Soba noodlesそば[ Soba ]

Soba /ˈsoʊbə/ (そば or 蕎麦) is the Japanese name for buckwheat. It is synonymous with a type of thin noodle made from buckwheat flour, and in Japan can refer to any thin noodle (unlike thick wheat noodles, known as udon). Soba noodles are served either chilled with a dipping sauce, or in hot broth as a noodle soup. It takes three months for buckwheat to be ready for harvest, so it can be harvested four times a year, mainly in spring, summer, and autumn. In Japan, buckwheat is produced mainly in Hokkaido. Soba that is made with newly harvested buckwheat is called "shin-soba". It is sweeter and more flavorful than regular soba.

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How To Eat Japanese Soba Noodles - The Sound Makes the Experience images

How To Eat Japanese Soba Noodles - The Sound Makes the Experience

Eating Soba in Japan is an all around sensory experience. The smells, sights, and feel of the soba are crucial to experience this most traditional Japanese dish. One sensory aspect however that is not always associated with a culinary experience is sound.The sound of soba is a result of the con…(381 words)

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KurtisW

Fast and Convenient Food in Japan images

Fast and Convenient Food in Japan

The "stand and eat" style tachigui soba restaurants are designed for the thousands of Japanese businessmen who do not even have time to sit and eat their meals. Everything is fast at a tachigui soba place. In my opinion, the speed of a meal at a tachigui soba restaurant dwarfs the "fastness" of a f…(344 words)

GenS image

GenS

Soba Noodles: More than Meets the Eye images

Soba Noodles: More than Meets the Eye

If asked “what is my favorite Japanese dish?” I always tell people it’s soba noodles. I’ve never given much thought to the process behind the making of the noodles themselves. What actually goes into the making of Japanese soba noodles? Preparing this traditional Japanese favorite, although a very …(411 words)

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CHIBA-KUN

Fuji Soba images

Fuji Soba

Fuji Soba, found all over downtown Tokyo, is a soba shop like many that have a relatively simple menu of either soba or udon, cold or in hot broth, with the option of a small rice bowl. This place has got to have some of the absolute fastest service I have ever seen, provided it isn't too busy.…(122 words)

KurtisW image

KurtisW

The real soba experience in Asakusa images

The real soba experience in Asakusa

You will never find Tanso-an Kenjiro unless you know how to find it. It is the Saint Graal of soba experience.Kenjiro Suzuki has traveled around Japan during many years to learn his craft and soba making from every region of Japan. He did it the medieval way: working for soba-masters every wher…(265 words)

Claire image

Claire

Best Soba in the Middle of Nowhere, Japan images

Best Soba in the Middle of Nowhere, Japan

Just last week I had the best soba in my life in the middle of nowhere, a five minute walk from Nakagami station on the Ome line. I was on a business trip on the way to a meeting at the Akishima city water purification facility. For those of you who have no clue where akishima even is, it is in the…(449 words)

GenS image

GenS

Fresh Handmade Udon and Soba Noodles images

Fresh Handmade Udon and Soba Noodles

The best udon and best soba is from restaurants that make their noodles fresh. This is a sign of a tasty shop, so the noodles will often be prepared near the entrance where you can see them. Watch the dough being rolled out and cut, it is fun.To find the restaurants serving the tastiest food, a…(243 words)

David image

David

Go on a quest to find the tastiest Japanese noodles images

Go on a quest to find the tastiest Japanese noodles

Explore the world of ramen and tsukemen“Shops making tasty ramen noodles are everywhere in Japan. Get off the train at just about any station and chances are that you will find a ramen shop nearby. Many ramen shops offer ramen (noodles served in a bowl of soup) and tsukemen (noodles and soup se…(450 words)

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DeepJapan

Eating soba noodles- the original Japanese fast food. images

Eating soba noodles- the original Japanese fast food.

There are 3 basic noodle varieties available all year long in Japan: soba, udon or ramen. Also there's a fourth- somen noodles-- thin strands eaten cold with ice in the summer only.Soba are noodles made with buckwheat, slightly healthier than the enriched flour in the other noodles offerings.…(161 words)

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slapshot

Special Experiences in Chiba Prefecture. images

Special Experiences in Chiba Prefecture.

Recently, “glamping” (glamorous camping) and camping have become very popular among Japanese families and couples. If you wish to unwind from the hustle and bustle, and want to experience something the locals themselves enjoy doing, consider a staying a few nights at "THE FARM" in Chiba's Katori Ci…(585 words)

DeepJapan image

DeepJapan

Menu Translation in Japan, What a Great Job! images

Menu Translation in Japan, What a Great Job!

I feel very lucky that part of my job is Japanese to English menu translation. Do you know how many little jewels lie silent on that Japanese menu in front of you every time you enter a soba, tempura or tonkatsu restaurant in Japan? Ahhh! Yes, that is right, most people visiting Japan have heard of…(969 words)

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An English Guide to Sanuki Udon images

An English Guide to Sanuki Udon

Kagawa Prefecture on the island of Shikoku might be Japan's smallest prefecture, but it's the home to one of Japan's best kept culinary secrets: Sanuki Udon. You may have heard of udon before, but Sanuki Udon isn't just regular udon. It's the best udon in the world, and some might argue it's even t…(498 words)

Sanuki Jeremy image

Sanuki Jeremy

Udon is a Must-Try for a Real Japanese Noodle Experience images

Udon is a Must-Try for a Real Japanese Noodle Experience

Everyone knows the most popular noodle dishes for Japanese are ramen, soba and udon. Why then, we wonder, does udon seems to be mentioned less often and receive less attention from international visitors? Here, I would like to let you know where and how to experience UDON, our fascinating, tradit…(437 words)

Hagi image

Hagi

Japanese Vending Machines: Food Tickets images

Japanese Vending Machines: Food Tickets

Many shops and restaurants have ticket vending machines at the entrance or outside. Ramen, soba, or udon noodle stores often have them. Some gyudon restaurants like Matsuya also use the ticket machines.To pay and order put in money and then select what you want to eat or drink. If you want to o…(156 words)

David image

David

Did you know you can eat Raw noodles in Japan? images

Did you know you can eat Raw noodles in Japan?

Tsuke-men can be one of the best Ramen Experiences ever! You can get a soft boiled egg along with the dish and I like to cut the egg in half with my chopsticks and put it in the sauce to add the juicy egg-yolk to the mix. You pick up cooler noodles and then dip them into the sauce. This is differen…(163 words)

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Cleanliness in Key in Japanese Shops images

Cleanliness in Key in Japanese Shops

One thing I absolutely love about Japan is how clean everything is. Today I was at a soba shop and I noticed the little cup of toothpicks was knocked over and that about 20 toothpicks were strewn across the countertop. I noted this to the staff in the restaurant and he immediately said "So Sorry!" …(183 words)

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Summer Festival in your neighborhood images

Summer Festival in your neighborhood

This useful tip is for short term visitors and for long term residents, both. If you wish to immerse in local japanese culture, make new friends, know your neighborhood, or simply enjoy a fun-filled evening with beer, pan-fried noodles ("yaki soba"), etc. look out for summer festivals organized in …(192 words)

Samir Bodhe image

Samir Bodhe

Want to eat Tempura at a reasonable Price? Here's How!! images

Want to eat Tempura at a reasonable Price? Here's How!!

Tempura(天ぷら), battered and fried seafood or vegetables, is traditionally one of the most famous delicacies in Japan along with sukiyaki or shabu-shsbu. Many visitors find Tempura to be relatively expensive as it usually is expected to cost as much as several thousand yen. Let me give you a few h…(279 words)

Hagi image

Hagi

Okutama, easy access and abundant nature in western Tokyo. images

Okutama, easy access and abundant nature in western Tokyo.

Okutama Town is located on the western edge of Tokyo. It is 40 miles west and two-hour train ride from Tokyo Station via Shinjuku and surrounded by green mountains but certainly within Tokyo Prefecture. It is a part of Chichibu Tama Kai National Park but major local tourist attractions are within s…(442 words)

Hagi image

Hagi

Soup Base images

Soup Base

Soy sauce seems to make its way into all of Japanese cuisine one way or another. Often times just as a replacement for salt in cooking. I find that my bottle in my apartment most commonly makes its way into soups. I usually boil green onions and other stuff like a chicken carcass or fish flakes, an…(108 words)

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KurtisW

Catering can be extremely easy! images

Catering can be extremely easy!

Take-out can be very easy as long as you know how to say several information in Japanese or simple English. Let's say that you want to take-out pizza. First, you should pick the soba you want by looking at the menu online or on the flyer. Before you call, you should know how to write the addres…(232 words)

RieS image

RieS

YUMMY FLAVOR images

YUMMY FLAVOR

The most common form of seaweed I use in nori (or dry seaweed). This can be used as topping for many Japanese dishes, such as soba, okonomiyaki and ramen. It adds a delicious flavor to the dishes as well as nutritional content. Another form of seaweed I love is hijiki, which is a type of seawee…(125 words)

RieS image

RieS

Fun for Kids & Families to enjoy all over Japan images

Fun for Kids & Families to enjoy all over Japan

Of course there are amusement parks, including Disneyland and Universal Studios in Japan; fun playgrounds and adventure parks too. But I think even the day to day can offer fun experiences for kids. Kaiten-sushi (sushi train) shops are lots of fun, soba and udon noodle shops, buffet dining and …(292 words)

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jjwalsh

Cold soba noodle images

Cold soba noodle

Japanese tends to eat lot of cold soba during hot summer.(11 words)

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JennyS

Stuff on Seaweed! images

Stuff on Seaweed!

I'm a huge fan of seaweed. Here are some interesting varieties I picked up at the local station market.1. “Kuki Wakame” – seaweed stems (top left)- fantastic in salads with ume or ponzu dressing2. “Tororo Kombu” – pickled, shredded kombu kelp (top right)- used in soups, on udon or soba n…(110 words)

Emmie image

Emmie

Why Japanese people have been able to live close with nature. images

Why Japanese people have been able to live close with nature.

If you go to a Ryokan a traditional Japanese hotel.I'm always amazed how Japanese people use small ponds, trees, plants to make space so as it feels more open then it really is.The Japanese believe so called gods live in many things.They put their hands together and bow to long living trees…(244 words)

Yuuki I image

Yuuki I

Day Trekking at Mt. Takao images

Day Trekking at Mt. Takao

At 599 meters, or just under 2,000 feet, Mount Takao - Takaozan in Japanese - isn't an especially high mountain. However, with over half a dozen trails leading to the top, in addition to a cable car and chair lift that goes about halfway to the summit, Takaozan offers a great place for a day outing…(822 words)

Joe Peters image

Joe Peters

Places to feel like locals in Asakusa images

Places to feel like locals in Asakusa

Do you know the third oldest underground passage in Japan is at Asakusa Station? The street is connected to a ticket gate of Ginza Line and the entrance of Shin-Nakamise Street. Most of the tenants are restaurants such as Sushi, Soba, Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai foods. You also find a fortune-tell…(157 words)

Keiko, OTT image

Keiko, OTT

Cupnoodles Museum images

Cupnoodles Museum

If you are like me and you have an affinity for one of the best inventions ever bestowed upon mankind, yes, I’m talking about instant noodles, you will love hearing about this must-see, one of a kind museum! The Cupnoodles Museum in Yokohama is a tribute to this delicious meal, as well as to its fo…(325 words)

Alex image

Alex

How Japanese spend New Year's Day lately.... images

How Japanese spend New Year's Day lately....

Well, you may be a bit disappointed. But these days, more and more family stay away from home for the New Year's days. As you may know, New Year's Days is much more important than Christmas (or Hanuka or whatever you call "happy holiday") holiday season. Everybody takes at least these three-day …(397 words)

KIH image

KIH

How to enjoy New Years in Japan. images

How to enjoy New Years in Japan.

This is an interesting subject, which is actually difficult to answer as there are many ways to enjoy New Year's in Japan. I'll try to tackle this one and give you a few options.Option one: New Years Eve Party!! During this time of the year, there are parties and events everywhere (Roppongi, Gi…(328 words)

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DjMarvin

SOBA or UDON! Which one you would like to eat? images

SOBA or UDON! Which one you would like to eat?

Almost all Tachigui soba Shop provide both Soba and Udon.If you went tachigui soba shop ,shop staff ask you which one you want to eat ?soba or udon? Depend on your favor ,Please tell them soba or udon.(39 words)

karnavi image

karnavi

Finish in 5 minutes images

Finish in 5 minutes

You choose what you’re gonna eat by pictures or plastic samples and buy a ticket at vending machine. Hand the ticket to a counter and wait for minutes and receive the soba and bring wherever you find your space. Put some “shichimi”, blend of seven hot spices, get your chopsticks and eat! Don’t …(68 words)

Moo Moo image

Moo Moo

Big noise, necessary images

Big noise, necessary

Not only Udon but Soba and Ramen, you should make noise when eating those, and it is right way. You will have noodles with soup when slurp those and taste the harmony of the flour and the soup.When you did't, you just eat noodles and feel the taste weakly. Make big noise!!!Taste our cultu…(56 words)

Moo Moo image

Moo Moo

Fujisoba images

Fujisoba

The Fujisoba, Japanese noodle is unique. There are a lot of Fujisoba in Tokyo.Asakusa, Shinjuku, Shibuya, and so on.http://fujisoba.co.jpAnd It is served so speedy.A lot of kind of soba. Cuttlefish, Tempura, Chicken…If you used Fujisoba, you must buy ticket on the machine before ent…(54 words)

ErinoO image

ErinoO

Please try Japanese noodle 'Soba' after Akihabara Electric Town images

Please try Japanese noodle 'Soba' after Akihabara Electric Town

Kanda Yabu Soba was more than just a noodle restaurant, it was a tangible connection to the city's past, to a way of living that evolved centuries back in the narrow crowded streets of Edo. http://tokyofood.blog128.fc2.com/blog-entry-17.html(42 words)

Mayu image

Mayu

Firefly Festival "Hotaru Matsuri" images

Firefly Festival "Hotaru Matsuri"

Firefly festivals are held all over Japan usually at the beginning of summer. Almost every community with a waterway has one and they are open to the public. There are usually food stalls selling yaki soba (fried noodles) and yaki tori (chicken kebabs).(43 words)

Kenji image

Kenji

Tachigui soba tip: Korokke Soba images

Tachigui soba tip: Korokke Soba

At a stand up style Soba places, "korokke soba" is reccommended. It is soba in warm broth with deep fried potato croquette on top. How simple is that:) Price range is somewhere around 300 Yen per dish and it is apparently Tokyo original!(42 words)

lenamum image

lenamum

Tokyo Ale : Made By Tokyo Brewing Company images

Tokyo Ale : Made By Tokyo Brewing Company

Tokyo original craft beer company. You can buy their beer selections at Tokyo Brewing Company in Takanawa, Minato-ku. http://www.tokyo-ale.com/ Or you can taste their ranges at the venue in Roppongi called, "Super Deluxe" http://www.tokyo-ale.com/My recommendation is "soba ale" :) Soothing and…(49 words)

lenamum image

lenamum

Quick, filling meals in Tokyo images

Quick, filling meals in Tokyo

Onigiri from department stores, Soba/Udon from stand-up mini-restaurants, Curry (japanese style) shops are some of best alternatives for quick meal. For those looking for a quick meal while working simultaneously, coffee shops (Doutors, Starbucks, Excelsior, Tully) offer sandwiches and wraps.(41 words)

Samir Bodhe image

Samir Bodhe