Photo/Illutration The Bus Ainori 3-chome Terrace in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward (Provided by Up Quality Inc.)

The COVID-19 pandemic has crushed sales of local food producers and left operators of intercity express buses with loads of empty luggage space as passengers have refrained from travel.

In a resourceful project to revive the industries, local food growers and express bus operators are teaming up to offer local specialty foods at a new outdoor dining facility in Tokyo's Shinjuku 3-chome district.

The food is brought there from around Japan in the long-distance route buses' vacant luggage compartments.

The dining facility, called the Bus Ainori 3-chome Terrace, debuted on Sept. 4, and will be open year-round.

Up Quality Inc., Mitsubishi Estate Co. and other organizations first started the delivery service to make use of empty luggage compartments on long-distance express buses two years ago. Its purpose was to bring traditional vegetables and rare fishery products from across Japan to Tokyo.

As of August, the service is available on 55 routes in Japan.

Diners at the Bus Ainori 3-chome Terrace can tuck into dishes prepared with fresh ingredients, including a green curry cooked with Japanese tiger prawns fed with olive pomace from Mitoyo, Kagawa Prefecture, and Padron peppers grown in Tono, Iwate Prefecture.

A superfood-themed salad topped with lightly broiled bonito slices from Kochi Prefecture is also a must-try.

To help local producers promote their food products, an online market connecting roadside rest areas and local farm stands is also held at the venue on a regular basis, where producers can directly talk to buyers through a large screen set up there.

In a tie-up with Mitoyo, the city's popular tourist spots are shown on the screen while Sanuki udon noodles transported by Kotohira Bus Co. are served on Wednesdays until Sept. 30.

For more information, visit the official website at (http://www.ainoribin.com/3chometerrace/).

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