When it comes to hydrangeas in Kyoto, I visited Sanjusangendo Temple. After that, I wanted to have a meal in Uji and was looking for matcha soba. I found this place next to the popular soba restaurant Shubaku. Although I was curious about Shubaku's soba, I decided to visit this place because I really wanted to try matcha soba. You take off your shoes and wear slippers inside. The interior is beautiful, making you feel like you're in a small inn. The season for Kyoto's eel has arrived! So, I ordered the Zaru Soba with 3 types of eel (eel soup, eel tempura, eel drop) for ¥1980. A small detail, but I was happy that the complimentary drink was tea instead of water. You can choose from Uji matcha soba, 100% buckwheat soba, or 80% buckwheat soba, and there is also a luxurious plan where you can choose two types for an additional fee, but this time I chose matcha soba only! Cold soba on a hot day is really great. The matcha salt for the eel tempura was also nice. I enjoyed the eel in three different ways, but they were all delicious. However, my favorite is still the eel tempura. The thick and fluffy texture of the eel is irresistible!

I visited the restaurant around 2:00 PM on May 22, 2023. The atmosphere of this restaurant was very calm, and the staff service was excellent. Regarding the food, I had a total of two dishes. The first dish was the "Luxurious Seafood Tempura Soba," where you can choose two out of three flavors for the soba, and I chose the buckwheat and matcha flavors. The buckwheat soba had a delicious nutty flavor. The accompanying tempura and eel were also delicious. The second dish was the "Ice Cream," and the matcha flavored ice cream was extremely tasty. 【Tsubameya】 is a restaurant that provides a calm atmosphere and excellent service. I highly recommend the "Luxurious Seafood Tempura Soba" and the matcha ice cream. Be sure to visit and try it out.

I went to a restaurant with a mystery-solving coupon that offered a free large serving, and tried the soba noodles mixed with Uji matcha and topped with tempura. It was really delicious. When I saw the green noodles, I thought it might be one of those trendy Instagrammable dishes, but they actually had a good texture and were easy to eat even in a large serving. Although I couldn't taste the Uji matcha, the soba noodles had a pleasant flavor and were very enjoyable. It's rare to find a dish that looks so vibrant and tastes delicious. This restaurant left a lasting impression, and I would definitely go back when I visit Uji again.

The soba was very delicious. The set of grilled eel on rice was just the right amount and tasty. Be careful as the nearby Times parking lot is a bit expensive. The meal was delicious! I would like to try a rice bowl next time.

I was the first one in line before the store opened at 10:48, with about 10 people lining up behind me within 5 minutes. The store opened at 11:00, where I took off my shoes and put them in the shoebox, then put on slippers to enter. The staff kindly took orders from customers in the order they arrived, creating a calm atmosphere despite the quickly filling seats. I ordered a three types of soba set (100%, matcha, 80%) and a tempura assortment. The soba was refreshing, with a good texture and flavor, but lacked a strong aroma. The matcha soba had a nice blend of soba flavor and matcha aroma. The tempura had a light, crispy batter that complemented the vegetables, shrimp, and eel well.

In front of Byodoin Temple, there are many soba restaurants, but this one might be the best - Tsubame Gohan (soba, grilled eel bowl, tempura). The soba is delicious, but the tempura is actually the best. They use high-quality ingredients and fry them perfectly to bring out the flavors, with a light and crispy batter. The eel is also tender and steamed to perfection.

On New Year's Eve, I took the last train home and decided to walk to Ujigami Shrine. I saw a light in the distance. Uji is a tourist spot, so most shops close after 6 pm, and there are hardly any open past midnight. So, finding a place open at 3 am felt like stumbling upon a shelter in a snowstorm in an old folk tale. I couldn't resist going in. The sign outside indicated that it was for New Year's shrine visitors, probably targeting those visiting Uji Shrine and Ujigami Shrine. I had my first meal of the year there. It felt like a long time since I had a meal other than osechi for the New Year. The menu said "Japanese ramen," but the soup tasted like a mix of Chinese noodles and udon broth. The chashu was more like roasted pork without sauce. I can't quite put into words the difference between chashu and roasted pork, sorry. The taste was average, but I was really happy that they were open at this hour. It was 3 am, so I didn't have the courage to order fried chicken, but I might try it next year if I remember.

On March 25, 2020, to celebrate their 4th anniversary, I visited "Tsubame-ya" next to "Shubaku". The owner recommended the "Conger Eel and Vegetable Tempura Soba". The soba noodles were a mix of 100% buckwheat and 80% buckwheat, allowing you to enjoy the rich flavor of both. Handmade soba is truly wonderful. The thick conger eel tempura, along with lotus root, snap peas, bamboo shoots, pumpkin, eggplant, and cherry tomatoes, all sourced locally and in season, was delicious. The tempura, fried in rice oil, was crispy and delightful. The side dishes of simmered lotus root and hijiki seaweed were also tasty. To finish, I had a latte made with a new machine. The milk's sweetness was brought out, making the latte delicious even without added sugar.

Tsubameya @ Uji Price: 1000-2000 yen Taste: 3.5/5 Cost performance: 4.5/5 Atmosphere: Stylish and beautiful interior. The small and stylish interior is charming. Features: A wide variety of soba types are available, with options based on the ratio of soba flour. The tempura that you can choose to eat is exquisite. Be sure to order soba with tempura. When you visit Uji, be sure to enjoy it with matcha sweets.

I was so absorbed in sightseeing that by the time I got hungry in the afternoon, all the shops near Byodoin Temple were closed (except for cafes). As I was walking around feeling disappointed, I stumbled upon this restaurant. I was relieved that their lunchtime was extended. It seemed like a place that specialized in tempura, but I wanted something light so I ordered the zaru soba. It was an unusual system where they asked me about the type of noodles after I ordered the soba. The taste was okay. On the other hand, I couldn't quite grasp the distinctive taste of Uji. It might have been because I arrived right before the end of lunchtime, but it was disappointing that they didn't serve soba-yu. Still, I appreciate the fact that they serve lunch until late hours.

I discovered a delicious restaurant in Uji while solving a mystery. It was not crowded around 11 in the morning, but it was quite busy during lunchtime. The atmosphere inside the restaurant was also nice.

Warm 80% buckwheat eel white grilled bowl tempura set with my wife after visiting Mimurodo Temple.

The interior is clean and refreshing. It doesn't have the traditional Japanese soba restaurant atmosphere, but they have good COVID-19 measures in place which is reassuring. The food is delicious and I think it can compete with the famous restaurant next door.