2023.1 "Ochi-an" is a soba restaurant located in Minamifurano, at a side road near the intersection where Route 38 splits towards Karikachi Pass and Tomamu. The restaurant is housed in a log cabin-style building. I thought it might be closed in the winter as there was no sign outside, but it was actually open when I visited. The owner's dog greeted me at the entrance. This dog freely roams inside and outside the restaurant, and when I sat down, it kept sniffing around my crotch area, which was quite amusing. The interior of the restaurant reflects the owner's unique taste. I ordered the "tororo soba," which was served in less than 20 minutes. The hand-cut soba had a slightly chewy texture but a strong and delicious flavor. Mixing the raw egg and grated yam into the soba created a delightful combination. Overall, I found the soba to be best enjoyed without any additional condiments. I would love to visit again. The restaurant prepares soba on weekends and operates by reservation on weekdays due to low customer traffic. Please be mindful of the dog's curiosity, including towards your crotch area, when visiting.

- 6/28 Visit - Today, after finishing the on-site inspection in Akadaira, I made a stop at around 12:30 on my way to Obihiro. I was greeted at the entrance by a dog rubbing against me (*^_^*). I thought the dog would come in with me, but it turned around and left (^_^;). Unfortunately, I entered alone and sat at the usual seat. I ordered grated natto soba (bukkake) today♪ A 21-year-old cat was napping on the sofa by the window♫ It appeared in about 10 minutes! The soba had plenty of chopped seaweed on top, with a raw egg on top, tenkasu on the bottom, and natto in between♪ First, I tried the soba... The soba this time didn't have the mushy texture like last time, but it was still mostly short-cut soba (・。・;). I mixed the raw egg and enjoyed it )^o^( Delicious!♪ Whether it's the egg, natto, seaweed, tenkasu, or soup, everything tasted delicious when mixed with the soba (^o^)／ I finished it in no time!! I enjoyed it with the rich soba broth ( ^)o(^ ) Delicious!♪ It made me feel warm and cozy (*^^)v I will visit again soon... - 2012, 8/8 Long-awaited visit - It's been a while since I visited due to the timing not working out, so it was a long-awaited visit on my way from Asahikawa to Obihiro (^_^;). I arrived a little after 11:30 with no other customers. A cat greeted me at the entrance (笑), but I couldn't see Chie-chan anywhere (・。・;). I sat at a table, and Chie-chan came over from somewhere and started rubbing against my legs (嬉). Today, I ordered "mori soba" with egg and grated topping!♪ It arrived in about 15 minutes!♪ First, I put the egg yolk in the dipping sauce and enjoyed it )^o^( Delicious♪ Hmm!! This time, the soba felt a bit mushy... The soba was also a bit too crumbly (*_*;). Maybe the dough wasn't kneaded enough... Due to the soba quality this time, I had to lower my rating a bit (^_^;) Hmm!! This time, the soba was a bit disappointing... However, the soba broth was still rich and deliciousヽ(^o^)丿 - 5/21 Long-awaited visit - In the morning, I had a sudden phone call to go to Kaoi for a meeting, so I decided to have lunch soba here! I arrived via Tomamu, in the winter, this hidden soba restaurant in the mountains of Ochiai on the Furano side is hardly open. Even though I arrived at 11:30, there were no other customers. I took off my shoes, entered, and sat down, and a black dog came to my feet and wagged its tail♪ It was my first meeting with Chie-chan, who I hadn't seen in a while (*^_^*). When I asked the owner for the name, it was Chie-chan (*^_^*). While keeping Chie-chan company, I ordered the "sansai tempura soba" from the menu, which wasn't available before. Even during the waiting time, Chie-chan didn't leave my side (笑). Dogs have always been popular with peopleｖ(=^・・^=). It arrived in about 10 minutes!... There are wild vegetables and wheat gluten in it (笑). Hmm!! There are wild vegetable tempura in it♪ Delicious!!＼(^o^)／ I also tried the soba... The warm soba lacked firmness, but it had a sweet taste from the ingredients and was deliciousｄ(^○^). The dipping sauce was not too sweet, and I liked the taste... I finished it in one go without putting down the bowl (●＾o＾●). The cold soba was also delicious, but I can also enjoy warm soba (*^^)v There are also other options like "curry kishimen" and "Ezo deer curry," so if you have the chance, please visit (^o^)／

I had been curious about this restaurant for a while, and I finally had the chance to visit. It is located on the Furano side of the Karikachi Pass, just before entering Ochiai, with a soba flag as a landmark. A black dog welcomes you at the spacious property where the house and the restaurant are combined. There are stacks of firewood around the building, which adds a unique touch. Upon entering the restaurant, you take off your shoes. Inside, there are large and medium-sized table seats, totaling around 10 seats. The menu mainly consists of cold soba, with set menus including Ezoshika curry and Ezoshika katsu-don. I ordered the special large serving of mori soba for two people for 1000 yen. Now, here are my thoughts: The noodles are glossy and have a strong soba flavor. The soba taste is solid and delicious. The soba broth lacked flavor and originality, which was disappointing. However, the soba water was rich and exquisite! It was super delicious. Here, they do not use wheat flour, only 100% soba. The Ezoshika katsu is also made without wheat flour, using soba flour instead. Therefore, I think it's a safe option for those with wheat allergies. Since the owner manages the place alone, I recommend going with plenty of time to spare.

When heading towards Obihiro from Furano, Ochiai is a town just before the pass. It's a hidden soba restaurant where you can enter on the left side of the road, just before the steep slope leading to the Karikachi Pass. There is no "soba" flag displayed here. Somewhere after climbing the slope, you will find a flag indicating the way to another hidden soba restaurant called "Ochi An". The menu is not extensive, offering options like mori (plain), zaru (cold), and oroshi (grated). The soba noodles are not overly thick, but rather smooth and enjoyable. The famous Ezokatsu Curry from Minamifurano is also available. The owner is a friendly and talkative person, always eager to share stories and jokes. He mentioned that they have been experimenting with making warm soba lately and invited customers to try it out. During winter, the restaurant closes for a few days at a time as the owner believes it's important to keep practicing and improving his soba-making skills. It's clear that he takes pride in his craft.

This is a quaint restaurant located in the forest just off the national highway, near the foot of the Kari-Kachō Pass. Although it may seem daunting to enter at first, dogs and cats are free to come in and out of the premises, so those who expect a perfect level of cleanliness in a dining establishment may want to think twice. The elderly cat, over 20 years old, always sleeps in their favorite spot, while the dog can be found in the corner outside the store or on the sofa inside. The soba noodles here are truly delicious. They use local flour to make the black soba noodles. It feels like being treated to the homemade soba noodles by the owner who enjoys making them. This is not a place to complain about the presence of animals or lack of cleanliness. It seems they are only open for a few hours during lunchtime, so if you happen to be there when they are open, consider yourself lucky to enjoy their soba noodles.