The first prayer rooms and special food menu for Muslim tourists on expressway
A subsidiary company of NEXCO Central (Central Nippon Expressway Co., Ltd., headquarters: Nagoya, President and CEO: Yoshihito Miyaike), Central Nippon Exis Co., Ltd. (headquarters: Nagoya, CEO: Tadashi Aoyama) opened prayer rooms in their service areas (rest areas with restaurants, gift shops, and other facilities where you can relax during a car trip) for Muslim tourists for the first time. One of the service areas with prayer rooms is EXPASA Ashigara Service Area on the E1 Tomei Expressway Down Line. In addition to prayer rooms, they have started offering non-pork and non-alcoholic menu.
As Japan will host Rugby World Cup this year and Tokyo Olympics in 2020, it is estimated that more and more people will use expressways. Central Nippon Exis will create an environment where Muslim tourists or people with meal restrictions can travel comfortably.
The new menu was created through industry-academia collaboration with Sagami Women’s University (Sagamihara-shi, Kanagawa). Students conducted surveys and researches on Muslims’ preferences and tendencies, and they used the results to make recipes. Not only Muslims but any tourist can enjoy their meals.
<E1 Tomei Expressway EXPASA Ashigara (Down Line)> From March 26 (Tue)
[About Prayer Room]
■Location: 2nd Floor, East West Passageway
■Open: 11：00 – 7:00 PM
■Equipment: Prayer mat, qibla sign
■How to use: Available during the opening hours without reservation.
■Size: 11㎡
[About Non-pork / Non-alcoholic Menu]
■Location: Ashiyu Cafe, 2nd Floor, West Building, Ashigara Roman Kan
■Open: 11：00 – 7：00 PM
■Menu: Listed below
<E1 Tomei Expressway Hamanako SA> From March 26 (Tue)
[About Prayer Room]
■Location: 2nd Floor, Mizuumi no mieru restaurant (restaurant with lake view), Restaurant Building
■Open: 10：30 – 7：30 PM
■Equipment: Prayer mat, qibla sign, washing place for hands and feet
■How to use: Please ask restaurant’s staff member
■Size: 15㎡
[About Non-pork / Non-alcoholic Menu]
■Location: Restaurants, Food court
■Open: Restaurant: 11:00 – 7:30 PM (Weekdays) / 11:00 – 8:30 PM (Weekends)
Food court: 24 hours everyday
■Menu: Listed below
<E20 Chuo Expressway Suwako SA (Down Line)> From March 27 (Wed)
[About Prayer Room]
■Location: Shop building
■Open: During opening hours of restaurants
(April – October 7:00 – 9:00 PM, November – March 11:00 – 9:00 PM (Weekdays) /
7:00 – 9:00 PM (Weekends)）
■Equipment: Prayer mat, quibla sign, washing place for hands and feet, partition
■How to use: Please ask staff member before or after meal
■Size: 6㎡
[About Non-pork / Non-alcoholic Menu]
■Location: Food court
■Open: 24 hours
■Menu: Listed below
Non-pork / Non-alcoholic Menu
◇E1 Tomei Expressway EXPASA Ashigara (Down Line)◇
■Curry pilaf 680JPY (tax included)
■Pad Gaprao (Holy basil stir-fry with rice) 680JPY（tax included）
■Spicy noodle 680JPY（tax included）
Non-pork / Non-alcoholic Menu
◇E1 Tomei Expressway Hamanako SA◇
[Restaurant]*Call the restaurant in advance
■Curry pilaf 1000JPY（tax included）
■Spicy chicken rice bowl 1000JPY（tax included）
[Food court]
■Beef rice bowl 1000JPY（tax included）
■Butter chicken curry 1000JPY（tax included）
■Minced chicken rice bowl 1000JPY（tax included）
*Menu at food court is always available
Non-pork / Non-alcoholic Menu
◇E20 Chuo Expressway Suwako SA (Down Line)◇
■Vegetarian curry 780JPY（tax included）
More menu will be added.
