NAGANO TRIP 
Soba (そば/蕎麦) is one kind of noodle in Japan. If you want to visit Nagano prefecture, we recommend eating Soba! In this article, we explain how to eat, what’s kind of Soba, Why Nagano is famous Soba area?.
WHAT’S JAPANESE SOBA?
Soba (そば/蕎麦) famous its local food in Japan, Especially in Nagano. Because Nagano’s climate is suitable for buckwheat(Soba) cultivation. In addition, it’s popular with people around the world.
Soba is made by mixing buckwheat flour with water and wheat flour, kneading it, spreading it, out thinly and cutting it into long thin noodles.
HOW TO EAT?
I love the Tempura that eats with Soba. Tempura is seafood or vegetables that have been covered in batter fried in oil. A set of Tempura and Zaru-Soba is called Tenzaru（天ざる）.
When you finish eating the noodles, add Soba to the soup(Sobayu). Sobayu is the hot water that was used for cooking Soba. It has the nutrients of the Soba.
HOW TO ORDER?
In Soba restaurant, there is a menu of Soba. Firstly, you need to choose the hot soba or chill soba. Secondly, you need to choose a kinds of Soba. Thirdly, Order the menu you want to eat from the store clerk.
TYPES OF SOBA NOODLES
ZARU SOBA（COLD）
Zaru-Soba (ざるそば) is a chilled noodle and provided with a dipping sauce. Zaru means a Japanese special product that is a draining basket made from bamboo used. When eating Zaru-Soba, firstly pick up a morsel of Zaru-Soba in chopsticks. Secondly, dip it in the dipping sauce.
KAKE SOBA（HOT）
Kake-Soba (かけそば) is the basic dish for hot Soba soup noodles. In the winter season, Kake-Soba is popular. You can drink the soup of Kake-Soba. Kake soba soup will calm down if you drink.
TEMPURA SOBA（WITH TEMPURA）
Tempura Soba (てんぷらそば) is a set of basic Zaru-Soba and Tempura which is a Japanese dish of fish, shellfish, or vegetables, fried in batter. Tempura Soba order may take longer than usual Zaru-Soba.
FEATURE OF NAGANO’S SOBA
Nagano’s soba is called “Shinshu Soba” in Japan. Why is Shinshu Soba popular and famous in Japan? The first reason is the geographic environment and climate in Nagano. Nagano is chile environment and a large temperature difference between morning and evening. It is an important point to make a delicious Soba.
The second reason is related to a custom in Edo era (samurai period). In Edo era, many people of Nagano went to Tokyo (Edo) to get a job and money. At that time, some people from Nagano opened Soba restaurant.
Soba is a dish that represents Japan!
When you visit Nagano prefecture, you should go to Soba restaurant! Probably, the first time you eat soba, you may be in a little trouble. However no problem. You do only to pick up Soba and dip in dipping source and eating!
