Home > Otaru Tourism Portal > Otaru Soba

Japanese people enjoy various noodles such as soba, udon, ramen, pasta, and somen. Among these, soba is uniquely associated with "Japan" in its name, making it a very familiar food culture for Japanese people.

Currently, soba refers to long, thin noodles, but until the mid-Edo period, soba usually meant "sobagaki," which was dough shaped into dumplings. After "soba-kiri," which involved cutting sobagaki into thin strips, was invented, the noodle form we know today became common. It is said that the origin of the "soba restaurant" dates back to 1789, when Uemon, an itinerant merchant from Shinshu, put up a sign that read "Shinshu Sarashina Soba-dokoro" in Azabu Nagasakacho, Edo.

Subsequently, the culture of eating soba spread throughout Japan, and each region developed its own unique soba culture. Currently, Hokkaido ranks first nationwide in both soba cultivation area and production volume, and soba culture is deeply rooted here in Otaru as well. We will introduce some excellent soba restaurants in Otaru.

Giving Otaru.

From UNGAPLUS, delivering "The Story of Otaru,"
which has walked hand-in-hand with Kitamae-bune ships,
from the "Former Otaru Warehouse" overlooking the canal,
we introduce "Places to Visit in Otaru."

Please enjoy "Otaru."

See More About Otaru Cuisine

Delicious Otaru Soba - Otaru Sightseeing ①

Otaru Soba-ya Yabuhan

A famous restaurant you must visit when in Otaru.

A long-established soba restaurant founded in Showa 29 (1954), located in an alley about a 5-minute walk from Otaru Station. It's a famous restaurant you must visit when in Otaru. The atmospheric Japanese-style building exudes the prestige of a renowned establishment. The building is a grand structure created by combining the stone warehouse of the herring fishery's net master, Shiratori family, the historic building "Gorakuen (former Tomojiro Kanazawa Residence)," and an old traditional Japanese restaurant. You can choose from two types of soba: local flour noodles (from Hokkaido) and normal flour noodles (blended with foreign wheat). Recommended dishes include "Nishin Soba," which embodies the "Otaru-ness" of the port town that prospered from herring fishing, and the popular "Uni Toji Soba." The restaurant's hidden number one dish, "Curry Soba," is also a must-try.

Delicious Otaru Soba - Otaru Sightseeing ②

【CLOSED】Teuchi Soba Kimura

Soba said to be among the best in the city.

"Teuchi Soba Kimura" opened in 2009 (Heisei 21), when the owner, a chef in Otaru for over 30 years, pursued his passion for soba and renovated the first floor of his home. The owner's passion and diligence for soba produce noodles said to be among the best in the city. The soba flour is a homemade blend of Nanbu Zairai from Kuromatsunai and Kitawase from Bihoro. This is a specialty soba restaurant that hand-makes soba with an "soba-ichi" ratio (meaning 10 parts soba flour to 1 part wheat flour). Although located in a residential area away from the city center, it is a thriving restaurant with people flocking to it during lunchtime.

Delicious Otaru Soba - Otaru Sightseeing ③

Teuchi Soba Ironai

Listed in the Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2017.

"Teuchi Soba Ironai" is a soba restaurant located in a stone warehouse on Ironai Street. It opened in 2004 (Heisei 16) after the stone warehouse was renovated. It serves handmade, coarsely ground soba made with buckwheat flour from Horokanai Town, Hokkaido. This highly regarded restaurant was even listed in the Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2017. Approximately 30 portions are prepared daily, and the restaurant closes once they are sold out. The limited edition 'Inaka Soba', made with slightly thicker noodles, is exquisite.

Delicious Otaru Soba - Otaru Sightseeing ④

Nama Soba Ichifuku

A name that always comes up when you ask soba lovers.

"Nama Soba Ichifuku," which opened on June 2, 1894 (Meiji 27) and has been in business for approximately 130 years, was established by its first owner from Tottori, who immigrated to Hokkaido to make a name for himself. Currently run by the fourth generation, it is a restaurant that always comes up when you ask soba lovers in the city. It is the oldest existing soba restaurant in Otaru. For many years, it has been a popular local establishment, and its smooth sarashina soba pairs exquisitely with the dipping sauce, making it delicious.

Delicious Otaru Soba - Otaru Sightseeing ⑤

Aramata

Sarashina-style nigari soba finished white and thin.

Aramata, run by an owner who trained for 13 years at the famous Otaru restaurant "Yabuhan" before going independent, offers sarashina-style nigari soba that is white and thinly made. Located across from Chuo Market, the restaurant has a hidden atmosphere, with a narrow entrance leading to the discreet establishment. The dimly lit interior has a slightly mature ambiance. Both the soba flour and the wheat flour for the binding are all from Hokkaido. The chewy, smooth soba is supported by a broth with a pleasantly sharp and clear flavor. To enhance the flavor of the broth, bonito flakes are shaved just before brewing. In the evening, the soba menu is limited to standard dishes, with a selection of à la carte dishes to enjoy with sake.

Delicious Otaru Soba - Otaru Sightseeing ⑥

Soba-dokoro Kobiyama

Handmade "Juwari Soba" made with buckwheat flour from Rankoshi.

"Soba-dokoro Kobiyama" moved from Chuo Market to the Hanazono area in May 2023.
The handmade "Juwari Soba" (100% buckwheat flour) made with buckwheat flour from Rankoshi is thin and has an excellent texture. The "kaeshi" (soba dipping sauce base) uses soy sauce from a brewery that has been operating in Nagano since the Edo period. Recommended is the "Iwanori Soba," where the aroma of rock seaweed spreads in a slightly sweet broth.

*The photos below are of the old store.

Delicious Otaru Soba - Otaru Sightseeing ⑦

Soba & Saké-dokoro Kurumiya

Handmade inaka soba prepared from 6 AM.

"Soba & Saké-dokoro Kurumiya" opened on October 7, 2018, about a 10-minute walk from Minami-Otaru Station, next to Otaru Sumiyoshi Shrine. Upon entering, the first thing that catches your eye is the stylish table with an irori (hearth) that seats 10, and the spacious raised tatami seating area. The owner prepares handmade inaka soba from 6 AM. The dashi (broth) is made from Rishiri kelp and 3-5 types of bonito flakes, and the kaeshi (soba dipping sauce base) uses soy sauce from Chiba Prefecture. As the large "Saké" sign at the entrance suggests, "Soba-mae" (sake and appetizers enjoyed before soba) is also a specialty.

Delicious Otaru Soba - Otaru Sightseeing ⑧

Nantaru Sunaba

Recommended is the famous "Nishin Soba."

"Nantaru Sunaba" is located in front of JR Minami-Otaru Station. The soba and soup feature "Nihachi Soba," which uses 80% buckwheat flour and 20% wheat flour. You can choose between handmade, medium-thick, slightly flat inaka soba and sarashina soba made with white buckwheat flour from the first milling. Both offer excellent aroma, texture, and a satisfying chew. The rich, slightly sweet soup perfectly complements the noodles, filling your mouth with robust flavor. The restaurant's recommendation is the famous "Nishin Soba."

UNGAPLUS

Good fortune from Otaru, the shipping city...
May the continuous flow protect you,
and may your own fortune open up.

Otaru prospered as the gateway to Hokkaido's development in the Meiji era.
Kitamae-bune ships sailed the vast ocean with their white sails, bringing many goods and cultures to this land through their trade with Honshu.

UNGAPLUS delivers original products embodying the history and culture that still remain in Otaru, from the "Former Otaru Warehouse Main Building," Hokkaido's first commercial warehouse built by Kitamae-bune shipowners Sozaemon Nishide and Shohachi Nishitani, along with fine goods from the ports of call of the Kitamae-bune.

From this place, we share the story of Otaru, which has walked hand-in-hand with the Kitamae-bune.

We await your visit, offering a selection of unique original items that also make delightful souvenirs.

Click here for "UNGAPLUS" details