Roadside Station

Orange-tinted sunset over the West Sea
Roadside station with the taste and aroma of mandarin oranges

Saikai City is one of the best sunset spots in Nagasaki Prefecture and one of the leading mandarin orange producing areas in the prefecture. This is why the name of the station's product center is "Mikan Dome" (mandarin orange dome). The main products in the museum are local specialties and processed products, such as the fantastic soy sauce "Ejima Soy Sauce," but the seasonal oranges and their processed products are also the station's main attraction. From fall through spring, fresh mandarin orange juice made from 100% juice using a special mandarin squeezer is sold. The flavor of each seasonal variety of mandarin orange juice is different, so be sure to try some. Visitors can also enjoy soba noodle making and bread baking at the handmade workshop in the museum with advance reservations. Vegetables and fish are sold at a nearby farmers' market.

Map of Roadside Station Saikai

Roadside Station Saikai Gourmet Information

Local products: Saikai mandarin oranges

Surrounded by the sea on three sides and blessed with a mild climate, Saikai City is an ideal environment for growing mandarin oranges. In particular, the "Iwasaki Hi-sei" and "Haraguchi Hi-sei" varieties of Onshu mandarin oranges originated here. Saikai Mikan" boasts such a high reputation for taste that it is sold at a high price in the Tokyo fruit and vegetable market. This is not only because of its high sugar content, but also because of its moderately sour, rich, and soft-tasting pulp. It is also proud of its cultivation that does not rely on agricultural chemicals.

Buy this Oseto Onban-san handmade Tekkamiso (iron fire miso)

Tekkamiso is made by stir-frying finely chopped carrots, burdock root, etc., then adding miso and stir-frying more slowly. It can be preserved and goes very well with rice. Naturally, it can be placed on freshly cooked rice or used as a garnish for onigiri (rice ball). It can also be used as an appetizer for sake. It is not unusual for farmers to have their grandmothers make it for home use. Onban-san" means "grandmother" in the dialect of Saikai City. Grandmothers in the Xue'ura district of Osedo Town, Saikai City, chop vegetables from their fields, deep-fry locally produced iriko (squid roe), and coat Japanese soybeans with potato starch and deep-fry them. The vegetables are cooked in a large pot, and then added to a mixture of mizuami (sweet sake), mirin (sweet cooking rice wine), and handmade barley miso (miso made from barley). The barley miso is a blend of aged and new barley miso. Stir slowly with a rice scooper and voila! A packet is 350 yen (including tax).

Around Roadside Station Saikai

Sound Bath Museum

If you want to have fun in the area

This is a must-visit spot for analog record fans. The museum, located in an abandoned school, houses a collection of records collected by the late Eiichiro Kurihara, the first director of the museum, as well as records donated from all over Japan. The collection includes approximately 10,000 SP records and 150,000 LPs and donuts. In addition, there are speakers, players, sheet music, old books, and even farm equipment. In addition, visitors can listen to their favorite records for as long as they like, which makes them happy. No wonder fans come from all over the country to visit.