for the upcoming season. There were notes regarding pets on the table, so it seems this is a place frequently used by pet owners.

Yes, in fact, the author came here with their beloved dog. While I was enjoying the "pork bowl," I had my friend wait here, but when I asked the staff, they said that the pork bowl I had earlier could also be enjoyed in the terrace seating. The Atsugi PA outer ring has a wonderfully comfortable atmosphere, making it a spot worth stopping by. You can enjoy a unique ambiance that can't be found anywhere else.

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