The Road Station in Mie Okuise O-dai

Michi-no-Eki Okuise Odai is located in Odai Town, a nature-rich area surrounded by mountains. Inside the stylish, open-feeling building, you’ll find a "Freshly Harvested Farm Produce Corner" lined with local vegetables and fruits, a "Specialty Products Corner" offering Odai Town specialties such as shiitake mushrooms, tea, and ayu sweetfish along with souvenirs, and the dining area "Magokoro Shokudo," which serves a wide range of menus made with fresh ingredients. A must-try specialty here is the "Oishika Burger" sold at the "Magokoro Yatai" stall. At the annual roadside-station gourmet festival "Michi-1 Grand Prix," it made it into the top 10 and won an award in 2016, and it is a standout local burger. The buns are kneaded with locally grown Odai tea, and the patty uses locally sourced venison and pork, topped with local lettuce, tomato, cheese, and wasabi mayo—truly a burger packed with local ingredients. If you are traveling via the expressway, you need to exit at Odai-Omiya IC, but it is a wonderful stop where you can feel the warmth and energy of the local community while enjoying regional flavors.