Enjoy Local Cuisine with a Spectacular Ocean View
One of the places worth visiting inside the roadside station is the restaurant Nanki Susami no Megumi Shokudo Soka i. From the dining area, guests can enjoy panoramic views of the Karikigada coast while having a relaxing meal.
The restaurant specializes in dishes prepared with fresh seafood landed at nearby fishing ports. Popular choices include the Daily Sashimi Set Meal and the Special Premium Seafood Rice Bowl. Depending on the day’s catch, visitors may enjoy seasonal fish such as tuna, bonito, or greater amberjack.
Susami is particularly famous for Kenken Bonito, a high-quality bonito caught using a traditional single-hook fishing method. Because the fish is handled carefully and suffers less damage during fishing, it is prized for its exceptionally fresh flavor and texture.
Seafood is not the only local specialty. Susami is also known as the birthplace of inobuta, a hybrid of wild boar and domestic pig. Inobuta has a rich flavor and relatively little of the strong odor associated with some wild boar meat. It can be enjoyed in dishes such as inobuta barbecue rice bowls and inobuta meat udon.
Other regional specialties include sanma-zushi, a traditional sushi made with Pacific saury, udon featuring locally produced Kishu Nanko plums, and rice bowls topped with freshly boiled whitebait. These dishes offer an excellent introduction to the flavors of southern Wakayama.
Relax by the Ocean at Susami Cafe
Susami Cafe is a pleasant place to take a break during your journey. The café has window seats overlooking Esusaki, a designated Natural Monument of Japan, allowing visitors to enjoy the ocean scenery while relaxing with a drink or snack.
The menu includes aromatic coffee, soft drinks, and popular sweets such as Susamichi pudding and chiffon cake. Freshly baked bread is also prepared at the facility, with favorites including cream buns, melon bread, and sausage croissants.
Outdoor terrace seating allows visitors to enjoy a light meal while feeling the sea breeze. It is an especially convenient place to rest during a long drive along the Pacific coast.
A Rare Crustacean Aquarium
One of the most distinctive attractions at Roadside Station Susami is the adjoining Susami Town Crustacean Aquarium. This unusual specialty aquarium focuses primarily on shrimp, crabs, and other crustaceans, making it an interesting destination for both children and adults.
The aquarium displays approximately 150 species and around 1,000 individual crustaceans from around the world. Highlights include the enormous Japanese spider crab, Australian king crab, American lobster, and coconut crab.
The aquarium also offers interactive experiences. At the touch pool, visitors can touch creatures such as starfish and sea cucumbers. There are also hands-on activities such as hermit crab fishing, and visitors may even have the opportunity to touch a giant Japanese spider crab.
Sea turtles and harbor seals are also kept at the aquarium, adding further variety to this compact but fascinating facility.
Another interesting feature is the building itself. The aquarium was created by renovating the former Esumi Junior High School gymnasium. Its reuse of an abandoned school building has attracted attention as an example of successful regional revitalization.
Fresh Seafood at Karikigada Fresh Fish Market
Karikigada Fresh Fish Market is another popular facility within the roadside station. Fresh seafood caught in nearby waters is delivered to the shop, where visitors can purchase fish and other products from the local fishing industry.
Depending on the season, the selection may include Kenken Bonito, spiny lobster, and locally caught fish. Seeing the day’s fresh catch is itself part of the experience and adds to the feeling of traveling along a working coastal community.
Fish purchased at the shop can also be cleaned and prepared for customers free of charge. The store additionally sells processed seafood, bonito flakes, hijiki seaweed, and other regional products, making it a convenient place to find souvenirs.
Enjoy the Sunset at the Susami Night Market
For an evening experience, the Susami Night Market is an excellent choice. Visitors can enjoy a barbecue featuring fresh seafood, inobuta pork, and locally grown vegetables.
The concept is simple and fun: choose your favorite ingredients from the display case and grill them yourself. This interactive style makes the meal an enjoyable part of the travel experience.
Eating freshly grilled seafood while watching the sun sink over the Pacific Ocean and feeling the sea breeze is particularly memorable. After dark, the illuminated seaside scenery creates a completely different atmosphere.
Relax at the Natural Hot Spring Nozomi-no-Yu
Next to Roadside Station Susami is Fairfield by Marriott Wakayama Kumano Kodo Susami, which has a hot spring facility called Nozomi-no-Yu in its basement.
The bath is available not only to hotel guests but also to general visitors, making it a convenient option for travelers using the roadside station or those traveling by car.
The open-air bath offers expansive views of the Karikigada coastline and the Pacific Ocean. Guests can soak in the warm water while looking out over the sea, creating a relaxing experience after a day of driving or sightseeing.
The alkaline hot spring water has a smooth texture and is traditionally appreciated for its pleasant feel on the skin. It is an excellent place to unwind and recharge before continuing your journey.
Explore the Kumano Kodo and Esusaki
The area around Roadside Station Susami contains many attractions where visitors can experience the natural beauty and history of the Kii Peninsula.
Esusaki
Esusaki is approximately five minutes by car from the roadside station and is one of the scenic highlights of Susami. This land-connected island projects into the Pacific Ocean and is covered with lush subtropical vegetation.
The entire island is designated as a Natural Monument of Japan. Walking along its trails allows visitors to experience a remarkably wild landscape while enjoying the surrounding ocean scenery.
Japanese Nursery Rhyme Garden
On the way to Esusaki is the Japanese Nursery Rhyme Garden. Stone monuments displaying the lyrics of traditional Japanese children’s songs are located throughout the park. When visitors approach them, melodies are played, allowing them to enjoy a relaxing walk accompanied by familiar Japanese songs.
Nagai-zaka on the Kumano Kodo Ohechi Route
The nearby Nagai-zaka section of the Kumano Kodo Ohechi Route is part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed pilgrimage network. Stone-paved paths and historic trail scenery remain, offering hikers an opportunity to experience the history of pilgrims who traveled toward the sacred sites of Kumano.
Beautiful views of the Karikigada coast can be seen through the trees along the trail, making this an especially rewarding route for travelers who enjoy hiking and scenic landscapes.
Phoenix Fold
The Phoenix Fold is a remarkable geological formation of scientific interest. Layers of rock originally formed on the seabed have been dramatically folded by geological forces, creating an unusual structure that is famous enough to appear in Japanese middle-school science textbooks.
For visitors interested in geology and the natural history of the Kii Peninsula, the site provides an excellent example of how the region’s landscapes were shaped over geological time.
An Important Disaster-Preparedness Facility
Roadside Station Susami serves an important role beyond tourism. It has been designated by the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism as both a Priority Roadside Station and a Disaster Prevention Roadside Station.
In the event of a major disaster, the facility can serve as an evacuation area and a base for emergency response and recovery activities. Its location also makes it an important part of regional preparedness for a potential major Nankai Trough earthquake.
For local residents and travelers alike, the facility therefore provides not only convenience but also an important sense of security.
A Memorable Gateway to Southern Wakayama
Roadside Station Susami brings together spectacular ocean scenery, fresh seafood, an unusual specialty aquarium, natural hot springs, local cuisine, and historic pilgrimage routes.
It is far more than a simple roadside rest stop. Visitors can easily spend several hours enjoying the facilities and exploring the surrounding attractions, making it an ideal base for discovering the southern Kii Peninsula.
With the Pacific Ocean stretching before you, fresh local food on the table, and the natural and cultural treasures of Susami nearby, a stop here can become one of the highlights of a trip through Wakayama.
For travelers exploring southern Wakayama by car, Roadside Station Susami is a highly recommended stop where you can experience the scenery, flavors, nature, and hospitality of the Nanki region in one place.