Where to Enjoy Togakushi Soba Noodles and Information About the Togakushi Soba Festival
Togakushi Soba Noodles
However, these conditions are perfect for growing buckwheat. Instead of rice, the main food in the area is soba.
The taste of soba noodles varies depending on the type of water used and the method of dough preparation.
In Togakushi, water from mountain streams rich in minerals is used to make the noodles. This is why noodles made elsewhere just can’t compete with it!
Ōkubo no Chaya (大久保の茶屋)
One of the most recommended soba restaurants is Okubo no Chaya, located close to Ichi no Torii (refer to our Togakushi Shrine article to find out more about the torii gate).
This restaurant, founded over 400 years ago, has its own farm for growing organic buckwheat. The vegetables and soba are all planted and grown by the owner to ensure the nutrition of the meal.
Okubo no Chaya is situated in a traditional house, featuring seats on tatami mats or wooden floorboards, which creates a dining experience reminiscent of a few centuries ago.
As Ichi no Torii is relatively remote (it isn’t close to any of the sub-shrines of the Togakushi Shrine), it is more suitable for those arriving or leaving Togakushi around lunchtime.
Ōkubo no Chaya’s Busines Hours and Access Information
- Okubo no Chaya is open from 10 am to 3:30 pm (L.O.) from Saturday to Thursday from March to November. It is closed on the 2nd Thursday as well.
- The restaurant is closed on Thursdays and Fridays from December to February.
- To get to the restaurant, please get off the bus at Ichinotorii (一 の 鳥 居).
Uzuraya (うずら家)
When we visited at the beginning of November, the waiting time was approximately 90 to 120 minutes at 11 am. When we checked back in the next morning, 62 groups of customers had put their names down by 9:26 am, waiting to eat their soba noodles. The first group of customers arrived at the restaurant around 5 am.
Tip: For our vegetarian friends, you might skip tempura when you visit a soba restaurant, as it usually comes with a deep-fried prawn. At Uzuraya, you can order vegetable or mushroom tempura, which we highly recommend. The tempura at Uzuraya is fried with sesame oil, making it extra delicious!
But here is a tip for reducing the queuing time!
- When you arrive at Togakushi, head to Uzuraya first and write down your name on the waiting list placed outside the restaurant (refer to the last photo in the Instagram post). This way, you are almost guaranteed to be among the first customers to dine at Uzuraya.
- On weekends, try to do so by 9 am.
- However, if it is a consecutive holiday or during the autumn foliage season, try to put your name down before 7 am, as you will be competing with those who stayed overnight at Togakushi.
- Then you can explore Togakushi Shrine and come back when the restaurant is open.
- Even if you aren’t there when they open their doors, just let the staff know that you are now back for the noodles, and they will notify you when a table becomes available.
Uzuraya’s Business Hours and Access Information
- Uzuraya is open from 10:30 am to 4 pm or until they run out of noodles.
- For the days on which they are closed, please refer to the calendar at the bottom of their website HERE.
- The restaurant is closed on the days that are marked in pink.
- On any of the days marked in blue, the restaurant will open at 10 am.
- Uzuraya is just a 2-minute walk from Togakushi Chū-sha.
Gokurakubō (そば茶屋 極楽坊)
Gokurakubo is a restaurant of comparable popularity to Uzuraya. Instead of being situated in the busy Chūsha area, it is on the pilgrimage route, Togakushi Kodō (戸隠古道) between Chūsha and Okusha.
The restaurant’s interior is a fusion of a Western cafe and a traditional Japanese house. If you prefer not to sit on the floor or would like to sit around the hearth (Irori, 囲炉裏), as shown in the second photo in the Instagram post, please let the staff know your preference upon arrival.
Gokurakubō’s Business Hours and Access Information
- Gokurakubo is open from 10:30 am to 6 pm in summer and from 11:30 am to 6 pm in winter from mid-December.
- The restaurant closes on Thursdays.
- To get to the restaurant, you get off the bus at Togakushi Chusha (戸隠中社). From April to early December, when the bus stops at Oku-sha, you can also get off at Togakushi Oku-sha.
- From either of the bus stops, it is around a 10 to 15-minute walk.
Togakushi Soba Festival (戸隠そば祭り)
If you plan to visit Togakushi between the end of October and the beginning of November, check out the dates of the Togakushi Soba Festival.
In 2025, the festival will be held on October 30 and 31. For future festival dates, please refer to the official website HERE and use Google Chrome’s translation function, located to the right of the address bar, to translate it into English.
The 2-day festival, which begins in the late afternoon of the first day, is one of the largest events in the Togakushi area. During the festival, soba noodles made from newly harvested buckwheat are offered to the gods of the Togakushi Shrine.
If you’d like to take a peek at the rituals, check out the video on the official website HERE!
- Shukubō Gokui (宿坊極意)
- Oumeitei Tsuji Ryokan (鷹明亭 辻旅館)
- Takei Ryokan (武井旅館)
But be quick, each restaurant only offers 15 servings. We were lucky to get the last serving at Okusha-mae Naosuke (奥社前 なおすけ)! It comes with a pair of specially made chopsticks with the wording of the Togakushi Soba Festival engraved!
Hanzaru Tabe-aruki (半ざる食べ歩き)
Other Interesting Attractions in Togakushi
The mountain range of Togakushi is renowned for its breathtaking scenery reminiscent of Chinese ink paintings. Food-wise, Togakushi is known for Togakushi Soba Noodles. There is also a large campsite, a ski resort, and a Togakushi ninja school!
So, check out our article on Togakushi to discover the best restaurants for mouthwatering soba noodles, the scenic spots in the area, and more (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ.
