Drive to Cape Irago (1) - Seaside rest area selling flowers

Last Saturday, my mother took me for a drive to Aichi Prefecture. As Hamamatsu is located almost at the west end of Shizuoka Prefecture, it is relatively easy to go to this neighboring prefecture by car or train. Aichi Prefecture may be most known for its automobile industry with the headquarters of Toyota and related companies. But it has also agricultural areas such as Atsumi Peninsula. This time, we were going to the tip of that peninsula, Cape Irago.

My mother came to pick me up at 9:30 and drove the car westward. Soon we passed Lake Hamana, Kosai, the west end of Shizuoka Prefecture, and Toyohashi, the east end of Aichi Prefecture. My mother was taking National Route 42 that stretches westward into the rural area in Atsumi Peninsula. There weren’t many cars on our lane, though the opposite lane was much more crowded. We thought it strange as we had expected to see many people going to the seaside spot. On our way there, I saw groups of sunflowers in bloom in some fields. It seemed that the real summer had come at last!

Our first destination was Michin-no-Eki Akabane Loko Station. Michin-no-Eki (station on the road) is a rest area along a major road where you can find local specialties, eat meals, and got some tourist information, etc. (for details, search with “Michi-no-Eki). Akabane Loko Station is a bright orange building.

In front of it, you can see the Pacific Ocean. According to the website, Akabane Shore is one of the hottest surfing spots in Japan.

In the building, there were local vegetables and fruits, especially melons, sold at more reasonable prices than in Hamamatsu.

There were also flowers. We were amazed at their prices.

There were many chrysanthemum flowers. Since they are often used for funerals, I don’t like them very much. I learned later that Atsumi Peninsula has the highest yield of chrysanthemum flowers in Japan.

Personally, I prefer roses. My mother bought a bunch, which cost only 120 yen!