We thoroughly investigate the latest "direct sales market"! There are also plenty of luxurious gourmet dishes made with local specialties. We will introduce the latest "direct sales market" that you can enjoy with free outing spots.

Renovated and reopened! "HASU Park," a huge direct sales market where you can enjoy a whole day

Kiso Sansen Park Center in Kaizu City, Gifu Prefecture, is a free spot where people of all ages can enjoy everything from play to learning, including a large flower garden where you can enjoy seasonal flowers, large play equipment, and experiential events.

"Michi-no-Eki Fureai no Sato HASU Park" has been renovated and reopened in Aisai City, Aichi Prefecture, about a 10-minute drive from "Kiso Sansen Park Center."

It used to be a roadside station centered on a direct sales market, but the direct sales area, park area, restaurant area, and a plaza where you can experience harvesting have been added, making it almost the same size as "Vantelin Dome Nagoya." It has been powered up into an outing spot where you won't get bored even if you stay all day.

Aisai City is one of the leading lotus root producing areas in Japan, producing over 2,000 tons annually. As a famous producing area, three different varieties of lotus root are lined up on the shelves.

The store is filled with local agricultural products. Daikon radishes are 100 yen for two, and amanatsu oranges are 100 yen for three, so fresh vegetables and fruits are super affordable!

Among them, the most recommended vegetable this spring is "Stick Senyor" (140 yen) harvested in Aisai City. It is a vegetable that looks like asparagus and broccoli, and it is popular because it has little bitterness and even children can eat it.

In addition to fresh foods, there are also sweets made with the famous lotus root. The "Lotus Root Macaron Set" (1,300 yen), made in a local macaron workshop, is a limited edition product at "HASU Park." It comes in a set of three flavors: brown sugar, strawberry, and yuzu, and the cream contains candied lotus root.

Other items include "Baked Lotus Root Boro" (500 yen) and "Aisai-san's Throat Lozenges" (350 yen), which contain grated lotus root.

The newly established restaurant also features lotus root! At the cafe restaurant "aicon," which also has terrace seating, there are many dishes such as "Aisai Lotus Root Hamburger" (1,480 yen) with plenty of lotus root, and "Lotus Root 'An' Anpan" (500 yen) made with lotus root and white bean paste.

Among them, the recommended dish is "Kiso River Shijimi Clam and Seasonal Direct Sales Vegetable Pasta" (1,480 yen). It is soy sauce-based and contains plenty of stir-fried lotus root and deep-fried lotus root! It uses chewy fresh pasta, and the flavor and umami of the shijimi clams caught in the Kiso River are irresistible.

Furthermore, lotus root is also used in sweets. The "Baked Lotus Root Soft Serve Ice Cream" (700 yen) is not only topped with lotus root chips, but also contains baked lotus root kneaded into the soft serve ice cream and lotus root powder, making it a true lotus root extravaganza! You can fully enjoy the lotus root.

Michi-no-Eki Fureai no Sato HASU Park
Address: 27 Igetanishi, Morikawa-cho, Aisai City, Aichi Prefecture
Phone: 0567-97-3918

Super fresh with in-house production! "Yama Warau Sato" operated by Ebi Senbei no Sato

"Ebi Senbei no Sato" (Mihama Town, Aichi), which boasts approximately 1 million visitors annually, offers free factory tours, free tea and coffee in the rest area, and free samples.

"Yama Warau Sato," a direct sales store operated by Ebi Senbei no Sato, has opened across the street!

About 10 years ago, several employees of Ebi Senbei no Sato started cultivating vegetables, and now they cultivate over 10 varieties, including corn and watermelon, on their own farm.

They had been selling them little by little at Ebi Senbei no Sato, but as vegetable cultivation got on track, they decided to open a direct sales market. The store is lined with agricultural products and processed goods, mainly from local producers.

We recommend the seasonal "strawberries" (594 yen). They are carefully cultivated from the soil, and because of the warm climate of Mihama Town, they are large and very sweet. They are also very satisfying to eat and delicious.

Also recommended is "Nico Choco Strawberry Stick" (756 yen). This popular product combines crushed shrimp crackers and freeze-dried strawberries from their own farm. You can enjoy the crunchy texture of the shrimp crackers along with the sweetness and sourness of the strawberries.

In addition, there are original sweets available only on weekends and holidays. "Strawberry Porte" (600 yen), which is white chocolate-covered strawberries produced in-house, and "Seasonal Fresh Donuts" with plenty of fresh cream are also recommended.

Why not enjoy seafood at "Ebi Senbei no Sato" and mountain produce at "Yama Warau Sato"?

Yama Warau Sato
Address: 52-1 Yoshida-nagare, Kitagata, Mihama-cho, Chita-gun, Aichi Prefecture
Phone: 0569-82-0248 (Contact: Ebi Senbei no Sato)

From CBC TV "Naruhodo Presenter! Hanasaka Times" broadcast on April 11, 2026 (Saturday) *Information in the article is as of the broadcast date.