On a Sunday afternoon, while driving on the highway towards Sapporo, I took a break at the Rino-atsu Service Area around 3 pm. Since it was snack time, I decided to get a snack. I usually buy the flavorful and spicy Sansho-zuke here, but today I opted for corn. The corn came in two varieties - yellow and white. I chose the white corn called "Pure White" for 300 yen. I sat on a bench and quickly devoured the corn. The skin was soft, the sweetness was mild but juicy. I finished it all in one go. Thank you for the meal!

Welcome.---------- April 2019 ----------Located in the center of NEXCO Hokkaido Rinpaku PA, easy to find. |o| °д°)ﾉThey have a lot of processed products in the store along with a vegetable direct sales store, like pickles. The staff's customer service is great. They were still selling herring pickles, it might be the last chance due to the season. The herring is soft and moist, with a gentle and mild flavor. There is no tongue-numbing taste like the ones sold in supermarkets. It's affordable and worth a try if you stop by the PA.

After finishing my business in Tomakomai City in February 2019, I drive back on the highway. The distance between Tomakomai and Sapporo is only about 50 kilometers, so there is no need for a rest stop, but I decide to stop by anyway. I've already had a meal, so I'll have to try the local specialty "black curry" another time. The shop mainly sells popular snacks from Hokkaido. Next to the parking area, there is a "vegetable market." During the summer, you often find "fresh local vegetables" at roadside stations, so it's nice to see one at a parking area as well. I noticed some pickles, which would make a great snack with drinks. There were locally made "pickled herring" and I also saw "iburi gakko." Priced at 702 yen (tax included), I decided to buy a piece of iburi gakko. I hope I have cream cheese in the fridge for a nice evening snack.