My Soul Food, Hegi Soba, from Tokamachi city, Niigata Prefecture, Japan
I love buckwheat noodle among many kinds of noodles because it is simply made but never bores us with the unlimited number of toppings.
Since I love it so much that I have learned how to make it for myself at a school before.
When finishing it with the dipping sauce diluted by soba-yu, which was used to boil buckwheat noodle, it always makes me feel at home. Actually, this is the way how to enjoy a dish of buckwheat noodle at a restaurant in Japan.
Moreover, I can say that the buckwheat noodle from Tokamachi, my home town, is the best of all in Japan for sure.
Because Tokamachi buckwheat dough is thickened not with standard wheat flour but Funori, seaweed starch. This seaweed starch is a secret to bring out the texture of al dente soba noodle and it goes down smoothly.
How has the seaweed starch started to be used?
Here is a story. Tokamachi city is well known for producing gorgeous Kimono and kimono cloth. A Long time ago they used the handloom to make Kimono cloth. As the vertically and the horizontally lined threads were needed to be tightened in the process, Funori starch was used to be woven perfectly.
Then, one of the workmen there came up with the idea to use it to thicken the buckwheat dough instead of wheat flour used in general.
Thus, there is nowhere you can try this funori buckwheat noodle but Tokamachi city in Japan.
Now let me explain the wickerwork tray for Tokamachi buckwheat noodle,too.
It’s called “Hegi Tray” coming from our dialect spoken in this area. It was originally pronounced “Hagu”, the meaning of stripping a tree, but the sound has changed to “Hegu” and finally reached “Hegi” time after time. It is a tray made of the woven thinly stripped wood.
On this Hegi tray, you will find how beautifully the buckwheat noodles are served. It looks like as if yarns are placed in an artistic way for Kimono cloth. Each yarn is called “Teburi or Tebire”. It is a skill named “Kaseguri “ of forming a small sized portion by making yarn with noodles. You can also see this distinctive serving style only in Tokamachi.
In other words, both of beautiful looks and sophisticated taste created with their sense of art and sensitivity never fails to please us all the time.
As for our Tokamachi city, it is very rural and relaxing with a small population. There are still shops and restaurants where the internet is not available.
It means that they are a bit off the beaten track but worth being introduced on the website. It excites me to take pictures of them and post articles with my rate. Whenever I get “likes” in my article, it encourages me to introduce more shops and restaurants.
Especially for buckwheat lovers, because they visit a restaurant even all the way from very far places, I’d like to introduce more of my favorite restaurants to them.
Here are my recommendations for buckwheat noodle restaurants in Tokamachi city.
1. Sobaya -Seibei
As the restaurant owner is popular after being aired on one of the most famous TV program “ 情熱大陸“ - Jonetsu Tairiku -, you can trust the quality and taste of their buckwheat noodle. This restaurant is also busiest on weekend.
At their restaurant, you can feel like you are having a meal at home because it is just like an ordinary resident house rather than a restaurant since the owner’s daughter purchased a farmer’s old house and remodeled it into their restaurant one year ago.
2. Japanese Restaurant - Soba Restaurant Matsuo
This is the nearest buckwheat noodle restaurant to my house.
Tempura Soba is my best recommendation. Seasonally, tempura of hop cones is served and its boiled al dente noodle goes down smoothly.
3. Soba & Dining Nishino
The owner is a brother of the one running Sobaya Seibei ( shown in #1).
In addition to their delicious noodles, you can also enjoy artistically displayed interiors and the stylish atmosphere of old times with light from a lantern made of Washi, Japanese paper.
You can enjoy savory sake together, too.
4. Nadai Ki Soba - Yoshiya
This is one of the busiest buckwheat noodle restaurants with diners out of Niigata prefecture on weekend.
It might take you the longest time to get a table than any other restaurants, which proves this restaurant has the most fans.
You might see my son working as a part-timer, too.
One helping at this restaurant is the biggest in this area and satisfies all diners.
With fresh and delicious tempura, it’ll easily make you get full.
5. Kojimaya Sou Honten
This restaurant is the birthplace of Funori buckwheat noodle.
Now it has many restaurants all over Niigata prefecture.
Since each restaurant is wide enough to seat many diners, it is highly recommended for a large group of travelers to visit.
Their menu is also widely varied for set meals.
For more information on Soba restaurants in Tokamachi city, Niigata prefecture Japan, please contact the followings:
List: my recommendations for buckwheat noodle restaurants in Tokamachi city.
My Map:List: my recommendations for buckwheat noodle restaurants in Tokamachi city.
