Umihotaru: Not your usual parking area!
When traveling from Tokyo to Chiba by car, there’s a high possibility that you want to take a break, do some stretching, answer the call of nature, and fill your hankering stomach. You’ll pass by a few convenience stores to provide you things you need and want. However, there’s this rather out of the ordinary rest area that you might want to check out in Japan.

Heart shaped bed of flowers at Umihotaru
FACTS:
- Constructed on an artificial island (Kisarazu, 650m) encircled by 360º of water.
- Towers five levels tall, including parking on levels 1 through 3,
and commercial facilities on levels 4 and 5. - The only shopping center on the sea where you can revel in far-reaching 360º scenes of Tokyo Bay, along with many shops, restaurants and services.

Left [Sasebo Burger on 5F], Right [Tempura from Tendon Tenya on 5F)
- Umihotaru means sea firefly. Perhaps, this explains it. ⇓

Beautifully glows by night
- Accessible from Tokyo Wan Aqua-Line tunnel, a distinctive underwater bridge and tunnel expressway that connects Kisarazu City of Chiba Prefecture and Kawasaki City of Kanagawa Prefecture.
- Located here is a colossal cutter face of one of the slurry shield machines used to drill the undersea tunnel for the Tokyo Wan Aqua-Line expressway.

My husband and the enormous cutter face of the world’s largest shield machine diameter of 14.14m.
And the last thing, but definitely the one I admired the most on our second visit is the chance to witness the spectacular phases of sunset. This may not be a fact to others, yet for me it’s the only thing that matters above all else.

Just the two of the many shots I took
This is my favorite…

The color of the sky, the 2 airplanes passing by, the clouds, the sea, the sunset, the reflection, the cutter face…ah~ just beautiful…
Reblogged this on mamabatesmotel.
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I found it is very interesting and inspiring post thanks for the great information with great suggestions.
Same Day Agra Tour By Car
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My pleasure! Thanks for dropping by! 🙂
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Oh another place on the map for us to go to!
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Hope you’ll find the place awesome like I did.
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Wow.. that’s really awesome. 🙂
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Thanks for popping your thought! 🙂
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The Japanese really have unique ideas!
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Couldn’t agree more!
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Wow I love the cutter. No nothing usual at my about the parking lot.
Japanese are trend setters in it. So we try to follow you.
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So kind of you! 🙂
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My pleasure
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