Roadside Station Laran Fujioka is a popular roadside station located along Gunma Prefectural Route 13 in Naka, Fujioka City, Gunma Prefecture. It is connected to the Fujooka Parking Area on the outbound side of the Joshin-Etsu Expressway, making it one of the relatively few roadside stations in Japan that can be accessed directly from both an expressway and ordinary local roads.
Its convenient location next to the Fujioka Interchange has made it a popular destination, attracting approximately 2.4 million visitors each year. It is used not only by travelers looking for a convenient sightseeing stop, but also by local residents as a place for everyday shopping, dining, and relaxation.
Fureai Plaza, located at the heart of the facility, is one of Laran Fujioka’s most recognizable spaces. During summer, a large fountain operates in the plaza, creating a popular place for children to play in the water.
The sparkling water and open surroundings make the plaza a pleasant place for families to relax. In winter, the area is transformed by illuminations, creating a magical nighttime atmosphere.
The plaza changes its appearance with the seasons, offering visitors something different throughout the year.
One of the symbols of Laran Fujioka is its Italian-made mini Ferris wheel, said to be one of only a small number of its kind in Japan. Its nostalgic retro design gives the area a warm and charming atmosphere.
Marchen Plaza is a small amusement park featuring the Ferris wheel and a carousel. It is particularly popular with young children, allowing families to enjoy an amusement-park experience while visiting a roadside station.
Gourmet Plaza consists of north and south buildings housing restaurants serving a wide variety of dishes, including ramen, soba, udon, and sushi.
Some restaurants serve Fujioka Ramen, a local specialty that is popular with visitors. Well-known sweets shops are also located within the complex, making it a convenient place to enjoy dessert or shop for souvenirs.
With a diverse selection of restaurants and shops, visitors can discover something new each time they return. The Fujioka City Tourist Information Center is also located in the south building, providing useful information for exploring the city.
Agri Plaza offers a wide selection of freshly harvested vegetables, flowers, and other agricultural products from Fujioka.
The produce is grown with care by local farmers and is sold at reasonable prices, making the market popular with both residents and tourists looking for fresh local products.
The restaurant next to the market serves dishes prepared with locally sourced ingredients. Its beef stew is particularly well known.
The Flower Exchange Hall is an indoor atrium garden where visitors can enjoy seasonal flowers, with Fujioka’s specialty cymbidium orchids among its highlights. The floral displays are changed several times each month, ensuring that the space has a fresh appearance throughout the year.
Near the “Thousand-Year Wisteria”, presented to Fujioka by its friendship city of Jiangyin in China, and around the fountain plaza, flower beds are arranged in an English garden style twice a year, in spring and autumn.
Seasonal flowers are combined with trees, perennial plants, and other greenery, creating attractive displays that change throughout the year.
Laran Fujioka has ample parking on both the local-road side and the Fujioka Parking Area side. The combined capacity includes approximately 567 standard vehicles, 33 large vehicles, and 10 accessible parking spaces.
Paid parking areas are also available, providing additional capacity during busy periods.
The facility has standard restrooms and accessible multipurpose restrooms, with extensive barrier-free features. A bus terminal serving both highway buses and local buses is also located on the premises, making the complex accessible by public transportation as well as by car.
Laran Fujioka opened on April 28, 2000, at the same time as the Fujioka Parking Area, as a highway oasis.
Its official name is Roadside Station Laran Fujioka, and it is also known as Highway Oasis Laran Fujioka.
The roadside station was originally named Roadside Station Fujioka. However, the nickname “Laran Fujioka” had become widely established as the name of the highway oasis, and the official name was changed to the present name on July 1, 2015.
In 2022, Laran Fujioka ranked sixth nationwide in the 2022 National Roadside Station Grand Prix published by the Japanese travel magazine Jalan, reflecting its popularity as a sightseeing and leisure destination.
From local roads, the facility can be reached via Gunma Prefectural Route 13.
From the expressway, it can be accessed directly from the Fujioka Parking Area on the outbound side of the Joshin-Etsu Expressway, which serves traffic traveling from the Nagano direction toward Tokyo.
Visitors traveling on the inbound side can exit the expressway at Fujioka Interchange and enter the facility via the local road network.
Roadside Station Laran Fujioka is much more than a place to take a break while driving. Dining, shopping, entertainment, seasonal flowers, and events are brought together in one convenient complex, making it an important tourism and community destination in Fujioka.
Various events are held on weekends, and the facility also serves as a place where local residents and visitors can meet and interact.
From families with young children to older visitors, the facility offers a variety of features designed to make the visit enjoyable for everyone. When traveling through Gunma Prefecture, Laran Fujioka is a convenient and lively destination where you can experience local food, shopping, recreation, and the welcoming atmosphere of Fujioka.