Yamagata is The King of Soba! 3 Exquisite Soba Restaurants Within a Walking Distance from Yamagata Station

Ever heard of Yamagata Prefecture? It is a prefecture in the southwest part of Tohoku area and is known for a great producing area of cherry and Yamagata beef. Since the climate in it is perfect for cultivating Soba buckwheat and is rich in natural water, it is one of the most Soba-consuming prefectures. In this issue, for those who wish to savor the Soba that the prefecture proudly offers, let’s take a look at 3 Soba restaurants that are easily accessible from Yamagata Station on foot.

Relish Soba with locally produced ingredients in seasons at a Soba restaurant with 150 years, “Shojiya”

A Soba restaurant having a history of 150 years since the Edo era which is the longest history in Yamaga Prefecture, “Shojiya” (そば処 庄司屋), items such as “Sarashina Soba” (さらしなそば, Soba prepared only with the white core of buckwheat), “Toichi Soba” (といちそば, Soba prepared with whole buckwheat and 1/10 amount of flour), and “Aimori Ita Ten” (相もり板天, a set of Sarashina Soba and Toichi Soba) served with Tempuras (天ぷら) have been attracting visitors. “Sarashina Soba” leaves a rich and elegant aroma whereas you can enjoy the chewy texture and flavorful taste with “Toichi Soba”. Together with Soba, Tempuras made with local ingredients in each season are also offered. Though the restaurant has a long history, the old fold house-ish interior makes the casual ambient so that it makes it easier for customers to visit without hesitation. Both table seats and Japanese-style seats (座敷) are available.

Opening Hours	11:00AM – 4:00PM (last orders at 3:30PM) for lunch service and 5:00PM – 8:30PM (last orders at 8:00PM) for dinner service / Closed on Mondays (opens in case of a national holiday on Monday)
Address	14-28 Saiwaicho, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture
Access	A 10-minute walk from Yamagata Station Yamagataeki Nishiguchi Washington Hotel: A 15-minute walk from the hotel Yamagata Nanokamachi Washington Hotel: About 6 minutes by taxi from the hotel
URL	https://tabelog.com/en/yamagata/A0601/A060101/6000003/ *Sobadokoroshoujiya and Shojiya refer to the same restaurant “そば処 庄司屋”

Enjoy the perfect harmony of Soba and Tsuyu at “Mitsuya”, a Soba restaurant preserving the traditional culture of Soba

“Mitsuya” (そば処 三津屋) is a Soba restaurant that inherits the taste of good traditional Soba and also researches the further possibility of Soba, focusing on the harmony of Soba and Tsuyu (つゆ, soy-sauce based Soba dipping sauce). You can enjoy the perfect harmony of smooth Nana-wari Soba (七割そば, Soba prepared with buckwheat and flour whose ratios are 70% and 30% respectively) prepared with home-grinded buckwheat and Tsuyu made with pure and clean water. The signature menu item, “Ganso O-ita Soba” (元祖大板そば), can be ordered from 6 portions to 14 depending on how many persons in the party and how much you can eat. Though the Soba is relatively thin, the chewy texture goes the best with the flavorful Tsuyu. Do not forget to dilute the Tsuyu with Soba-yu (蕎麦湯, hot water in which Soba has been boiled) and enjoy the rich aroma once you’ve finished eating Soba. As seasonal items are available, you’ll never get bored every time you visit.

Opening Hours	11:00AM – 8:00PM / Closed on Wednesdays
Address	1-1-26 Tokamachi, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture
Access	A 7-minute walk from Yamagata Station Yamagataeki Nishiguchi Washington Hotel: A 15-minute walk from the hotel Yamagata Nanokamachi Washington Hotel: A 15-minute walk from the hotel
URL	https://tabelog.com/en/yamagata/A0601/A060101/6000112/

“Dainikouen Yamachou”, an authentic Soba restaurant to offer handmade Soba using buckwheat from Hokkaido

“Dainikouen Yamachou” (第二公園 山長) is a locally loved Soba restaurant with a characteristic exterior and a cozy interior where the unique and seasonal hospitality of the owner is enjoyable. The signature “Myodai Hakosoba” (名代 箱そば), which is limited to 8 meals a day, is an item served with 3 kinds of Tempuras and flavorful horseradish. Savor the handmade chewy Soba prepared with carefully selected buckwheat cultivated in Hokkaido. For those who wish to enjoy dishes other than Soba, noodles such as Udon and Ramen are also available. Why don’t you spend your time in an inviting atmosphere where you can feel the hospitality of the owner?

Opening Hours	11:00AM – 2:00PM for lunch service and 5:00PM – 7:30PM for dinner service / Closed on Tuesdays
Address	4-3-8 Tokamachi, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture
Access	An 11-minute walk from Yamagata Station Yamagataeki Nishiguchi Washington Hotel: About 5 minutes by taxi from the hotel Yamagata Nanokamachi Washington Hotel: A 13-minute walk from the hotel
URL	https://tabelog.com/en/yamagata/A0601/A060101/6000470/