🚗 A Bustling Highway Break: Quick Lunch at Abukuma Kogen SA

We stopped by Abukuma Kogen Service Area (Northbound) for a quick lunch on our drive from Narita International Airport to Koriyama, and it turned out to be a pretty lively rest stop—definitely one of the more popular ones along the highway. The service area was bustling during the afternoon, with lots of people grabbing lunch or taking a break. It had that familiar Japanese efficiency to it—order, eat, go—but also a warm, local vibe. That said, the menu was entirely in Japanese, and food had to be ordered via a vending machine. So if you’re not confident with the language, it can be a bit tricky to navigate. As for the food, it did the job for a highway pit stop. I had a pork cutlet set, and while the portion was decent, parts of the katsu were unfortunately overcooked and slightly burnt. Not the best meal, but still good enough to fill the stomach for the journey ahead. After eating, we explored a souvenir section nearby, which had a small selection of local snacks and goods—perfect for picking up something quick to take along or bring home. Overall, Abukuma Kogen SA is a practical stop with solid facilities, though the food could be hit or miss. Great for a rest, a bite, and a quick browse before hitting the road again. #summervacay #abukumakogensa #japanroadtrip #serviceareastop #tohokudrive #highwayeatsjapan #reststopreview #japantravel #quicklunchjapan #naritatokoriyama #japaneserestarea #japan #japantrip #tohoku #tohokutrip #travel