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Shimonoseki Kawara Soba

HOME > Japan’s Local Treasures > Shimonoseki Kawara Soba

Noodles served on a piping-hot traditional Japanese roof tile

Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture

Kawara Soba, a bed of green tea-infused buckwheat noodles topped with shredded beef, ribbons of egg omelet, green onions, chili, and lemon, is a hearty dish, perfect for chilly seasons. First conceived in Kawatana Onsen, a hot spring town with over 800 years of history, it also has an unusual background.

Inspired by tales of soldiers’ meals during the late 19th-century Satsuma Rebellion, Kawara Soba is served on a piping-hot traditional kawara roof tile. Legend has it that during the civil war, soldiers used such ceramic tiles to cook meat and wild plants as they patiently laid siege to Kumamoto Castle.

For Kawara Soba, the hot tile gives the fragrant tea noodles a crispy texture, while slices of lemon add a refreshingly sweet zing to the warming dish. Visit Kawatana Onsen to try this unique noodle dish in its birthplace. The cold winter months are the perfect time to enjoy the town's hot springs and the steaming, hot noodles.

How to get there

Take the Shinkansen bullet train from Hakata Station to Kogura Station (about 15 minutes). Then take the train from Kogura Station to Shimonoseki Station (about 10 minutes). Finally, take the bus from Shimonoseki Station to Kawatana Onsen Station (about 50 minutes).

5180 Oaza Kawatana, Toyoura-cho, Shimonoseki-shi, Yamaguchi-ken