Michi-no-Eki Hakata S.C. Park Marine Oasis Hakata

The TV jingle "Ha-ka-ta no shio!" has played across Japan for decades, and almost everyone in Japan knows the name Hakata salt. Michi-no-Eki Marine Oasis Hakata is on Hakatajima, where the brand comes from.

This roadside station on the coast sells products and food linked to Hakata salt, and it is also a viewpoint for the Hakata-Oshima Bridge on the Shimanami Kaido. It is a well-established supply stop for cyclists, with bike racks.

The most famous food here is salt soft-serve ice cream. It looks like plain white soft-serve, but one lick and the mellow saltiness of Hakata salt melts into the sweetness, leaving a clean aftertaste.

People have long known that a little salt on sweet ice cream tastes good, and Hakatajima's salt soft-serve gets the balance just right. Some describe it as having surprising depth for soft-serve. After sweating on the bike, it gives you salt, sugar and a refreshing break all at once. It costs 500 yen (checked May 2026).

The restaurant in the roadside station serves salt lemon ramen made with Hakata salt (650 yen, checked May 2026). The clear broth with the savory taste of Hakata salt is gentle and especially good eaten with a view of the Seto Inland Sea.

The shop sells Hakata salt (packaged salt, cooking salt, bath salts and more) as well as Seto Inland Sea seafood, processed foods and Hakatajima citrus. Buying Hakata salt where the brand began makes a welcome souvenir.

Hakata salt is a brand made and sold by Hakata Salt Co., Ltd. (Imabari City). Since its launch in 1973 it has spread across Japan, and the TV jingle "Ha-ka-ta no shio!" is etched in the memory of many people who grew up in the Showa and Heisei eras.

Today it is made by dissolving and recrystallizing sun-dried salt from Mexico, Australia and elsewhere in Japan (it is not made from Hakatajima seawater). Still, as the birthplace of the brand, Hakatajima is fondly known as the island of salt.

Marine Oasis Hakata is in northern Hakatajima, fairly close to the Shimanami cycling route. According to the distance sign in front, it is 48 km from Onomichi Station and 22 km to Sunrise Itoyama (Imabari side). With 22 km to go, it is an ideal place to refuel for the last stretch.

Salt soft-serve for sugar and salt, water from the vending machines, and a rest looking at the Hakata-Oshima Bridge: that is the routine for many cyclists. There are several bike stands in front, so it is an easy stop. See the Shimanami Kaido cycling guide for the full route.

A short trip from Marine Oasis Hakata takes you to Hirakiyama Park (cherry blossoms and views) and Hakatajima's villages and fishing harbors. Hakatajima still has a simple island feel and is not overly touristy, so a short walk around the island from the roadside station is time well spent.

Hakatajima is fairly compact; a loop by bike takes about 1–2 hours. We recommend stopping to feel the island's atmosphere rather than just passing through.