On July 3, 2022 (Sunday) at 12:00, I arrived at Hanase in Kyoto City after traveling through the pouring mountain road in Kyoto's Kita district from my accommodation in Kameyama City, Kyoto Prefecture. It was lunchtime, so I decided to have something to eat and found this place on Tabelog. It is located on the 2nd floor of a building next to the craft museum in a place where you would easily pass by without a car navigation system. I later found out that it used to operate in a traditional house called Hanatakean across the street, but is now operating here due to renovations. Therefore, the restaurant name on Tabelog is different and is called "Rakuhoku Hanaseya". Upon entering the restaurant, I was greeted by a unique space filled with wall clocks. They all chimed loudly as it turned 12 o'clock. I decided to order the "Soba Sanmai" set for 2,400 yen, where you can choose three items. I selected "Hanase Soba," "Sesame Soba," and "Miso Soba." First, I was served soba grains boiled in a soup and pickles, which I enjoyed. The restaurant staff informed me that the knee blanket and chopstick rest were for me to take home, and they were made in the neighboring craft museum. It was a nice little bonus. Next, the three dishes were brought out simultaneously. They were all cold noodles with sauce to pour over, served with crispy roasted soba grains on the side. I started with the most standard "Hanase Soba" by pouring the sauce over and slurping it up. It was incredibly delicious! The light and thin-cut soba noodles had a refreshing aroma of blended sansho pepper, complemented perfectly by the grated daikon radish and sauce. I couldn't stop eating it! Next, I tried the "Sesame Soba," which was perfect for the summer season with cucumber and shredded egg on top of the noodles, combined with a sesame sauce, creating another refreshing dish. It was also incredibly delicious! Lastly, I had the "Miso Soba," which had a rich flavor from the added red miso sauce. It had a deep and complex taste that was truly satisfying. After finishing the three dishes, a sweet dessert called "Zenzai" was served. It consisted of a subtly sweet red bean soup with chewy soba dumplings. I enjoyed a leisurely soba tea after the meal and sampled some soba seed candies, which I ended up buying as souvenirs. The service, atmosphere, taste, and overall experience at this soba restaurant were top-notch! Despite the heavy rain outside, I left the restaurant feeling satisfied and continued my journey north, enjoying some delicious mackerel sushi on the way up the steep and winding Hanase Pass on Route 367.

Soba Hanaseya Hanase Soba, Large Serving, ¥2100 Located in Hanase Bessho-cho, this soba restaurant is open only for lunch on weekends and holidays. It is located next to the Hanase Craft Museum, where you can enjoy a collection of pendulum clocks. At the beginning, soba flower stems soup and pickles are served as a complimentary dish, which is delicious. The soba is served in a bukkake style with grated daikon radish and the wonderful aroma of Hanase-produced sansho pepper on top. It seems that Hokkaido soba flour is being used, and I was able to enjoy delicious handmade soba noodles. The hand towel that can be used as a knee blanket became a memorable souvenir.

Japan Delicious Food Tour. August 2021. No.1148. Number of reviews: 1288. While driving on Route 477 from Kyoto Kurama, I happened to stop by a place that caught my interest. The location was great and the atmosphere inside the restaurant was nice. I ordered the "Soba Sanmai" for 2400 yen. The meal started with a soba grain porridge appetizer, which was gentle on the stomach and whetted my appetite. Then, three types of soba noodles were served, all of them delicious. Finally, I had the Zenkai, which also had a gentle flavor that made me feel warm inside. I received a hand towel and chopstick rest as souvenirs. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

Soba No.17 *\(^o^)/* I got tired from picking mountain vegetables, so let's go eat lunch *\(^o^)/* When I first moved here, I visited once, but it was always closed, so I thought maybe they had closed down. After looking it up, I found out they are only open on weekends. I didn't know it was still in business since I don't usually pass by on weekends. It took about 20 minutes by car even though it's close. I thought it was a restaurant converted from a farmhouse, but it turns out the soba shop is on the second floor next to the former miscellaneous goods store. The building has an old-fashioned warehouse style, with antique clocks displayed inside. I ordered the Hanase Soba with sansho pepper and grated daikon. They served a small amount of soba porridge to warm up the stomach. The simple and delicious soba was served in two portions. I enjoyed it with nori, bonito flakes, sansho pepper, grated daikon, and roasted soba seeds, each with its own flavor. The soba was delicious and I even had a second serving of soba tea. The slightly dim interior of the restaurant allowed me to relax and enjoy the view outside the window. I look forward to trying the other soba dishes on my next visit. It's less than an hour from Kyoto city center, and only 30 minutes from Kurama. The road is narrow, but buses also run, so it's safe. You can enjoy the wonderful scenery nearby. Since there are no other shops nearby, I recommend making a reservation. You can also take home a cute hand towel or a bird-shaped chopstick rest. Hand towels can be quite expensive at specialty stores, so considering that, soba is quite affordable, right? (((o(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)o)))♡

I went to a pottery market in Hanseki and found a soba restaurant. It was my first time trying soba with a hint of sansho pepper, but it was delicious. I went there about three times. I haven't been able to go there in recent years, so I wonder how it is now. You need a car to get there, and it's located in the mountains, which makes the taste even more enjoyable. I would like to go there again.

After climbing Mount Unotori, I stopped by this restaurant. It's located about a 15-minute walk towards Kyoto from the Hanase Kogen-mae bus stop at the trailhead. When I placed my order, they asked about my transportation, and when I mentioned I came by bus, they kindly offered to let me wait inside until the bus arrived. It was very much appreciated as I waited for the bus after the hike. The courtyard was filled with blooming flowers, creating a relaxing atmosphere. I ordered the sansho soba for 1600 yen. The noodles were thin and had an elegant and delicate flavor. I was expecting something more rustic, but it pleasantly surprised me. I would like to visit again.

In November 2013, I visited Kurama again to see the autumn leaves. At the entrance, it said "Reservations only for entering the hermitage." I decided to try my luck and rang the bell at the entrance. A staff member came out and said, "It's okay for two people." Yay! The air around here was clear, and there was a stove in the room. The hearth in the entrance room also had a fire. Today's soba was sesame flavored with a dipping sauce made of sesame. It had a fragrant aroma. It was delicious, but for me, the vinegar was a bit too strong. I wanted to try the warm soba because it was cold, but they only serve it from December onwards. Recently, reservations are required on weekdays. Weekends may be okay without a reservation, but it's recommended to make one if possible. I revisited the place. To get here, you pass through Kamigamo from Kyoto city, drive past Kyoto Sangyo University, and head towards Mt. Kurama. The area around Kibune had started to show autumn colors, making it a nice drive. It was 10 degrees at Hanase Pass. Cold! I kept driving and arrived in less than an hour from the city. Today, I chose sansho pepper and miso flavors for my soba. I also ordered soba gluten dango. The soba already had sansho pepper kneaded into it, and you eat it with different flavored broth. Before the soba, they served simmered daikon radish and soba seed porridge. After the meal, they served soba tea. Everything had a strong soba aroma, and the sansho pepper added a nice touch, making it easy to eat. They mentioned that when it gets colder, they will start serving warm dishes like tempura. If only it were closer... By the way, while relaxing on the veranda, I saw something moving in the garden! A monkey! It really is in the mountains (^^;) I had heard about this soba restaurant. I couldn't find it once before and almost gave up, but on a hot summer day, I decided to search for it during a cooling drive. I found it! I found the soba restaurant. Finally found it just before closing time. Well, it was actually 3 minutes before closing time. I thought it was hopeless again this time, but I went to the entrance of the restaurant. Huh? No customers (TT) Maybe it's still a no-go... Just when I was about to give up, a staff member came from the back. "Soba? Shall I make it for you?" "Can I order?" "Sure, no problem." Yes! It was worth coming here~ The restaurant is in an old traditional house, with a hearth and a veranda, creating a fantastic atmosphere! While Kyoto city (this place is also in the city) was easily over 35 degrees, here it was below 25 degrees, with no air conditioning or fans in the room. The cool breeze flowing through the room was so comfortable. Now, the important part, the soba. It was like a small course, and the staff's explanation was thorough. The addition of flavors like sesame and sansho pepper enhanced the original flavor of the soba, making it very delicious. Next time, I'll take my time and try more varieties! Despite it being past closing time, the owner kindly explained the garden and escorted me to the parking lot after paying the bill. Thank you very much. Itadakimasu!

This is a soba restaurant located at the foot of Hanase Pass on Route 477, which is famous for its bad road conditions. The building is a traditional house with a unique and modern art-inspired gate and interior. When you order soba, it takes a while so you can pass the time by looking at the garden or walking around inside the house. The building itself is wonderful so just zoning out will make time fly by. After a while, soba grain porridge is served as an appetizer. It has a gentle flavor that stimulates your appetite. I ordered the sansho soba, which costs 1,600 yen like the other four types available. The sansho soba has grated daikon radish and sansho pepper sprinkled on top, making it a typical grated soba dish. I usually prefer thick, chewy country-style soba, but this refined soba was delicious and satisfying. Also, you get a hand towel as a souvenir, which is a nice bonus. Overall, the location is excellent and it's definitely worth visiting this restaurant. One last tip, there are various ways to get to this restaurant, but make sure to take the route from Kurama Temple (Prefectural Route 38). The roads from Kibune (Prefectural Route 361) or Ohara (Route 477) are extremely rough. Even if it's a bit of a detour, you should definitely go from the Kurama side.

Please go there. It's located in a really unexpected place (laughs) You can see it on a map or navigation system, but you'll still be surprised when you actually get there. Especially during snowy seasons, be sure to be careful. The food and atmosphere are amazing, and the staff is wonderful. A few years ago, a local treated me to a meal there, and I've been wanting to go back ever since. The portions are not very big, so men might find it a bit lacking, and even women might feel it's a bit small. If you go thinking "I want to eat a lot," it could end up being quite expensive, which is a bit disappointing. If you really love soba, you probably wouldn't care about the cost, but for those who don't, considering the effort it takes to get there, I think it's just right to rate it 3rd place. It takes me about 2 hours from home to get there (sweat). If you happen to be in the Kurama area, it's perfect for a light meal. Note: It's best to call ahead to confirm the opening hours and days off.

I visited the Shimein Temple to enjoy the Andromeda flowers, but the head priest mentioned that they had already fallen, which was a sight to behold. Since it was a long weekend, I took the back roads through Kyoto and passed by the Kamigamo Shrine. I couldn't resist buying some horse-shaped rice cakes at the Kamado Hall. The Andromeda flowers were only about 30% in bloom, but there were still flowers on the old camellia trees. I felt like I got lucky. I passed through the Woody Keihoku and Tokisho-ji Temple, and made my way to a restaurant that I couldn't find on Eatigo. I called the restaurant and an employee came out to guide me to the entrance. The hand towel they provided was stylish and I bought a souvenir to remember the visit. The menu was simple, with options like soba with sansho pepper, sesame, miso, or plum. I chose miso while my companion chose sansho pepper. The soba rice porridge was deliciously simple. Unfortunately, I couldn't have any beer as I was driving. The side dishes of fried mochi, tofu, and miso-flavored wheat gluten were all tasty. The pickled vegetables served with the beer were also delicious. The atmosphere of the restaurant was charmingly rustic. It would have been perfect to enjoy some sake and side dishes before the soba, but I had to drive. Nonetheless, it was a delightful meal.

On our wedding anniversary, my husband remembered a soba restaurant called Hanase Soba that we visited about 10 years ago, and we decided to go there again. It was located in a place that made us wonder if there could be a restaurant there, as we had to pass through a mountain road to get there. The interior of the restaurant was like an old house that had been renovated, giving us a feeling of traveling back in time. It felt like visiting grandma's house. The restaurant was very spacious, so my husband and I explored around. Since there were no other customers, we were able to wander freely. While we were exploring, our soba was served. Before the soba, we were served soba tea and pickles. It was a bit cold, so the warm tea helped us to warm up. And the soba... it was delicious! We tried both the regular soba and the plum-flavored soba, and both were tasty. As a bonus, we were served soba mochi as a service. My husband, who usually doesn't like sweet things, even said it was delicious! I also enjoyed the unique taste that I hadn't tried much before. Thank you for the meal!

I had some business to attend to in Hanakoshiji, so I visited "Hanatakean" in Bessho village, just beyond the Hanakoshiji Pass. It used to have a thatched roof, but now it has been renovated as shown in the picture. I visited in the early afternoon and noticed that there were many cars parked in the parking lot, indicating its popularity. Inside, there was a cozy atmosphere with a hearth and various seating options like tatami mats and tables. I went with an acquaintance and we chose to sit on the veranda. The sound of wind chimes swaying in the wind was quite elegant. We ordered the recommended "Hanakoshi Soba" this time. It came with two types of soba topped with chopped seaweed and bonito flakes, and grated radish to eat with. I thought it was just soba, but it also came with a pre-meal drink, sesame tofu, and rice balls. The soba had a unique flavor with Japanese pepper mixed in. I was pleasantly surprised by its rich taste. We also received an original knee blanket placed under the chopsticks in the photo of the soba, which made me happy. Enjoying soba in the peaceful atmosphere was a delightful experience. Highly recommended.

A friend invited me to a delicious soba restaurant that will be temporarily closed soon, so I went there. It's located behind Mt. Kurama in Kyoto, and after crossing the mountain, I arrived at the restaurant. The old house was renovated and the calm interior was very relaxing. You can also see the garden and enjoy the view. I even saw a snake in the garden, adding to the natural atmosphere. I ordered the following soba dishes: - Hanase Soba (1680 yen): Two dishes arrived, one was regular soba and the other had yomogi mixed in. The simple soba was light and refreshing. - Gomaaji Soba (1680 yen): Soba served with sesame sauce. The sauce had a strong sesame flavor with a hint of vinegar, which I really enjoyed. However, the strong sesame flavor might overpower the delicate taste of the soba. The soba set also included soba rice tea and pickles. The soba rice was a unique experience, with a texture similar to tapioca pearls. It wasn't particularly delicious but it was interesting to try. I also had the following side dishes: - Deep-fried mochi - Cold brew coffee Additionally, you can receive a hand towel as a souvenir. The staff was very friendly and explained everything in detail. It was a great experience coming all the way to this restaurant. The temporary closure is due to the thatching of the roof, so make sure to call and confirm before visiting.

It used to be a café on the other side of the road, but it has somehow transformed into a countryside restaurant, which is a bit confusing. This place is called Hanase no Sato, with the kanji characters for "worldly detachment" written on the sign, giving off a transcendent vibe. To get here, you have to navigate the narrow winding mountain pass from Kurama Temple. Sometimes a bus comes, but for unfamiliar visitors, it can feel like a treacherous road. Bears still appear occasionally, and there are more deer, boars, and monkeys than people. It truly feels like a place detached from the world. There used to be a ski resort here without a lift. In this atmosphere, even simple dishes like soba noodles and tempura taste exceptional. Soba is grown in this area, but the quantity is minimal. There are no soba restaurants in the deep mountains of Kyoto. It's a bit pricey, but highly recommended.

This is a soba restaurant located on a mountain road, after crossing a mountain pass from Kyoto city. The shop has a thatched roof and inside there is a hearth, as well as handmade soba-based sweets for sale. There are tatami seating as well as table seating available. Across the street, there is also a gallery. I ordered the "Hanase Soba". The soba itself has sansho pepper kneaded into it, giving it a wonderful fragrance. The texture is good, and you can really taste the flavor of the soba. Two bowls are served, each topped with shredded seaweed and bonito flakes. You pour grated daikon radish dashi over each bowl before eating. Additionally, topping the soba with roasted soba seeds adds a deliciously fragrant touch. The "Sesame Soba" comes in a two-tiered container, with soba and sesame sauce in separate compartments. You eat it by dipping the soba in the sesame sauce, similar to cold noodles. The aroma of sesame is excellent and it was delicious. I also ordered the soba tea pudding! It truly tasted like soba tea itself. On top, there is a sauce made from crushed soba seeds which adds a crunchy texture. It is worth making the effort to cross the mountain pass and visit this place.

"Hanase Soba," which was located on the east side of Route 477, has moved to a building that resembles an old traditional house on the west side of the road. The entrance is marked by a "kachikan" noren curtain and gate. The restaurant is housed in a splendid traditional house in the Hanase village style, with a charming noren curtain hanging. There is a drum at the entrance, and when you hit it, a staff member will come out. The interior of the restaurant is in a folk art style. There were "soba seeds kinpintou" placed on the tables, with a sign saying "please have one," but they were so delicious that I ended up eating two (sorry). First, a pre-meal sake and soba miso pickled cucumber and daikon pickles were served, but since I drove there, I only took a sip of the sake. It was a shame because it was delicious! The pickles were clearly delicious. Next, there was a porridge-like dish made from cooked soba seeds, flavored with umeboshi. It had an elegant taste. Finally, the main dish of soba arrived. There were two types: one topped with shredded seaweed and the other with bonito flakes. You sprinkle soba seeds on top and pour in the dashi broth with grated daikon. It was twice the size of a regular zaru soba. This "Hanase Soba" costs 1,570 yen. I was satisfied with this meal, but there are other menu options available.

When I was in Kyoto, my mother and I visited a restaurant. We drove over Mount Kurama and continued on, until we reached a surprising location where the restaurant was located. We parked the car and entered the empty restaurant. When we ordered soba noodles, we were told, "We will make it from scratch, so please wait about 40 minutes." Although we were surprised, we decided to wait. During the wait, we were served treats like kinako candy. When the soba noodles arrived, we were surprised to find that they were served with miso sauce instead of the usual soba dipping sauce. However, it was incredibly delicious and my mother was very pleased. The restaurant is quite far from Kyoto city and practically requires a car to get there. Taking a taxi would be expensive. But if you have the chance, I highly recommend visiting this restaurant as it is truly worth it.

A cozy soba restaurant with a thatched roof, surrounded by flowers. It has a veranda, a small garden, and tatami rooms. The veranda has low tables, lily chairs, and wind chimes that create a soothing atmosphere, just like a grandma's house. The meal starts with sake, pickles, miso, soba porridge, soba tea, and finally, the delicious soba noodles. The portion size is generous. I spent two hours there, feeling relaxed and wanting to stay longer. It's a place I would love to visit again on a hot summer day.