The stations also support the regional agriculture, forestry, and fisheries businesses through a sixth industrialization process which includes direct sales of local agricultural and fishery products, as well as product development, processing and sales. For example, at the roadside station ‘Munakata’ in Munakata City, Fukuoka prefecture, 99.9% of total sales in 2012 was accounted for by local products, due to particular emphasis being put on direct sales of fresh fish and produce from the local area, thereby supporting the vitalization of the local industry. At the Michi-no-Eki ‘Motegi’ in Motegi Town, Tochigi prefecture, local agricultural products are processed and sold at the Michi-no-Eki, with 18 types of new products being developed there at the station.

The station is also contributing to the promotion of the local tourism industry, by developing region-specific tours and special farming experience holidays, as well as compiling information from local residents on the best spots to see in the region. Naganuma Town,

Hokkaido’s Michi-no-Eki, ‘Maoi Hill Park,’ has a special farming experience holiday run by local farmers that started mainly because of the face-to-face selling experiences at the Michi-no-Eki. By mid-2012, over 4000 people had come to take part in the farming experience holiday. At the Michi-no-Eki, “Akagikougen,” in Iina Town, Shimane, the Michi-no-Eki got certified as a travel industry certification, and started planning and selling tours, such as those featuring forest therapy. These are some examples of how “Michi-no-Eki” have helped in the vitalization of local communities through supporting the regional agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, and the local tourism industry.

Along with the vitalization of the region, the roadside stations also support everyday living for the local residents. At the Kozagawa Town, Wakayama’s Michi-no-Eki, “Takinohaitaro,” there is both a clinic and a branch of the town hall that provide medical care and administrative services to the local residents (Figure 2-1-18). Other places, such as the Michi-no-Eki, ‘Information Center Kawamoto,’ in Kawamoto town, Shimane prefecture, provide a parcel delivery service. With over 10% of the elderly households

Source) MLIT

in town using this service, the Michi-no-Eki is becoming an integral part of the local residents' lives.

The Michi-no-Eki also play a major role as a support bases for disaster relief. When the Great East Japan Earthquake happened, some of these stations became the bases for the self-defense forces' activities and restoration support activities. When the distribution channels were disrupted right after the earthquake, the Michi-no-Eki “Yamada” in Yamada Town in Shimohei County, Iwate prefecture, supported the earthquake victims by restarting the sale of items as quickly as possible through direct shipments from local farmers.

As the above examples show, “Michi-no-Eki” have evolved from being a place to provide services for drivers passing by ” to being places that support the lifestyle of the local region,” a place to help solve the challenges of the local region.

Next we will focus on the ‘strengthening the regional bases functions’ and ‘networking’ components, to work on making “Michi-no-Eki” a destination point in and of itself, rather than a stopping point on the way to somewhere else. Specifically, we are planning to look at how to make Michi-no-Eki reciprocal, install municipal functions, and strengthen the cooperative ties between parties involved, such as the stationmasters, while working on raising the quality of the Michi-no-Eki, re-investing in current Michi-no-Eki by collaborating with ministries and agencies, and providing focused support for unique efforts (Figure 2-1-19).