From Ichimura in Kutchan Town to here... The sight of hopping from soba shop to soba shop is like a bee dancing among the flowers in the soba fields. When I entered, the gentle and courteous female owner welcomed me... which was a bit surprising as I will explain later. - Mori Soba (buckwheat noodles) 750 yen - Maguro (tuna) small bowl rice bowl 650 yen The soba noodles were finely cut with a slight greenish tint, likely due to the production method, and had a smooth texture despite being 100% buckwheat. After a delicate aroma, there was a refined sweetness. The noodles did not stick together, although the texture was tight. The broth was elegant with a rich bonito flavor and several umami elements. The broth was light with a clear and slightly spicy finish. The real surprise was the maguro small bowl rice bowl. It featured high-quality tuna (otoro, chutoro, akami) on top of sticky vinegared rice, reminiscent of sushi restaurant quality, and was satisfying in terms of cost-performance. If you look around the restaurant, you'll notice that it is connected to the neighboring sushi restaurant, so I imagine the chef may also be running the soba shop. Now, the reason I mentioned it was surprising at the beginning... The restaurant has various restrictions such as no smartphones allowed (unclear if photos are allowed) and no children, which has led to negative reviews. However, I found the atmosphere surprisingly welcoming. A friend I met on Facebook commented on this, saying that the restrictions actually make it a hassle-free and enjoyable dining experience. It made sense. The food was delicious, and the meal was enjoyable and meaningful, so I hope they can open their doors to various situations. While it may seem like they are losing out due to their impressions, it's also true that each restaurant has its own aesthetics and values the atmosphere. And of course, there are indeed inconsiderate customers who can cause trouble, so it may be necessary to understand and respect the restaurant's rules.

I wanted to eat delicious soba, so I went to Maguroya Jyuuwari recommended by an acquaintance. The soba was finely cut and made with 100% buckwheat, allowing you to fully enjoy the aroma of the soba. Despite being 100% buckwheat, it was smooth and had a good texture. The dipping sauce was on the richer side, but it paired well with the soba and was delicious. The maguro small dish had four large pieces of tuna, including chu-toro and akami, served with tasty red vinegar rice. Lastly, I had soba-yu which was very delicious. The only downside was that the use of smartphones was prohibited in the restaurant, and it is more geared towards adults, so it may not be very child-friendly.

I waited until my donburi arrived while listening to the TV sound only. I was told not to use my smartphone because it was "smartphone prohibited", even though I wasn't talking on the phone or taking pictures everywhere with my phone (I understand if photography is prohibited). There were only two of us in the restaurant. Why? If they want the inside of the restaurant to be quiet, the TV sound is louder. The duck and sweet and sour burdock soba (1150 yen) had a strong aftertaste of seasoning, so I hurried to buy a drink at the convenience store and drank it. I probably won't go there again.

Located in a corner where the town hall and fire station in the center of Niseko gather, this soba restaurant has a strong emphasis on rules such as no smartphones allowed and no children allowed. The soba noodles, made by the owner, have a nice firm texture and are satisfying to eat. This time, I ordered the chicken and burdock soba, which paired well with the slightly salty broth. I also had some soba-yu, which was quite thick and creamy, making it quite filling on its own. The cold soba and tuna bowl also looked delicious, so I would like to come back again if I have the chance. Thank you for the meal!

The sushi restaurant next door was busier with a few cars waiting, but inside, there were only three of us. Later, two more people arrived. The three of us ordered our usual: soba noodles and a small tuna bowl. It was my friend's first time at this restaurant, and she immediately tried to take out her smartphone, but my wife showed her the menu's note about the no-phone rule, so she gave up. The soba and tuna bowl arrived, and we ate in silence as the restaurant had a rule of quiet dining. The tuna was only medium fatty tuna, no premium fatty tuna, but the balance of lean and fatty tuna with the vinegared rice was delicious. The bill came to 1400 yen per person. As soon as we left, we all exclaimed, "That was delicious!" Despite the tense atmosphere, the soba and tuna bowl were truly delicious. We drove 90 kilometers just to come here. It's really worth it, as my friend who came for the first time also said. If only this restaurant allowed children like the sushi place next door, maybe I could bring my grandchildren here too. Thank you for the meal.

Niseko is a touring course for motorcycles and a drive course for my wife and me. The lunch dilemma led us to "Maguroya Jyuwari", which is pretty much our only choice. The soba here has a rich flavor and sweetness, with a strong texture despite being made from 100% soba. The broth is on the richer side, and even if you dilute it with soba water, it's hard to finish all of it. The highlight here is the maguro small bowl, which is always a treat. The acidity and aging of the maguro vary each day, and the toro, chutoro, and akami are all incredibly delicious. Served on red vinegar rice, the maguro's fat is so tasty. This maguro small bowl costs 680 yen and can only be ordered if you also get soba. For maguro lovers, the cost-performance ratio is excellent. If you were to have this maguro served at a sushi restaurant, you'd see nothing but dollar signs in your mind. The downside of this place is the many restrictions: no children allowed, keep conversations quiet (even before the pandemic), and no smartphone use. Whether the owner dislikes noise or thinks children won't appreciate the flavors, it's frustrating. But for the delicious maguro bowl, we endure the 90-kilometer journey. We've accepted that we have to follow the restaurant's rules to enjoy the fantastic maguro bowl and soba. Our bill for soba and the maguro small bowl was around 1400 yen, with no option for extra servings.

On a Sunday afternoon in September, I revisited the restaurant. It seems they have new soba noodles. As the weather has cooled down, I enjoyed warm soba noodles with a side of tuna sashimi. The warm soba noodles were comforting. The thickly sliced akami, chutoro, and toro tuna melted in my mouth. The vinegared rice was also perfectly seasoned. It was delicious and satisfying. After this, I went to a hot spring at Yusoinkaku and ended my day trip to Niseko.

I had been hearing from friends that the hand-made soba shop was delicious. I entered the shop around 1:30 pm on Sunday. The shop was small and almost full with about 10 customers. I ordered zaru soba and a small plate of three kinds of tuna for an additional ¥600. The soba was made with 100% buckwheat and had very thin noodles that were not crumbly. After finishing the soba, I tried the tuna small plate. As I had heard, it was delicious. It included tuna akami, chutoro, and three other cuts that I couldn't identify. The balance of vinegared rice and soy sauce-flavored rice was good. I was able to enjoy the umami of the tuna and left satisfied. When I left the shop, I found out that they were closing for the day. I will definitely visit again.

The 800 yen tuna bowl is worth it. Rich soba soup.