Many Japanese service areas along major highways are well-stocked with (surprisingly) decent food courts and souvenir stands chock-full of local specialties. Some of them even take it to the next level and incorporate themes into their layouts, such as the Edo Period townscape service area in Saitama Prefecture.
One such stop, the EXPASA Ashigara Service Area located in Shizuoka Prefecture, is currently in the midst of a collaboration with the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise—and according to travelers who have already stopped by, they’ve spared no expense for this mind-blowing project.
The EXPASA Ashigara Service Area along the down line of the Tomei Expressway (which connects Tokyo to Nagoya) is currently collaborating with Neon Genesis Evangelion in celebration of the TV anime series’ 20th anniversary this year. From July 17 until December 23, visitors to the rest stop can immerse themselves in a variety of Evangelion-themed displays, foods, and goodies.
Ashigara is a perfect choice for this particular collaboration since the setting of Evangelion‘s Tokyo-3 is in the nearby real-life town of Hakone, Japan, which has also seen its share of collaborative events in the past. However, both people who had known about Ashigara Service Area’s recent redesign and those who hadn’t were completely stunned by the scale of the project when they stopped by:
“At the most, I thought there would be some 3-D figures and panels, but I was totally wrong. Even the entrance was painted in Eva colors. You’d better get pumped!”
“It’s like you’re really in Tokyo-3. Ashigara Service Area is located on a mountain, and when you step outside you can even hear the chorus of cicadas that’s always present in the show. Going at twilight would probably be perfect.”
Let’s take a look at some of the visuals of the place collected from around the net. For the sake of space, Twitter collages have been left as is, but you can enlarge each picture by simply clicking on it.
Here are some scenes from outside the Ashigara Service Area entrance, including models of Rei Ayanami, Eva Unit 01, and the Spear of Longinus, along with an itasha car:
足柄SAがすごいことになってる http://t.co/Nhh8pzbQ7E
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だんご氏 (@snookywktk) September 02, 2015
足柄SA最高かよ http://t.co/Nw5Ilr6fnk
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ヨッシー0317@アイマス最高!! (@Na7_Yoshi) September 01, 2015
Here’s the exterior of the building itself, which was remodeled into the NERV headquarters:
足柄SA下り側はエヴァンゲリオンSAになってた。 http://t.co/v1B2fOdgXl
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かずまろ (@woobanboo) September 01, 2015
足柄SAがネルフになってた。 http://t.co/7AZLZE5ZiU
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こいちこ(弐号機) (@0co1co2nd) August 28, 2015
Some of the sights inside the building include the largest model of Eva Unit 01 in the world at six meters (19.7 feet)!
先週の富士スピードウェイへ参加する途中、休憩した足柄SAになんと、エヴァンゲリオンが♪興奮致しました! http://t.co/v3BsyEdJBB
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さすらいの旅人 (@sasurai_ti) August 29, 2015
足柄SAの巨大エヴァンゲリオン像
天井の輪っか照明にあわせてこれ作ったの?ってくらいどハマリ!
まるで覚醒モード! http://t.co/Rp2eI6P5Cg
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射尾卓弥■illustratorっぽい (@io_takuya) September 01, 2015
エヴァづくしの足柄SAでした〜 http://t.co/osqtcSLLmZ
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しんげ (@singerocci) September 01, 2015
足柄SA覚醒してた。 p.twipple.jp/j5Nks
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gako@万事屋 (@gako_nya) August 30, 2015
ってか足柄にエヴァ見に行ったけど
まじで興奮したwww
ロンギヌスの槍がまじで1番やばかったw http://t.co/DH1uifAflf
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あ~ちゃん♡ランク21 (@nyos_86) August 30, 2015
足柄SAがエヴァになってたーーー!!興奮して写メ撮ったけどスッピンだから顔写したくない( ºωº ) http://t.co/l77C4b4hL6
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マヨちゃん (@mayo_zero) August 30, 2015
足柄が神SAだった。
時間足りないよッッッッ! http://t.co/3z6yrUdzAw
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ぬぅ@ (@nu__san) August 31, 2015
足柄SAなう、めっちゃエヴァ http://t.co/hPY8Qrmcaf
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戒楼焼薫@邪神(゜∀。) (@kairousyoukun) August 28, 2015
エヴァづくしの足柄SAでした〜 http://t.co/osqtcSLLmZ
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しんげ (@singerocci) September 01, 2015
The second floor houses an outdoor mural of all the Evangelion characters where you can take commemorative pictures with friends:
とにかく凝りまくってて足柄SAの本気を見たところで帰ります…超眠い http://t.co/2TLRqlfsJ1
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まいか (@ciccahacca53) September 01, 2015
▼ A plaque for the junior high school where Shinji and the others go to school
足柄SAなう http://t.co/NGPos1pFpD
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魔法処女にくまん (@anman458) August 29, 2015
The service area is also a food lover’s paradise, boasting over 30 special Evangelion menu items. Can you spot the Eva influence in the following meals?
▼ Shin-chan’s bento, with miso soup
アスカのうしろの席で食べてたのはこれ。『シンちゃんのお弁当(味噌汁付)』@足柄SA中華万里さん http://t.co/4MB8OABpA6
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KAZU (@EL_TRICOLORE_Tw) August 29, 2015
足柄のSAが凄いことになってた…
#足柄
#エヴァンゲリオン http://t.co/d9DGmXlf6v
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Licht (@Licht_urakiH) August 31, 2015
足柄のSAが凄いことになってた…
#足柄
#エヴァンゲリオン http://t.co/d9DGmXlf6v
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Licht (@Licht_urakiH) August 31, 2015
足柄SAで夕飯ですわ。
エヴァだ http://t.co/lHVpLlAgn4
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ことりちゃんを応援するヤマト(ヤマッチ (@dainipponyamato) August 26, 2015
にっかりとね♡
足柄SA下り にて万里定食。 http://t.co/3TcObJvsni
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ケツノはくとん@ヘイホー9/21一般 (@hakuto410) August 26, 2015
晴れてきた!足柄SAがエヴァとコラボしてた! http://t.co/rV3xZWp4Kc
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まりりそ (@marie0415) August 27, 2015
たまたま寄った足柄SAでエヴァのイベントやっててテンション上がってしまったww http://t.co/Lb1HlMvQlX
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ユウちょ (@u_cho14) August 31, 2015
Finally, don’t forget to take home one of over 400 Evangelion goods from the temporary souvenir shop:
足柄SA通過!エヴァのお店(購買部出張所)出てたよー。エヴァ好きとしてはたまらないですーヾ(≧∀≦*)ノ http://t.co/Ug3TFzX6dZ
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びすこた (@biscota3333) August 28, 2015
職場の子が足柄SAでゆるしとさんとアスカグッズ買ってきてくれたー҉ ٩(๑>ω<๑)۶҉
マリンなゆるしとさん可愛い♡ http://t.co/PMTLUyP7oU
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更紗 (@8ruisara8) August 26, 2015
Even non-Evangelion enthusiasts are sure to be blown away by the degree to which the staff involved truly went all-out to make the collaboration with Ashigara Service Area as memorable as possible. The entire spectacle will be around until late December, so make your travel plans accordingly!
Source: Naver Matome
Featured image: Instagram/ntm0427 (edited by RocketNews24)
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