My husband, mother, and I enjoyed lunch at a newly opened soba noodle restaurant in May. The restaurant is located in a village just a 6-minute drive from our guesthouse. This hidden gem is actually where the grandmother of the priest grew up. Behind the village lies a mountain and sometimes wild monkeys appear.
True traditional Japanese House in Hidden gem
The restaurant, housed in a renovated old farmhouse, exudes a traditional Japanese atmosphere with its lovely decor and furnishings collected by the owner. Just looking both inside and outside the shop is enough fun.
Taste of artisan’s skill
The owner had previously been a head chef at a renowned Japanese restaurant in Hikone. We had zaru soba (cold soba noodles with dipped soup) and assorted tempura and dashimaki tamago (Japanese rolled omelette). Rolled omelette was the taste of artisan’s skill.The tempura’s delicate batter was a testament to his craftsmanship.
We tried the soba with both salt and a dipping sauce flavored with bonito flakes, and I found the latter to be exceptionally delicious. It had a balanced sweetness and depth of flavor.They gave us a thankful gift for coming despite the rain, a jar of homemade tsukudani (simmered seaweed and mushroom) to take home. It was really good with rice!
Between the ambiance and the food, we had a luxurious and satisfying experience!
The restaurant will be closed when the noodles sell out, so it’s better you make the reservation before you visit.
Info. Handmade Soba Sakurai
Address: Matsuo44, Takatsuki-cho, Nagahama City, Shiga tel:090-8813-3961
Opening 11:00-14:00 Closed: Tuesday/Wednesday
Distance from guesthouse 15 minutes by bike
