Experience Senso-ji Temple’s February Festival and Visit 3 Eateries Offering Fresh Soba Noodles in Asakusa Area

In Japan, people celebrate Setsubun (節分), the day just before the first day of spring in the lunar calendar, by the traditional ritual of throwing soybeans for wishing luck as well as making evil go away, and Setsubun in 2022 is the 3rd of February. Temples throughout the country hold services and major soybean throwing rituals to celebrate the day, and one of which is Senso-ji templein Asakusa area. Though soybean throwing has been canceled due to the pandemic, the service is still scheduled. If you’re in Tokyo on the day of Setsubun, why don’t you visit Asakusa for visiting Senso-ji and enjoy Soba noodles made from freshly harvested buckwheat? As Soba noodles have been said to be the lucky meal for the sake of chopping bad luck, it is ideal to have on the day of a temple visit. Besides, in this season of a year, some eateries offer Soba noodles called Shin-Soba (新そば) made from fresh buckwheat that have just been harvested in the last autumn. In this issue, let’s take a look at 3 eateries where you get to savor Shin-Soba noodles in Asakusa Area.

“Benten”, a Soba restaurant to offer refined noodles together with big Hamaguri clams and oysters

Locating few blocks away from the back of Senso-ji, “Benten” (弁天), a Soba restaurant whose interior is typical Japanese style with wood, offers a wide range of dishes, to appetizers such as Sobagaki (そがばき, buckwheat dumpling) and strewed herring, to ​main dishes of Soba noodles. Benten’s Soba noodles are smooth and thin and go perfect with its thick soup. Among main dishes of Soba noodles, ‘Hamaguri Seiro’ (Seiro soba and soup with Hamaguri clams), ‘Kakinan Seiro’ (Seiro Soba and soup with oysters) and ‘Kakinan Soba’ (Soba noodle in soup with oysters), that have you enjoy refined broth of Hamaguri clams or oysters, are truly recommended. For your information, a ‘Seiro’ (せいろ or せいろう) is a dish where Soba noodle and soup are served separately and you are to eat the noodle by dipping into the soup. As ‘Kakinan Seiro’ and ‘Kakinan Soba’ are available only in winter, maybe you should try them if you are in Tokyo luckily in the season. This is a great place also for those who wish to drink Atsukan (熱燗, hot Sake) paired with appetizers made with seasonal ingredients on a cold day.

Opening Hours	11:30AM – 10:00PM on Weekdays and Saturdays / 11:30AM – 9:30PM on Sundays / Closed on Wednesdays
Address	3-21-8 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo Prefecture
Access	Hotel Gracery Asakusa: A 3-stop ride on 草64 bus from Asakusa-Kaminarimon-Minami Bus stop to Asakusa Rakuchome Bus stop and a 3-minute walk from Asakusa Rakuchome Bus stop Hotel Tavinos Asakusa: A 5-minute walk
URL	https://tabelog.com/en/tokyo/A1311/A131102/13012246/

Savor 2 kinds of Soba noodles at a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand restaurant, “Tansoan Kenjiro”

Another Soba eatery located a few blocks away from the temple, “Tansoan Kenjiro” (丹想庵 健次郎) is a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand awarded restaurant where an English-speaking owner welcomes you. From the seats, you can glance at the Hakoniwa garden (箱庭, a traditional micro garden installed inside a building) through the window. This is a perfect place to feel the atmosphere of an authentic Japanese eatery with history. Its signature menu items are ‘Edo Soba’ (江戸そば), a thin type Soba noodle, and ‘Inaka Soba’ (田舎そば), a thick type Soba loved mainly in the countryside, and both of which are made from whole grain buckwheat. By ordering ‘Nishu Mori’ (二種もり), you can enjoy both Edo Soba made from buckwheat harvested in different areas depending on the day and Inaka Soba, which is made by grinding whole buckwheat. Once you’ve finished eating, enjoy the delicious soup diluting with Soba boil water for savoring the rich flavor until the last drop.

Opening Hours	Noon – 2:00PM for lunch service and 5:30PM – 10:00PM for dinner service / Closed on Sundays and national holidays *Lunch service is not available on Saturdays
Address	3-35-3 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo Prefecture
Access	Hotel Gracery Asakusa: A 3-stop ride on 草64 bus from Asakusa-Kaminarimon-Minami Bus stop to Asakusa Rakuchome Bus stop and a 4-minute walk from Asakusa Rakuchome Bus stop Hotel Tavinos Asakusa: A 5-minute walk
URL	https://tabelog.com/en/tokyo/A1311/A131102/13109951/

A long-established eatery “Okina Soba” where a great value-for-money hearty curry Soba is popular

If you prefer an unpretentious eatery, try “Okina Soba” (翁そば) founded in 1928 located at the block behind Hoppy Street. This restaurant is loved for its hearty thick Soba noodles like Udon available even at the 400-yen level. Even a single bill of 1,000 yen is enough to get you literally full. During the cold winter months, you can’t miss ‘Curry Nanban’ (カレー南蛮) in which the chewy Soba noodle and the spicy curry soup with Tokyo style thick soy sauce-based broth create a perfect match. Topping ingredients such as an egg and a rice cake are also available so that you can enjoy the bowl until the last slurp. In case you can afford it, try diluting the soup with Soba boil water and drinking it up to fully savor the flavorful soup.

Opening Hours	11:45AM – 3:00PM for lunch service and 4:30PM – 7:30PM for dinner service / Closed on Sundays
Address	2-5-3 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo Prefecture
Access	Hotel Gracery Asakusa: A 7-minute walk Hotel Tavinos Asakusa: A 5-minute walk
URL	https://tabelog.com/en/tokyo/A1311/A131102/13010501/