Unexpected Facts about Soba
Soba is used globally not only as noodles but also in bread and galettes. In fact, globally, the culture of eating soba as noodles is in the minority.
The Origin of Soba is Not Japan
The origin of soba is Yunnan Province in China, a fact determined by DNA testing. Soba thrives in cool climates and can be cultivated even in poor soil, making it widely cultivated around the world. About 80% of the soba consumed in Japan depends on imports from China and the United States, with a domestic self-sufficiency rate of 20%. Therefore, 80% of the soba served in soba restaurants is imported. Recently, the market price of soba has also been affected by the war between Russia and Ukraine.
| Country | Production Volume | |
| 1st | Russia | 892,000tons |
| 2nd | China | 504,000tons |
| 3rd | Ukraine | 97,000tons |
| 4th | USA | 86,000tons |
| 5th | Brazil | 65,000tons |
| 6th | Japan | 45,000tons |
From Medicine to Dumplings, and Then to Noodles
Soba was originally prized as a medicinal herb. There are records of soba being used as medicine during the Nara period. Initially, soba was not in noodle form but made into dumplings. During the Muromachi period, soba-gaki and soba mochi, made from crushed soba seeds, were created. In the Edo period, innovative ways of eating soba became popular, and soba noodles as we know them today were born.
The Difference Between Mori Soba and Zaru Soba
The common cold soba dishes known as “Mori Soba” and “Zaru Soba” are often confused, but they differ in appearance and history. “Mori Soba” has been a popular soba eating style since the early Edo period. It involves eating boiled soba cooled and dipped in tsuyu, a traditional soba dipping sauce made from dashi (a broth of bonito flakes, dried sardines, and kelp), soy sauce, mirin, and sugar. As time progressed, a new way of eating emerged in the late Edo period. In 1745, a soba shop in Fukagawa (now Koto Ward, Tokyo), called Iseiya, developed “Zaru Soba.” This style, served on a bamboo mesh tray, represented an evolutionary step from “Mori Soba.” Today, the difference between “Mori Soba” and “Zaru Soba” is not just in the way they are served. “Zaru Soba” comes topped with shredded nori and features intricately flavored tsuyu.
A Big Hit Combo from the Edo Period
During the mid-Edo period, when tempura and soba stalls lined the streets as popular fast food, the combination of tempura and soba began to attract attention. The soba shop menus from 1822 featured tempura, indicating the popularity of this combination. New collaboration menus like “Tenzaru Soba,” cold “Zaru Soba” topped with tempura, and “Tempura Soba,” warm “Kake Soba” topped with tempura, quickly became hugely popular due to their exquisite texture and flavor.
The Difference Between Jūwari Soba and Hachiwari Soba
Jūwari Soba consists of 100% soba flour, while Hachiwari Soba consists of 80% soba flour with 20% wheat flour or yam used as a binder in the noodles. The ratio of soba flour significantly affects the taste and texture. According to the “Unfair Prizes and Misleading Representations Prevention Law,” a product can be recognized as soba if it contains at least 30% soba flour.
- Jūwari Soba: 100% Soba, Intense soba flavor, Firm and crumbly texture, Visible black specks of soba flour, Less durable (when fresh)
- Hachiwari Soba: 80% Soba 20% Wheat, Subtle soba flavor, Chewy texture, Lighter color than Jūwari Soba, More durable (dry or frozen)
Recommended Shops for Delicious Jūwari Soba
成冨 Map/Business Days/Hours
Address: 8-18-6 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Futaba Building 1F
Reputation: Popular Jūwari soba shop in Ginza; run by an owner who originated from the famous soba shop “Hosokawa”; known for its clear sweet soba broth and flexible Jūwari soba; frequented by famous Kabuki actors.
蕎楽亭 Map/Business Days/Hours
Address: 3-6 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Kagurazaka Hall 1F
Reputation: A Michelin-starred soba shop in Kagurazaka, not only offers Jūwari soba but also hand-cut wheat noodles; known for strong sweetness and smooth texture of soba.
京橋 恵み屋 Map/Business Days/Hours
Address: 3-4-3 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Reputation: Famous stand-up soba bar in Ginza; popular for its Dattan soba with a rich flavor.
Taste Journey of Standing Soba
Standing soba, which emerged in the 1950s, brought a revolutionary innovation to the food service industry. In the food service business, factors such as rent, construction costs, customer numbers, food material costs, and labor costs significantly impact management, but standing soba excels in these metrics. Its small footprint keeps rent and construction costs low, while a high customer turnover due to short stay times generates substantial revenue. Furthermore, the low cost of soba ingredients and the ability to provide consistent taste even with part-time staff helps reduce labor costs. The diversification of toppings such as mixed tempura, egg, curry, and croquette offers a satisfying variety, establishing standing soba as a soul food for Japanese people.
Kake Soba
“Kake Soba” is a traditional soba dish where hot soba broth is poured over noodles in a bowl. It is especially popular during the cold seasons, like the New Year’s Eve soba tradition. Typically, the garnish consists of scallions.
Kakiage Soba
“Kakiage Soba” features soba noodles topped with kakiage, a type of tempura made by deep-frying a mix of finely chopped shrimp, squid, and vegetables in flour. Kakiage is known for its unique texture. Kakiage Soba offers a more affordable and satisfying option compared to regular tempura soba, with variations in ingredients and sizes of kakiage depending on the shop.
Tsukimi Soba
“Tsukimi Soba” is soba topped with a raw egg, served warm. The egg yolk represents the moon, and the white represents clouds, enjoying the ambiance of moon viewing. Tsukimi is an ancient Japanese custom of moon viewing on August 15th of the lunar calendar.
Curry Soba
Curry Soba is warm soba drizzled with a spicy curry sauce. The curry at soba shops is unique, enriched with dashi flavors, making it a hidden favorite menu item.
Croquette Soba
“Croquette Soba” features soba topped with croquettes made from a mixture of meat and potatoes, coated in flour, egg, and breadcrumbs, and deep-fried. This dish offers a satisfying meal at an affordable price.
Recommended Standing Soba Shops
ゆで太郎 銀座1丁目店 Map/Business Days/Hours
Address: 1-18-2 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 1F
Reputation: Popular standing soba shop known for offering good quality soba at half the usual price; the “Mori Soba” is particularly well-regarded for its strong soba aroma.
笠置そば 西荻窪店 Map/Business Days/Hours
Address: 3-11-7 Nishiogi Minami, Suginami-ku, Tokyo
Reputation: A mid-sized chain of standing soba shops; “Seafood Kakiage Soba” is a popular menu item, known for its luxurious toppings.
西新宿五丁目駅そば家 Map/Business Days/Hours
Address: 4-5 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Reputation: Highly rated among standing soba shops, conveniently located inside a station; known for its affordability and deliciousness.
若菜そば阪急梅田駅三階店 Map/Business Days/Hours
Address: 9-16 Kakudacho, Kita-ku, Osaka
Reputation: A standing soba shop in Hankyu Umeda Station; “Meat Soba” is popular; attracts customers with its reasonable prices.
浪花そば Map/Business Days/Hours
Address: 5-16-1 Nishinakajima, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka, Shin-Osaka Station
Reputation: Located inside Shin-Osaka Station; known for its clean exterior and ample seating; less intimidating than typical standing soba shops; offers a diverse menu.
Japan’s Three Great Soba Taste Journey
Among the numerous types of soba in Japan, the three great sobas are distinguished by their unique serving styles and presentations.
Wanko Soba (Iwate Prefecture)
A local dish spread mainly in Morioka and Hanamaki cities in Iwate Prefecture, Wanko Soba is served in small bowls called “Wanko,” filled with bite-sized warm soba. During the meal, as soon as one bowl is finished, another is immediately served. Typically, 10-15 bowls are consumed in one sitting, and when full, the diner covers the bowl with a lid to signal they are finished. The soba is cut shorter than usual to facilitate swallowing, and the dipping sauce (tsuyu) is seasoned more heavily, making each bite easier to enjoy.
Recommended Wanko Soba Shops
芭蕉館 Map/Business Days/Hours
Address: 3-1 Rinze, Hiraizumi, Nishiiwai District, Iwate Prefecture
Reputation: An established shop offering the original continuous-serving style Wanko Soba; serves small bowls of soba along with pickles and condiments on a tray; offers Wanko Soba with tempura; diverse menu including a three-generation soba experience.
やぶ家 Map/Business Days/Hours
Address: 7-7-17 Fubasami-cho, Hanamaki, Iwate Prefecture
Reputation: A historic shop in the birthplace of Wanko Soba; serves Hachiwari Soba using local Iwate early-harvest soba flour; also offers a children’s Wanko Soba menu.
駅前芭蕉館 Map/Business Days/Hours
Address: 82 Izumiya, Hiraizumi, Nishiiwai District, Iwate Prefecture
Reputation: Conveniently located a 1-minute walk from Hiraizumi Station; offers continuous-serving style Wanko Soba; features limited 30-bowl courses and all-you-can-eat options, allowing even those with smaller appetites to easily participate.
Togakushi Soba (Nagano Prefecture)
Togakushi Soba traces its history back to the Heian period and began when ascetic monks brought soba flour as portable food to Togakushi Shrine, a training ground for Shugendo. Initially, it was a simple food made by mixing soba flour with water, but soon, dishes such as “Soba Gaki” (buckwheat dumplings) and “Soba Yaki Mochi” (buckwheat grilled rice cakes) were developed. In the Edo period, the technique of “Soba Kiri” (soba noodle cutting) was transmitted from the monks of Kan’ei-ji Temple to the inner shrine of Togakushi Shrine and evolved into a special dish served to pilgrims. This soba is characterized by being made from buckwheat flour ground with the husks intact, and served in “bocchi-mori” style, where small, bite-sized bundles of about five sticks are arranged.
Delicious Shops for Togakushi Soba
うずら家 Map/Business Days/Hours
Address: 3229 Nakasha, Togakushi, Nagano City, Nagano
Reputation: A popular shop near Togakushi Shrine Nakasha, known for its freshly milled fragrant new soba.
岩戸屋 Map/Business Days/Hours
Address: 3501-I, Togakushi, Nagano City, Nagano
Reputation: Famous for its chewy soba, made fresh daily; known for the distinctive texture and quality of the soba flour.
仁王門屋 Map/Business Days/Hours
Address: 3419 Togakushi, Nagano City, Nagano
Reputation: Known for its firm textured soba which highlights the quality of the soba flour; uses five types of bonito flakes for its noodle broth.
Izumo Soba/Wariko Soba (Shimane Prefecture)
The reason why soba became a specialty in Izumo, western Japan, dates back to the Edo period. It is said that when Matsumoto Naomasa, a lord of Shinano Matsumoto Domain in Nagano, famous for soba, was transferred to Izumo Matsue Domain in Shimane, he brought soba craftsmen with him. This soba is milled with the husk, known as “Hikigurumi,” giving it a unique black color and strong aroma, which is why it is said in Izumo that “if it’s not black, it’s not soba.” Moreover, “Wariko Soba” evolved as a meal for travelers visiting Izumo Grand Shrine during the Edo period. Wariko Soba is served in two or three-tiered round containers, used like a lunch box for outdoor eating, allowing different flavors to be enjoyed as one progresses through each tier.
Delicious Shops for Izumo Soba
荒木屋 Map/Business Days/Hours
Address: 409-2 Kizukihigashi, Taisha-cho, Izumo City, Shimane
Reputation: The oldest Izumo soba shop near Izumo Grand Shrine, in operation for about 240 years; offers “Nihachi Soba” made from a blend of three types of soba flour; popular for its “Enmusubi Ten Set” featuring a two-tiered Wariko Soba with namako oroshi and quail eggs, accompanied by soba zenzai.
喜多縁 Map/Business Days/Hours
Address: 989-4 Hirata-cho, Izumo City, Shimane
Reputation: A serene shop opened two years ago by the owner of “Izumo Sobari-e”; focuses on local sake and ingredients, allowing guests to leisurely enjoy Izumo soba; popular for its soba set meals.
そば処かねや Map/Business Days/Hours
Address: 659 Kizukihigashi Four Corners, Taisha-cho, Izumo City, Shimane
Reputation: A popular shop in front of Izumo Grand Shrine, offering a variety of warm sobas in addition to Wariko Soba; known for its thick and rich soba broth; conveniently located about a 10-minute walk from Ichibata Electric Railway Izumo Grand Shrine Mae Station.
