Mini roadtrip in Minamiboso.

In a very spur of the moment mood swing (and also because I hadn't driven my car for over one week), I decided to go driving around Minamiboso City. 

It was partially to do research for work, partially because I have had an insatiable itch for adventure lately...and I only felt more encouraged by the lovely weather. After an easy 1 hour 20 minute drive straight down the expressway, and I was back in the inaka (and I really do miss it)!

Lots of random Chiba tourist pamphlets/magazines/books.

With no particular goal in mind, the roadtrip turned into a mission to explore the area Michi-no-eki, which I guess equate to rest areas, except that they are often equipped with stores, restaurants, and other random attractions.

First stop was Nanbo Paradise in Tateyama! Someday I wanna climb the tower thing in the back.

Lots of random soft serve ice cream flavors!!

 I got dragonfruit-flavored soft serve, because I had seen it in a guidebook and the poisonous purple color strongly attracted me. It tasted like vanilla.

Maybe not so good?

Kicchan is an adventurer and got durian-flavored soft serve. It tastes exactly like cold, raw onions. I kid you not. Or better yet, if you don't believe me, I encourage you to try it out.

There wasn't much of anything here at the Shirahama-Nojimazaki rest area, but it is super close to the awesome Shirahama coastline. I wish I had pictures to show, but I was driving - perhaps I'll go back another day to take a stroll along the coast.

This rest area itself had a bunch of greenhouses around it, so maybe they do a lot of flower-related stuff in the spring and what not?

I was able to catch the last of this year's sunflowers though.

Last stop of the day!

Finally, Shiokaze Oukoku (I don't actually know the official romanization for it??), which is Chikura, Minamiboso City. I'd always heard about how awesome this place was, but it was my first time actually visiting it. I want to randomly wander around it more (especially around that wonderful looking ship-thing to the right)!

BRILLIANT.

Okay, let me be more honest with myself. 80% of this sudden mini roadtrip was because after seeing this thing in the guidebook, I felt compelled to come see it with my own eyes. I still have no idea what this character/thing is supposed to be, but it's freaking BRILLIANT. I love it <3

Omiyage from Shiokaze Oukoku!

And so I end with this - just looking at these makes me really happy! I shouldn't be spoiling this (they are meant to be omiyage for other people...), but these things are too wonderful NOT to share with the whole world.