Nagashi Somen: Check Out This Restaurant in Kyoto!

Nagashi somen slides on a culinary trip are a must when you visit Japan! We can proudly say that Japan is a food haven. There are so many unique thematic restaurants you can’t find outside of Japan, such as a Hello Kitty cafe, a Pikachu cafe, and many more!  

This time, TokyoTreat wants to invite you to have another unforgettable and unique eating experience! Have you heard of flowing bamboo noodles (nagashi somen) in Kyoto?

Where did nagashi somen come from?

First of all, somen is different from ramen. Somen is a thin, white noodle made from wheat flour. Japanese people like to eat cold somen, especially in summer. Nagashi itself comes from “nagasu” (流す), which means “to flow.”

Nagashi somen originated in the southern town of Takachiho in 1959 at a restaurant called House of Chiho. This innovative way of dining was created to incorporate the area’s fresh spring water into serving an essential dish to customers, providing a novel and entertaining culinary experience.

The concept quickly gained popularity and spread to other places, becoming a beloved tradition in Japanese culinary culture. The dish is trendy during hot Japanese summers as it helps to cool down the body while offering a fun and interactive dining experience.

So, you must catch the flowing noodles from a sliced bamboo pipe filled with cold water if you want to eat it! You typically eat nagashi somen only in summer, so it’s no wonder restaurants serving nagashi somen always get crowded. 

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What is Hirobun?

Hirobun is one of the famous restaurants that serve nagashi somen in Kyoto, usually serving nagashi somen from May to September every year. This restaurant also has beautiful scenery, so you can eat delicious somen while enjoying the view!

Visitors can reach Hirobun by various means, including private transportation or public transit. For those using public transport, taking the Karasuma Line to Kita-Oji Station and then bus 52 bound for Kokusai Kaikan is convenient. From Kibuneguchi, visitors can take a taxi or bus 33 to Kibune!

In essence, Hirobun offers a meal and an interactive and memorable dining experience where guests can enjoy delicious somen noodles while immersing themselves in the beauty of nature and traditional Japanese culinary culture!

How do I eat nagashi somen?

To eat nagashi somen, you need to have expert-level chopstick skills. When the noodles are released from inside the bamboo, you must be ready to catch and pick them up as fast as possible with your chopsticks.

After you catch the somen, dip it in a special dipping sauce called tsuyu, and slurp the delicious noodles! And everything is totally hygienic. The bamboo will be changed every batch, and the leftover noodles will not be recycled, so you don’t need to worry!

If you see pinkish-red colored somen, it means your eating time is almost finished. You must focus on catching the flowing noodles because it’s your final chance to chow down on some delicious somen before giving up your seat to others in the queue.

This experience will cost you around 1,300 Yen (around $12 USD). We can’t guarantee that your stomach will be full, especially if you fail to catch most of the flowing noodles, but the experience and excitement will be worth it!

Looks so fun, right? If you can visit Japan in the summer, include a nagashi somen experience in your itinerary! Are you curious about this flowing noodles experience and want to try it? Or, do you have another Japan experience you’re curious about? Comment below in the comment box! We could write about it in our next article!