Roadside Station Nagashima

Commonly known as "Potato House."
Would you like to try some potatoes?

Nagashima, located in the northwestern part of Kagoshima Prefecture, was a remote island until the construction of the Kuronosedo Bridge. There are two roadside stations on the island: Michi no Eki Nagashima and Michi no Eki Kuronosedo Dadan Ichiba. Michi-no-Eki Nagashima" is marked by its triangular dome-like exterior. Although small and compact, it faces the sparkling East China Sea and boasts a view of Amakusa on the opposite shore. Nearby is the Higashimachi Fisheries Cooperative Association, famous for its yellowtail farming, which creates a fantastic atmosphere at night when the fishing fires are lit. Specialty products include "red clay potato" and "red clay sweet potato" grown in the unique red soil of Nagashima. The name "Potato House" is also derived from this. At the restaurant, visitors can enjoy a set meal of cultured yellowtail and local fish. The prices are unbelievable in the city, and the food is delicious!

Roadside Station Nagashima Map

Roadside Station Nagashima Gourmet Information

Red clay flakes, a local specialty

Nagashima-cho is proud of its specialty, "red clay potato. Surrounded by the Yatsushiro Sea and warm throughout the year, the land of the island has clayey red soil, which is said to be suitable for growing potatoes. Potatoes grown here are called "Akaduchi Bareiso" as the town's brand name, and the variety of potatoes varies from farmer to farmer. The potatoes are characterized by their firm flesh, which does not easily fall apart when cooked. During the harvest season from around January to May, a lineup of red clay potatoes can be found at the two roadside stations. I later made curry with these potatoes and found that they lived up to their reputation for being tender and juicy. They are also ideal for stews and meat and potatoes!

This is the one to eat. Weekday Daily Set Lunch

The roadside station restaurant "Kaisen Ajiro Uoshima (Seafood Ajiro Uoshima)" is a hidden gem among roadside station fans. The restaurant's main attraction is the fresh fish dishes that can only be found on the island. The Nagashima Fisheries Cooperative, which ships brand-name yellowtail "Buri Ou" to the Kanto region and other areas, is proud of its natural fishing grounds and offers fresh fish in season every day, including sashimi, roughly simmered, grilled, fried, and pickled rice bowls. The price of the weekday set menus is also a surprise. It is priced at 700 yen! The daily set menus offer fresh fish dishes while enjoying the view of the blue ocean outside the window. Is it selfish of me to wish that they serve it on weekends and holidays as well? Is it selfish of me to wish that they serve it on weekends and holidays as well?

Around Roadside Station Nagashima

Japan Mandarin Center

If you want to have fun in the area

It is said that the "Onshu" of Onshu mandarin was named after the city of Onshu in Zhejiang Province, China, but it is believed that the mandarin did not originate in China, but was accidentally seeded here on Nagashima Island 400 to 500 years ago. The mandarin museum "Japan Mandarin Center" explains the history and culture of mandarin oranges with videos and models. In the exhibition garden, 180 varieties of citrus fruits are collected and displayed, and are used by fruit farmers for research and other purposes. In addition, a mandarin orchard spreads out in front of the center, where visitors can experience mandarin orange picking from early October to mid-December. There is also an old island mandarin orchard nearby.

Lion Island

If you want to have fun in the area

Shishi-jima, a 20-minute ferry ride from Moroura Port in Nagashima, is the northernmost inhabited remote island of Kagoshima Prefecture in the Yatsushiro Sea. When you arrive at the port on one side of the island, you will be greeted by a Kubinagaryu and an ammonite objet d'art. In fact, this island, along with Goshoura Island in Kumamoto Prefecture, is one of Japan's leading fossil producing areas. Most of the island is covered with strata from the Cretaceous period, about 100 million years ago, and the Paleogene Eocene strata, about 4,000 years ago, are also exposed. Fossils have been unearthed in all strata, and fossils of ammonites and reptiles have been found in the Cretaceous strata. 2008 saw the discovery of the left lower jaw of a Kubinagaryu. This is truly an island of fossils! There is a "fossil observation park" on the island, where visitors can observe and collect fossils. There is also a restaurant where you can taste the island's seafood and a place that accepts visitors for a blue tourism experience, making it a fun place to spend time on a small island of fossils.