Service Area (S.A)

I love traveling by car in Japan.I usually use highways when I go areas other prefectures of Japan.
One of my greatest enjoyments is "Service Areas" which are regularly spaced along Japanese highways and  I guess not only me but most Japanese love stopping there too.

S.A's are one of the ways of dealing with Japanese highways which are usually crowded especially on weekends.
Motorists are encouraged to get off the highway and enjoy a stop over in S.As in this way the highways become less congested and the government lowned S.As are able to rake in more profits from the public...ingenious!!!

believe it or nor some S.As have rental beds,spas and aquariums.Of cource the main purpose of S.As for to provide traffic condition updates and toilet stops.

But, in recent decades,these services have been extended and now there are selling a huge variety of local foods and souvenirs(hand crafts,memorabilia etc.)

Usually there are a lot of restaurants in S.As as where we can taste local foods as well as the national favorites although they are never cheap.
There are some food courts which are cheeper but,always crowded.In the food courts customoers have to buy tickets in advance,using the automatic food ticket machines .
The most popular choices are "Ra-men""Domburi",tea is available you can drink free.