A break at Daikoku Expressway Rest Area The glow of layered overpasses and a Daikoku pork bun

I parked my red convertible between the white lines at Daikoku Expressway Rest Area and switched off the engine. I’d spent the drive watching the road ahead, but once I stepped out and looked up, I saw layer upon layer of elevated roads overhead. It was fascinating to see the route I’d just driven become part of the scenery, and I followed those lines with my eyes for a while.

After sunset, the sky was a deep blue, and the lit windows and lamps caught my eye. I wore a short black jacket over a lavender top, with denim shorts and black boots. I felt the autumn air more once I’d stopped than I had with the roof down while driving. Once I decided to take a little break, my whole body began to relax.

I was holding a huge Daikoku pork bun. It was so big I needed both hands, and I could feel myself smiling before I’d even taken a bite. It’s the rest area’s own large bun, packed with filling. I’d thought it would be a light snack, but at that size, it felt like the main event of my break.

The soft dough gave way to the flavor of the filling with my first bite. Knowing I didn’t have to hurry made me slow down right from the start. When I first got out of the car, I’d been thinking about the next stretch of road; now the pork bun in my hands had my full attention. I meant to take a proper break, but I ended up completely absorbed in my snack.

Looking up, I saw the elevated roads continuing beyond the building with a tower. When I trace the roads as lines in the sky, I can’t help wondering where each one leads. Daikoku Expressway Rest Area sits at the junction of the Daikoku and Bayshore Routes. That explains why roads seem to surround it. Even though this was just a break before my destination, the way the roads crossed overhead was already becoming part of my travel memories.

By the time I finished my pork bun, I felt myself unwinding after the drive. Before getting back in the car, I took one more look at the elevated roads and thought I’d enjoy the rest of the night from the road above. The fun of a drive isn’t just the time spent behind the wheel, is it? I wanted to remember even this little break beside my parked car, so I took my time getting ready to leave.