【Highway Gourmet】 Kohoku PA's popular rice balls are huge.

Kohoku PA is a parking area on the Tomei Expressway, and for me, it's a refreshing place I can stop by last when heading towards Tokyo (upward). It's always crowded, but it’s also a hidden gem where you can enjoy oversized rice balls.

At the port of Kohoku PA (upward), just outside the city center, I filled my stomach

Today, the family is heading from the west side of Tokyo to a campsite in Chiba. As we drove along the Tomei Expressway with our hearts full of expectation, I realized that I hadn't eaten breakfast amid the rush before leaving. Looking at Google Maps, I saw a bright red traffic jam sign ahead. Moreover, the Yoyogi PA is quite small, so we decided to take a break here at the Kohoku PA.

Kohoku PA is often full, but this time we were lucky enough to find a parking space. Normally, we would rest in the car for a bit, but today, everyone in the family was starving. We quickly headed to Kohoku Bran (Tomei upward, shop). There is a large serving recommended by a friend here.

Discovered a voluminous rice ball

The "Wari Nigiri" sold at the Kohoku Bran shop. At first glance, 410 yen might seem a bit expensive, but... it has 220g of rice! That’s about the volume of a large serving of rice. This should satisfy even a big eater like me.

All the Wari Nigiri looked delicious, but since I was a bit tired from the heat, I chose the one that seemed to pack a punch: "Karaage (Chili Sauce)" (410 yen).

It's... huge. It's too big! It barely fits in the palm of my hand. When I actually hold it, I can feel its substantial weight.

On top of the large rice ball, there were toppings like fried chicken, spinach, and omelet. It was generously drizzled with spicy chili sauce, making it addictively delicious.

With convenience store rice balls, sometimes you can feel there's not enough filling... but having two pieces of fried chicken on top feels extravagant. This looks more like a mini bento than just a rice ball. It's great that you can use the spinach as a palate cleanser.

I also had the pork bun exclusive to Kohoku PA

This is the "Hama Pork Bun" (500 yen) that my family bought. The branding with a pig's nose makes for a cute visual. The pop on the steamer it came in also had information that it was a Kohoku PA exclusive item. When I took a bite, the Yokohama brand pork "Hama Pork" was very juicy. 500 yen is more than double what convenience store meat buns cost, but given this volume and deliciousness, it’s understandable!

I bought one this time, but they also sold a frozen pack of three. This seems like a good souvenir as well.

Both people heading to their destination and those returning should stop by.

I was thinking of eating outside, but it was quite hot even in the shade. The reflection from the concrete was intense, and just standing there made me start to sweat. I thought maybe there would be a cool place, but it seemed there wasn’t really anywhere to sit in this midsummer heat. There were several benches, so when it cools down, I can take a break and have a meal.

"I can’t beat the heat..." I decided to eat inside the car this time. I noticed on the way back that everyone seems to be resting inside their cars. As I enjoyed the conversation about today’s camping, before I knew it, I finished everything. I ended up more full than I imagined, so I feel like I can head towards Chiba with energy now.

By the way, "Kohoku Bran" at Kohoku PA on the upward side is open 24 hours, making it perfect for breaks early in the morning or late at night! How about filling your belly with their famous gourmet food and enjoying your drive even more?