Local Guide
A collection of famous soba restaurants. 6 recommended "Izumo soba" in Izumo and Matsue

Izumo soba is a specialty of Shimane Prefecture and is counted among the "Three Great Soba of Japan." It is characterized by the use of buckwheat flour made using a milling method called "hikigurumi," in which buckwheat seeds, husks included, are ground, and the grayish noodles allow you to enjoy the rich flavor of buckwheat flour. Generally, there is cold "warigo soba," served in a round, red lacquerware, and hot "kamaage soba," which is eaten by pouring boiled water over it, and both are eaten with soba sauce. As it is a gourmet dish that represents the region, there are many famous historic restaurants scattered throughout the Izumo and Matsue areas. We will introduce recommended soba places that are frequented by locals. We have also picked out famous restaurants around Izumo Taisha Shrine that are easy to stop by before or after visiting the shrine.

Enjoy a bowl of soba noodles with a fortune slip at the foot of Izumo Taisha Shrine

"Enmusubi Ten Set" 1,530 yen. The zenzai contains heart-shaped buckwheat flour dumplings.
"Enmusubi Ten Set" 1,530 yen. The zenzai contains heart-shaped buckwheat flour dumplings.

This is the oldest famous Izumo soba restaurant, which has been in business for about 240 years since the late Edo period. Their stone-ground "Nihachi Soba" (28% buckwheat flour) has been handed down for eight generations and is a blend of three types of buckwheat flour, including buckwheat grown in Shimane Prefecture. You can enjoy thin, chewy, flavorful soba noodles with a sweet soba broth that has remained the same since the restaurant first opened.

During peak tourist seasons, more than 80% of customers order the "Enmusubi Ten Set." This popular set includes two-tiered soba noodles with grated nameko mushrooms and quail, "soba zenzai" with buckwheat flour rice flour dumplings, tempura, as well as a fortune slip and a good luck bag.

Conveniently located just a 5-minute walk from Izumo Taisha Shrine

The relaxed interior features tables and a raised area on the first floor, and private rooms on the second floor where you can relax.
The relaxed interior features tables and a raised area on the first floor, and private rooms on the second floor where you can relax.

Warigo soba can be enjoyed as a single item, and you can choose from four or five layers in addition to the usual three layers, or you can order additional layers starting from one. Each layer comes with a variety of toppings, such as fertilized eggs, grated yam, and tempura balls, so you can enjoy comparing the different toppings. You can also enjoy another standard Izumo soba dish, kamaage soba.

The shop is located about a 5-minute walk from the "Seidamari Torii" gate of Izumo Taisha Shrine. Many people stop by before or after worship, so there is usually a line on weekends, so we recommend coming early.

Comments Local Guide
The basic way to eat warigo soba is to put the condiments on top of the soba and pour a small amount of soba sauce over it in the shape of the character "no". Pour the remaining sauce into the next bowl and continue eating, and finally, add the remaining sauce to the soba soup and drink it.
Arakiya
  • URLhttps://www.izumo-kankou.gr.jp/1640
  • 住所Shimane Prefecture, Izumo City, Taisha Town, Kitsuki Higashi 409-2 MAP
  • アクセスAbout 10 minutes on foot from Izumo Taisha-mae Station on the Ichibata Railway
  • バスアクセスTake the bus from JR Izumo-shi Station, get off at "Seigon-mae" and walk for about 5 minutes
  • 営業時間11:00-17:00 *Ends when soba runs out
  • 定休日Wednesday (or the following day if Wednesday is a public holiday)
  • TEL0853-53-2352
  • 駐車場free

One of the most popular restaurants in the Izumo Taisha area

The signature dish of the restaurant is the "Three-layer Three-color Warigiri" (1,100 yen)
The signature dish of the restaurant is the "Three-layer Three-color Warigiri" (1,100 yen)

This popular soba restaurant is a lunch option for many visitors to Izumo Taisha Shrine. The most recommended dish is the three-tiered wori soba noodles topped with grated yam and raw egg along with other condiments. The noodles are relatively chewy and satisfying, and the uneven thickness of each individual skewer is proof that they are hand-made. The broth, made with stock made from Hidaka kelp and round herring, carefully brings out the rich aroma of the soba noodles.

It is within walking distance of Izumo Taisha Shrine and is open from 10:30 a.m., making it an easy place to stop by before or after visiting the shrine.

A relaxing space that is easy to visit whether you're alone or with your family

The proprietress and other Staff/staff member are mostly women, and the restaurant has a relaxed, unadorned atmosphere.
The proprietress and other Staff/staff member are mostly women, and the restaurant has a relaxed, unadorned atmosphere.

When you go through the noren curtain, you'll see a row of table seats in front of you, and five raised tables from the front left to the back of the store. Compared to other stores, it seems like there are more people visiting alone.

In addition to the Warigo soba, the menu offers a wide variety of hot soba noodles, including Kamaage, Tsukimi, Yamakake, Awayuki topped with grated yam and egg, and Goen Soba topped with grated daikon radish and bonito. The thick, rich soba soup is also unique to this restaurant, so why not order it when you eat the Warigo soba?

Comments Local Guide
The "Oroshi Warigo" topped with grated daikon radish is a simple, refreshing dish that allows you to enjoy the texture and aroma of firm soba noodles. The spiciness of the grated daikon radish and the sweetness of the soup are an exquisite match.
Soba restaurant Kaneya
  • URLhttps://www.izumo-kankou.gr.jp/shinmon/6920
  • 住所659 Kitsukihigashi, Taishacho, Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスAbout 10 minutes on foot from Izumo Taisha-mae Station on the Ichibata Railway
  • バスアクセスTake the bus from JR Izumoshi Station, get off at "Seigonmae" and walk for about 6 minutes
  • 営業時間10:30～15:00（L.O.14:30）
  • 定休日Thursday
  • TEL0853-53-2366
  • 駐車場free

A long-established kamaage soba restaurant that uses the name "Kenjo Soba"

"Kamaage Soba" 800 yen
"Kamaage Soba" 800 yen

This long-established restaurant was founded in the late Edo period and was granted the name "Presentation Soba" after it presented soba to the future Emperor Taisho in 1907. It has been passed down for 12 generations and serves genuine Izumo soba made with traditional methods using mainly Izumo-grown buckwheat flour.

"Kamaage Soba" is a bowl of soba noodles soaked in hot soba water, with the accompanying sauce poured over it and the desired amount of condiments added. The noodles are freshly ground, made, and boiled, and you can enjoy the simple texture and rich aroma typical of Izumo soba noodles.

An open, Japanese-style space with a Japanese garden outside the window

The restaurant is equipped with a raised platform and table seating. Enjoying traditional cuisine while gazing at the garden is a truly special experience.
The restaurant is equipped with a raised platform and table seating. Enjoying traditional cuisine while gazing at the garden is a truly special experience.

The restaurant is located inside the Izumo Cultural Heritage Museum, a cultural Property about a six-minute drive from Izumo Taisha Shrine. The gardens of the Esumi family, who were once large landowners in the Izumo Plain, have been relocated inside Property, so you can enjoy your meal while gazing at the spacious, well-maintained Japanese garden.

There is also the "Izumo Mansion" from the Meiji period, and "Dokuan", a replica of a teahouse associated with Lord Matsudaira Fumai, and the area around the store is like a garden that you can wander around in. We recommend taking a stroll around the atmospheric Property while you wait or on your way home.

Comments Local Guide
Haneya has three stores in Izumo city. The main store is about an eight-minute walk from JR Izumo Station. If you choose a store based on where you're staying and the sightseeing spots you want to visit, you can enjoy your sightseeing efficiently.
Kenjo Soba Haneya Denshokan Store
  • URLhttps://kenjosoba-haneya.com/
  • 住所520 Hamamachi, Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスApproximately 14 minutes by car from JR Izumoshi Station
  • 営業時間11:00-14:30 *Ends when soba runs out
  • 定休日Mondays, December 28th to January 3rd
  • TEL0853-25-0312
  • 駐車場free

Handmade soba noodles and pork cutlet bowls boast overwhelming local support

A popular menu item that includes a katsudon and two layers of soba noodles: the "katsudon set" for 1,300 yen
A popular menu item that includes a katsudon and two layers of soba noodles: the "katsudon set" for 1,300 yen

It used to be known as a place for locals, but now it is so popular that many tourists and celebrities visit incognito. The handmade soba noodles, made with whole-ground buckwheat (buckwheat seeds with husks) from both local and domestic producers, are chewy and rich in aroma. As the owner says, "It's only when we change it that people say the taste hasn't changed," the sweet soup made with dried urume fish has changed with the times.

Also, the most popular dish is the katsudon, a bowl of crispy pork cutlet and fluffy egg. It's a must-try dish when you visit.

A soba restaurant in a residential area popular with locals and tourists alike

The restaurant mainly has table seating, and at the back there is a Japanese-style room with two adjacent rooms.
The restaurant mainly has table seating, and at the back there is a Japanese-style room with two adjacent rooms.

Located in a quiet residential area at the end of a narrow alleyway from the temple town of Izumo Taisha Shrine, the restaurant is bustling with regulars and tourists from early in the day.

You can choose from 3-, 4-, or 5-layered soba in a wakiko (Japanese-style bowl of noodles), and also choose the "three-color wakiko (Japanese-style bowl of noodles)" with toppings on each layer. The set menus with rice bowls are especially popular, and in addition to katsudon, you can also enjoy oyakodon (chicken and egg on rice) and gyu-toji-don (beef and egg on rice) with wakiko soba. After your meal, be sure to try the "sobagaki zenzai" soup with warm soba noodles.
The shop also sells "dried soba" for takeaway, available for purchase for two or more people. It's the perfect souvenir from Izumo Taisha Shrine.

Comments Local Guide
The restaurant was founded in 1950, shortly after the end of the war. The name was chosen by the first owner in hopes of world peace. Among the soba restaurants in the Izumo Taisha area, this is a popular soba restaurant that is relatively frequented by locals.
Heiwa Soba Main Store
  • URLhttps://www.heiwasoba.com/
  • 住所2034 Kitsukinishi, Taishacho, Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスApproximately 12 minutes on foot from Izumo Taisha-mae Station on the Ichibata Railway
  • バスアクセスTake the bus from JR Izumoshi Station, get off at "Seigonmae" and walk for about 12 minutes
  • 営業時間11:00-15:00 (last order 14:30) *Ends when soba runs out
  • 定休日Thursday (may be closed temporarily)
  • TEL0853-53-3240
  • 駐車場free

Stone-ground 100% soba noodles served with soup containing "Jidensake"

"Tororo Wariko" - 100% buckwheat soba noodles topped with grated yam and raw egg - 1,340 yen
"Tororo Wariko" - 100% buckwheat soba noodles topped with grated yam and raw egg - 1,340 yen

This is a restaurant where you can enjoy soba noodles from various regions, with a focus on locally grown noodles. All the noodles are made with raw flour (100% buckwheat) without any wheat flour or other binders, and the soba noodles are made with great care, such as grinding the buckwheat three times in three stone mills.

In addition, the homemade soup is made with "Jidensake," a special cooking sake that has long been loved in the Izumo region. Its rich flavor and sweetness mellow out the sharpness of soy sauce, creating a mellow taste. In addition to using buckwheat noodles from Matsue, the eggs and potatoes used as toppings are also sourced from Shimane Prefecture, and the restaurant's commitment to using local ingredients is another attraction.

A soba restaurant that you can stop by while sightseeing at Matsue Castle

In addition to table seating, the restaurant also has spacious tatami seating, making it a comfortable place for families to come.
In addition to table seating, the restaurant also has spacious tatami seating, making it a comfortable place for families to come.

This restaurant is within walking distance of the national treasure Matsue Castle, so many people drop by while sightseeing. There is a bus stop right in front of the restaurant, so it is easily Direction from Matsue Station.

The menu is relatively simple, with three types of cold soba: "Warigo Soba," "Tororo Warigo," and "Seiro (Mori Soba)." The most popular is the "Tororo Warigo," but if you want to enjoy the original flavor of soba, we recommend the "Warigo Soba" served with only the condiments. Hot soba is also available, including "Kamaage Soba" and "Tori Soba," which are served with buckwheat soup poured over them.

Comments Local Guide
Nearby Shiomi Nawate Street is home to many popular sightseeing spots such as the Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum and Matsue History Museum. This restaurant is also a perfect place for lunch while sightseeing in Matsue.
Jindai Soba
  • URLhttps://www.facebook.com/people/神代そば/100043733486869/
  • 住所324-5 Okutanicho, Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスApproximately 10 minutes by car from JR Matsue Station
  • バスアクセスTake the "Gurutto Matsue Lake Line" from JR Matsue Station, get off at "Koizumi Yakumo Memorial Museum" and walk for about 1 minute
  • 営業時間11:00-15:00 (last order 14:30) *Ends when soba runs out
  • 定休日Wednesdays, irregular holidays
  • TEL0852-21-4866
  • 駐車場free

Natural 100% buckwheat noodles grown by artisans

"Wariko Soba" with soba zenzai and soba soup for 840 yen
"Wariko Soba" with soba zenzai and soba soup for 840 yen

This is a shop run by craftsmen who pursue soba making from scratch, even visiting the contracted cultivation areas themselves. Buckwheat grown in Okuizumo Town, Shimane Prefecture, which is well suited for soba cultivation, is ground in a stone mill and made into flour in-house. The "100% buckwheat noodles," made without wheat flour, are thick and crisp, with a rich aroma that spreads with every bite.

The soup, made with stock from dried mackerel and shiitake mushrooms, is slightly sweet and full of flavor. They also have local sake selected by the chef, so enjoying the carefully selected Izumo soba with a dry pure rice wine is a truly blissful experience.

Choose from two types of soba noodles

This is a restaurant that is easy to drop in at whether you're alone or with your family. In addition to counter seats and tables for four, there are also larger tables in the back.
This is a restaurant that is easy to drop in at whether you're alone or with your family. In addition to counter seats and tables for four, there are also larger tables in the back.

It has been about 50 years since it was founded. The folk art style exterior blends in with the Matsue streetscape, and the interior, surrounded by aged beams and furniture, is an atmosphere-filled space that makes the soba taste even more delicious.

For hot soba, they offer a variety of local dishes, such as "Maitake Tempura Soba" made with Maitake mushrooms, a specialty of Okuizumo Town, and the Izumo soba classic "Kamaage Soba." On the other hand, the cold soba is milled in two different ways, so you can enjoy both "Izumo Soba," which is ground with the shells on, and so-called "Edo Soba," which is ground after the shells have been removed.

Comments Local Guide
The store is often closed during Golden Week and Obon, so we recommend avoiding visiting during these long holidays.
Chugoku Mountains Soba Factory Funatsu
  • URLhttps://www.kankou-matsue.jp/gourmet/desc/?cat=そば&store=27545
  • 住所117-6 Tono Nakaharacho, Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスApproximately 9 minutes by car from JR Matsue Station
  • バスアクセスTake the "Gurutto Matsue Lake Line" from JR Matsue Station and get off at "Yojikkenborikawa"
  • 営業時間11:00-15:00 *Ends when soba runs out
  • 定休日Mondays, New Year's Day, Golden Week
  • TEL0852-22-2361
  • 駐車場free
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