Wiz Selected as Operator for Roadside Station 'Hiwaki' Yuyukan in Satsumasendai City, Kagoshima Prefecture

Wiz Inc. (Headquarters: Toshima-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Shun Yamazaki; hereinafter referred to as "Wiz") has been jointly selected with A-tos Foods Inc. (Headquarters: Satsumasendai City, Kagoshima Prefecture; President: Hiroshi Odawara; hereinafter referred to as "A-tos Foods") as the operator for the 'Hiwaki' Yuyukan roadside station, which was publicly solicited by Satsumasendai City, Kagoshima Prefecture. Both companies will proceed with the redevelopment of the facility and the creation of a new operational structure in preparation for the planned renewal opening on September 1, 2026.

The 'Hiwaki' Yuyukan roadside station is located at the entrance to the famous Ichihino Onsen hot spring. It is a community exchange spot equipped with a free footbath called 'Shimazu no Dono-sama Yu' (Lord Shimazu's Footbath), a direct sales store handling local agricultural products and processed goods, and a restaurant. In this renewal, by combining Wiz's "operational efficiency through the latest IT," A-tos Foods' "advanced food management compliant with HACCP," and Kagoshima Revnize's "brand power as a sports team," we will add "vitality" and "healthy food" to the "healing" unique to a hot spring area, thereby evolving it from a "transit point" to an "experiential destination" where visitors can refresh their minds and bodies and spend their day.

Background and Challenges

While the 'Hiwaki' Yuyukan roadside station sees many purchasers of fresh foods such as vegetables and fish, many visitors tend to make only short "incidental stops," and collaboration with surrounding resources such as hot springs and sports facilities has not been sufficiently advanced.

The following challenges have become apparent at conventional roadside stations:

- Visitors have short stays, "passing through" for just restroom breaks or shopping. - There is a lack of flagship content that offers "unique experiences not found elsewhere." - There is insufficient collaboration with attractive local resources such as hot springs and sports facilities.

Wiz and A-tos Foods will directly address these challenges and work to create a hub for community revitalization and stay-type tourism by rebuilding the roadside station into one that people will "make a special trip to visit."

Facility Overview

Facility Name: Roadside Station 'Hiwaki' Yuyukan

Location: 156 Ichihino, Hiwaki-cho, Satsumasendai City, Kagoshima Prefecture

Operating Companies: Wiz Inc. / A-tos Foods Inc.

Renewal Opening (Scheduled): September 1, 2026

Main Facilities: Direct sales store, restaurant, footbath 'Shimazu no Dono-sama Yu', (New plan) Community Court, etc.

Concept: From "Transit Point" to "Experiential Destination"

URL: https://michinoeki-hiwaki.jp/

Main Plans and Features

Feature 1: Footbath x Basketball ── A Rare "Watch, Soak, and Enjoy" Space Nationwide

We plan to build a new basketball court, the "Community Court," in front of the footbath area. We aim to create a unique space, characteristic of a hot spring area, where visitors can watch games while soaking in the footbath. Through experience events in collaboration with a professional basketball team, we will create a "destination" that attracts a wide range of people, from families to fans, and becomes a topic of conversation on social media.

Feature 2: Hot Spring Water Gourmet & Seasonal Events ── "A Reason to Visit" Food Experience

We will develop unique food menus, such as "Bihada Pan" (Beauty Skin Bread) and "Seiro Mushi" (Steamed Dishes) utilizing hot spring water, and carefully selected coffee. Furthermore, we will create attractions that make people want to visit repeatedly by holding seasonal events like the New Tea Festival (Spring), Summer Night Festival (Summer), Harvest Festival (Autumn), and Hot Pot Festival (Winter), as well as weekly markets and morning markets.

Feature 3: Smart Operations through DX and Reliable Food Management

By introducing Wiz's digital technologies, such as mobile ordering, self-checkout, and AI-driven demand forecasting, we will achieve high-quality customer service and efficient operations even with a small staff. For cooking and processing, we will leverage A-tos Foods' expertise in food factory operations (hygienic management compliant with HACCP) to provide safe and secure "food."

Future Outlook

Towards the renewal opening on September 1, 2026, we aim to create a roadside station that people will "make a special trip to visit" from both within and outside the region. In the medium to long term, we aim to evolve into a "regional trading company" that goes beyond facility sales through the development of private brand (PB) products and external sales via e-commerce, with a target of 1 million annual visitors in five years. We will also work to create a hub for stay-type tourism in collaboration with the surrounding areas, and promote the creation of a sustainable model for regional revitalization by reinvesting profits back into the community.

* Figures, specifications, and schedules in this press release are subject to change without notice.

About A-tos Foods Inc.

A-tos Foods Inc. is a food processing and sales company based in Satsumasendai City, Kagoshima Prefecture. It contributes to the creation of regional specialty products by manufacturing retort pouches and side dishes using the prefecture's agricultural and livestock products, as well as handling product development and OEM. It generates value in "food" under a highly advanced hygiene management system, having acquired food safety management standards (JFS-B standard compliant with Codex HACCP).

【Company Overview】

Company Name: A-tos Foods Inc.

Headquarters Location: 6485-7 Nakago-cho, Satsumasendai City, Kagoshima Prefecture

President: Hiroshi Odawara

Business Activities: Agricultural product processing, manufacturing and sales of retort foods and side dishes, contract manufacturing, product planning and development, etc.

HP: https://en.atusfoods.com/

About Wiz Inc.

Wiz Inc. is a comprehensive IT trading company that provides various IT services, aiming to solve Japan's challenges. Through its DX select media "Wiz cloud," it creates valuable business models by leveraging its diverse sales network and wide range of products.

Company Overview

Company Name: Wiz Inc.

Headquarters Location: 12F, South Otsuka Building, 2-25-15 Minami-Otsuka, Toshima-ku, Tokyo

Representative: Shun Yamazaki, President and CEO

Business Activities: DX support business, GX support business, BPO business, regional support business

HP: https://012grp.co.jp