The first Roadside Station in the World, and perhaps the Best The people of Abu have an air of hospitality, pride, and sophistication that suggests to me that it was from Abu (and not the more famous adjacent Hagi) that the Meiji Restoration began. Perhaps Hagi, being a city of sorts has had more turnover. Abu retains its tradition. The Abuians have innovative skills in that while they did not have the idea for "road(side) stations," which are semi-municipal complexes now dotted all over Japan, their's was one of the first, one of the biggest, and claims to be the birthplace. They sell local produce, with restaurants, and here a hot spa, swimming pool, and table tennis room, to encourage weary drivers and tourists to stop en route. The local produce, especially the fish, is at rock bottom prices so the locals come too. The pool is *semi* municipal, so the water is warm and the service not-supercilious (as some public employees tend to become). The "Dining Cafe 846 (Yashiro)" restaurant is very tasty, inexpensive, and what we love is the view. The "Sea Mart" road(side) station a few kilometres down the road in Hagi does not afford any view of the sea at all, whereas Abu's road (side) station has a panoramic view of the sea of Japan, dotted with islands. There is also a bell to ring, in simulation it would seem of religious facilities which usually have bells. There is a second hand and remained item shop (that shuts at 5pm) across the road. One can play table tennis for free for 30 minutes, at least if one goes to the pool as a family as we do. Extensions are inexpensive. There is a sauna in the pool. The pool is my favourite one for swimming in the whole of Yamaguchi since there are plenty of lanes. I think that the pool building may be a converted prefabricated warehouse but it has a nice arched atmosphere. There is a nice beach, at Kyogahama, with cheap showers, and campsite, and sometimes surfable waves, about 5km further West down the road.

Great road station with plenty of facilities (onsen, kids playground, space for caravans, even a swimming pool). Awesome seaside views

Nice place to stop, enjoy a view and get some food. Plenty of souvenirs available.

金太郎！ The prices for seafood are incredible!

There is a hot spring. 500 yen!

(Translated by Google) It was my first time visiting. A new facility in a great location. When I arrived around 9am, there was a long line at the product store even though it opened at 10am. Shall we wait!! ️To kill some time, I took a walk around the area, there are auto camping sites and hot springs in the facilities, the toilets are new and clean, and the harbor cafe is also good. I can see why because they open at 10 a.m. and the seafood is reasonably priced. I bought vacuum packed dried fish. (Original) 初めて伺いました。素晴らしいロケーションに新しい施設、9時頃到着したら、物産販売店に長蛇の列10時開店なのに？待ってみるか‼️暫く時間を潰す為辺りを散策、施設にオートキャンプサイト、温泉まで有り、トイレも新しく清潔感あり、ハーバーカフェも良いです。10時の開店で海産物の値打ちな事で理由が分かりました。真空パックの干物を購入しました。

(Translated by Google) I stayed in the car. It's a nice and quiet roadside station. There is also an RV park with power. There is also a bath, although it is not very big. You can see the ocean from the bath. It's beautiful in the evening! However, some noisy local young people were also there. (Original) 車中泊させていただきました。 静かで良い道の駅です。 電源付きRVパークもあります。 そしてあまり大きくないですが風呂もあります。 風呂からは海が一望できます。 夕方だと綺麗ですね！ ただ地元のうるさい若者も来ていました。