The difference between Parking Areas and Service Areas

On Japan’s expressways, there are two different types of pull in areas - "parking areas" called PAs in short, and "service areas" called SAs in short. Sometimes you see rest areas with both PA and SA written on them. That is because there is a significant difference between the two. 

A Parking Area (PA) is for a quick pit stop, so to speak. It is small, efficient, and designed for a brief pause. You pull in, stretch your legs, grab a drink from a vending machine, if they have a vending machine, maybe use the restroom, and you’re back on the road before the engine cools. Most parking areas will have a vending machine and a smoking area, but not all of them do, as we learned when driving in Tohoku. They do ALL have at least one toilet though.

A Service Area (SA) by contrast, is a full-blown intermission! These are the lively hubs of the expressway, often bustling with travelers and packed with amenities: food courts serving regional specialties, bakeries, souvenir shops, dog runs, even small playgrounds. Some have a gas station, others have accommodation and / or shower options. Moreover, there are even SA that are like a mini theme park, like the photo in this post of an Edo period themed SA! An SA can feel like a miniature town that just happens to sit beside the highway. It’s where you linger, refuel both car and spirit.

Together, they make road trips and any sort of road travel on the expressway, easy, convenient and enjoyable.