You must have entered a museum at some point in your life. To protect the exhibits, food and drinks are usually not allowed in most museums in the world. So, if you like noodles and want to visit an uncommon museum where you can sample noodles, visit Ibo-no-Ito Sōmen Museum (揖保乃糸資料館そうめんの里) in Tatsuno City, the museum for the sōmen noodles!
About Ibo-no-Ito Sōmen Museum
You might have heard of a type of noodle in Japan called sōmen noodles. It might be sold in your local supermarket or on the menu of a Japanese restaurant you have dined. If you like this type of thin noodles and want to know more about it, Ibo-no-Ito Sōmen Museum is the place to visit when you come to Hyōgo Prefecture!
In the museum, you will also be able to observe the manufacturing processes of sōmen, from raw dough to when the products are wrapped.
For those who like to see how things are done without machines, there are even five live demonstration sessions every day on an hourly basis from 11 am to 3 pm for the professional noodle makers to show off their skills (≧▽≦).
And if you only care about how tasty the noodles are, visit their tasting corner between 9:30 am to 12 pm and 1 to 4:30 pm to find out which types of sōmen you like the most. You can then head to their shop and grab a few packs of the noodles to take home (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ.
For more information about the museum, please visit their website HERE. Even if you want to give this spot a skip, check out their website for tips on boiling the sōmen noodles you bought from your local supermarket!
Nagashi Sōmen at Ibo-no-Ito Sōmen Museum
If you visit the restaurant in spring, summer, or autumn, the restaurant may serve Nagashi Sōmen (流しそうめん), which is a must-try if you can use chopsticks! Nagashi Sōmen is a fun style of sōmen that the Japanese eat in warmer months. The noodles will be resting in water flowing through a pipe, and you have to catch the noodles with your chopsticks before you can dip them in the sauce!
- Nagashi Sōmen is served in the courtyard from 11 am to 4 pm the 23rd of March to the 30th of November 2024.
- The last order is taken at 3:30 pm.
- The noodles are only served on weekends and public holidays in October and November.
- Self-service Nagashi Sōmen is available outdoor from 11 am to 3 pm from the 20th of April to the 25th of August.
- The last order is taken at 2:30 pm.
- The noodles are only served on weekends and public holidays from the 20th of April to the 15th of July.
Important: Please note that the sauce or broth the restaurant uses contains traces of bonito. If you are strict with your diet but still want to enjoy the noodles, we recommend you bring your own sauce when visiting the museum so you won’t be eating plain noodles.
Ibo-no-Ito Sōmen Museum’s Opening Hours, Admission Fee, and Access Information
- The museum is open from 9 am to 5 pm daily except Mondays and from the end of December to the beginning of January.
- The last admission is at 4:30 pm.
- If Monday is a public holiday, the museum will close the next business day instead.
- The sōmen restaurant – An (そうめんレストラン「庵」) is open from 11 am to 9 pm.
- The last order is taken at 8 pm.
- The admission fee is
- 300 yen for adults
- 200 yen for high school students
- 100 yen for children
- It is a 15-minute walk from JR Higashi-Hashisaki Station (東觜崎駅).
Discover Other Attractions in Tatsuno City
Tatsuno City, also known as Harima Province’s “Little Kyoto” (播磨の小京都), is a lovely city with a historical and tranquil atmosphere. Situated along the coast, there are a few of the attractions in the city come with a panorama view of the Seto Inland Sea. The city is also where you can learn how soy sauce and the thin noodles known as sōmen were made hundreds of years ago!
So, refer to our Tatsuno City article for more attractions you can visit on the day!
