Making soba in Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture was fun to make and delicious to eat! We tried a soba-making experience at the National Bihoku Hillside Park 🥢🔥 When it comes to uniquely Japanese food, soba is a must. Served chilled on a bamboo tray in summer and in hot broth in winter, it’s enjoyed year-round. Did you know the National Bihoku Hillside Park in Shobara City offers soba-making workshops? This time, Momoka Matsumoto and Shogo Ikebuchi tried making soba for the first time! Here’s a report on the process and its highlights. Read the article here 🔽 https://www.shobara-info.com/report/5352...

Shiojiri’s Two Signature Local Dishes: Sanzoku-yaki and Shinshu Soba ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sanzoku-yaki Actually born in Shiojiri! The bold, dramatic sanzoku-yaki that’s a hit on social media Sanzoku-yaki, a whole fried chicken thigh served with theatrical flair, actually traces its roots to a restaurant called Sanzoku in Shiojiri City. After much trial and error, the founding couple perfected the cooking method. They named the shop “Sanzoku” (bandit) and the dish “sanzoku-yaki” because a scene in the then-popular film Seven Samurai showed bandits tearing into a chicken, the shop stood near a mountain pass, and—believe it or not—the couple themselves looked like bandits. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Soba For soba lovers: the birthplace of “sobakiri” (cut soba) — Motoyama-juku in Shiojiri In earlier times, “soba” referred to a dumpling-like food similar to what we now call sobagaki. The long, thin noodles we picture today are called sobakiri (cut soba) and were distinguished from the dumpling form. The place where sobakiri first appeared is Motoyama-juku in present-day Shiojiri City. As a post town on the Nakasendo, Motoyama-juku welcomed many travelers, and sobakiri born there is said to have spread across the country along those routes. Shiojiri’s climate, with large daily and seasonal temperature differences, has long suited high-quality buckwheat cultivation, so soba has been grown here for ages. The oldest written reference to Motoyama-juku’s sobakiri appears in the haibun anthology Fuzoku Bunsen compiled by Morikawa Kyoro in Hōei 2 (1705). It records: “Soba-kiri originally came from Motoyama-juku in Shinano Province and was widely popular throughout the provinces.”

Introducing hands-on tours you can enjoy in Tokachi, Hokkaido 😄 — Ride across vast pastureland — Tokachi Toyokoro: Leisurely Bicycle Journey Toyokoro, located in the eastern Tokachi plain, is a nature-rich town with mountains, rivers, and the sea. You’ll join guided cycling tours led by local cyclists who will take you along scenic routes for nature and history exploration, plus forest roads (gravel roads) that offer magnificent views. For lunch, deepen your connection with producers through a soba-making experience using ingredients from local farms. The basic course covers 40 km. Electric-assist rental bikes are available, so beginners can enjoy the ride. You can also switch to an 80 km course or tailor the route to your available time. Tour Schedule 9:00 Meet at Kokoro Terrace 9:05 Bike preparation and course briefing For rental bikes, you can choose from five cross bikes or three mountain bikes with electric assist. 9:30 Cycling tour across pastures and forest roads Once ready, we leave Toyokoro town and head out to a spectacular road lined with wide pastureland. 12:30 Soba-making experience using local ingredients After cycling, take part in a soba-making session and then taste the noodles you made. 14:00 Tour ends Operating season: July–October Time: 9:00–14:00 (about 5 hours) Group size: 2–10 people Price: 26,400 yen per adult ■ Please make your reservation at least 14 days before your planned date. ■ Due to guide availability and other factors, we may not be able to accommodate your preferred date. Thank you for your understanding. Why not take in the expansive scenery while cycling and enjoy a refreshing break from everyday life? After the exercise, the soba-making experience offers a great chance to meet locals and learn more about the town’s charm, agriculture, and food culture. The soba you make yourself will taste even more special. We hope the Tokachi experience will become a memorable page in your travel diary 😄 If you’re interested, please visit the federation’s official website page “BEHIND THE GOOD TASTE — A Journey Connecting to Tokachi’s Food Origins” via the URL below. Contact KUNAU Publishing Co., Ltd. Slow Travel HOKKAIDO Email: slh@slow-life-hokkaido.com https://tokachibare.jp/behindthegoodtaste/...