Operators of expressway rest areas are refurbishing their sites in often unusual and creative ways to draw customers and increase their earnings.
One operator, East Nippon Expressway Co., redesigned a rest area off the Kanetsu Expressway based on "The Little Prince," a novella by French writer Antoine de Saint-Exupery, in 2010.
With its white-walled restaurants, cafes and other shops, and walking path and rose garden, visitors can enjoy an atmosphere reminiscent of Provence, a region in southern France loved by the French aviator/author, at the refurbished parking area.