uzuraya

Uzuraya is a hugely popular soba restaurant tucked beside Togakushi Shrine. Despite its hidden-gem feel, it was selected for a major site’s “Top 100 Soba” list three years in a row (2017, 2018, 2019), and on some days, even before opening, wait times of 2–3 hours can form. While Nagano is famous for Shinshu soba, Uzuraya uses the even more local Togakushi soba. Togakushi soba is considered one of Japan’s Three Great Soba styles, alongside Iwate’s wanko soba and Shimane’s Izumo soba, and many people order it from around the country. They are especially particular about aroma: in winter—when soba fragrance is at its peak—they freeze and store enough soba flour for the whole year to prevent seasonal quality decline. Another reason Uzuraya is chosen among many soba shops is their service: even when extremely busy, they prioritize customers, and their warm hospitality wins people over. Access isn’t particularly easy, but it’s still a magnet for visitors—come experience both the delicious soba and the thoughtful service.