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There must be quite a few people in Japan who have heard of the famous dish "Inaniwa udon." This is because Inaniwa udon is one of the "Three Great Udon Noodles of Japan," and is so well-known that when you visit Akita Prefecture, the first thing you will hear is "When you think of Akita, you think of Inaniwa udon."
When you think of Akita, the first thing that comes to mind is "Inaniwa udon," followed by "kiritanpo" and "shottsuru nabe," which are representative local dishes and traditional dishes that you'll want to try when visiting Akita. But what exactly is "Inaniwa udon"? We'll explain it here, along with some famous restaurants in Akita where you can eat Inaniwa udon.
What is Inaniwa Udon, one of Japan's three great udon noodles?
"Inaniwa udon" is one of the three major udon noodles in Japan, along with "Sanuki udon."
Inaniwa udon was created by Sato Ichibei in Yuzawa city in southern Akita prefecture before the Kanbun era. In the 1700s, it became a supplier to the feudal domain and is said to have been highly praised by the shogunate and other domains. In the Meiji era, it was presented to the Imperial Household Ministry and was treated as a luxury food ingredient within the prefecture
Inaniwa udon is thicker and flatter than hiyamugi noodles, and is characterized by its yellowish color, which is said to be due to the starch used as flour for dusting
Although it is a hand-pulled dried noodle, not only dried noodles but also semi-dried Inaniwa udon noodles are sold at souvenir shops in Akita Prefecture and antenna shops outside the prefecture that sell Akita Prefecture's specialty products
In 2007, Inaniwa udon was selected as one of the "Top 100 Local Dishes of Rural Areas" by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and nowadays, it is not only eaten in udon soup, but also in creative dishes such as dipping it in curry-flavored soup, making it increasingly popular
If you visit Akita Prefecture, you should definitely try Inaniwa udon. With just one bite, you'll understand why Inaniwa udon has been selected as one of Japan's top three udon noodles
Enjoy traditional flavors in front of Akita Station
There are many restaurants serving Inaniwa udon in Akita Prefecture. However, the most accessible are probably those near the station in Akita City, the prefectural capital and one of the gateways to Akita Prefecture. Of course, there are also restaurants serving Inaniwa udon within a five-minute walk of Akita Station
Mugendo Omachi Main Store
Mugendo's Hinai Chicken Tsukemen
Exit the west exit of Akita Station and walk straight down Poporo Road until you see Mugendo. It's about a 20-minute walk from Akita Station. It's a charming shop with an impressive white dragon crest
Mugendo Omachi Main Store <Information>
Name: Mugendo Omachi Main Store
Address: 1-3-2 Omachi, Akita City, Akita Prefecture, 010-0921
Celebrating its 160th anniversary, Sato Yosuke's Akita branch is based in Yuzawa City. From authentic Inaniwa udon to curry-flavored Inaniwa udon, the restaurant offers a wide variety of options to fully enjoy Inaniwa udon. The restaurant is also famous, with branches in Tokyo's Akasaka district, Chiyoda Ward, Hibiya district, Minato Ward, and Ginza district
Inaniwa udon is a traditional dish of Akita Prefecture, but it is also quite well-known as a Japanese dish, being counted among the three major udon dishes in Japan. There are many Inaniwa udon restaurants in Akita Prefecture, and each restaurant offers a wide variety of dishes, from simple bukkake udon to their own unique arrangements. Some restaurants also have merchandise for sale, so after your meal, you might want to buy a set of udon and soup as a souvenir.
The joy of visiting a region is not just touring the tourist spots, but also to savor the local cuisine. Don't forget to mention Inaniwa udon when you travel
