Shinshu Soba: Superb Hand-Cut Noodles from Japan's Top Soba Region

Japan's Top Soba Region

Nagano Prefecture is Japan's top soba production area, with "Shinshu Soba" a nationally known soba brand. Cold highland climate suits soba cultivation, with particularly Nagano, Matsumoto, Togakushi, and Kaida Highland known as famous soba production areas.

Characteristics of Shinshu Soba

Shinshu Soba has much fragrant 100% buckwheat and 80/20 buckwheat soba with thin noodles characteristic. Hand-cut soba using locally grown buckwheat flour is characterized by rich buckwheat aroma and smooth throat feel. Eating simple zaru-soba (soba on a bamboo mat) is the Shinshu way.

Famous Soba Spots Throughout the Region

Famous soba restaurants exist throughout Shinshu. Soba with distinctive regional character including Togakushi Soba (Nagano City), Kaida Soba (Kiso District), Takato Soba (Ina City), and Kirishita Soba (Suwa area) can be enjoyed. The "Shinshu Soba Festival" is held during the new soba season in autumn (September-October), gathering soba fans from across Japan.