This site is a web media that delivers all kinds of trivia, from sightseeing and gourmet spots in the six Tohoku prefectures to local, customs, and history.
Ouchijuku is one of Fukushima's top two tourist spots! Its charm lies in its unchanged scenery
The retro atmosphere that makes you feel as if you have traveled back in time to the Edo period is very popular with young people!
What is Ouchijuku?
Ouchijuku in early summer
Ouchi-juku located in Shimogo-machi, Minamiaizu-gun, Fukushima Prefecture , is a post town established around 1640. At the time, the Aizu-Nishi Kaido road leading to Nikko was used as an important transportation route, and the town's predecessor was Yamamoto Village, which was located along the road. It prospered as a post town for many feudal lords and travelers.
an Important Preservation District for Traditional Buildings in 1981 , and is now a tourist spot that is constantly visited by tourists all year round, with approximately 1.2 million people visiting annually.
The origins of the famous "Takato Soba"
The specialty of Ouchi-juku "Takato Soba (commonly known as Negi Soba) ." The soba noodles served with a whole leek make a big impact! Many people come just for this, and it is a popular menu item in Ouchi-juku.
Takato soba (negi soba) in Ouchi-juku
When you think of Takato Soba in Ouchijuku, you probably think of soba noodles eaten with spring onions instead of chopsticks. It's a must-try dish for spring onion lovers
Takato soba dates back to the early Edo period
Hoshina Masayuki , the founder of the Aizu Matsudaira clan, who was the lord of Takato Domain in Shinano Province and Yamagata Domain before becoming the first lord of the Aizu Domain, was a big fan of soba noodles and would bring his personal soba chef with him whenever he changed territories. When he became the lord of Aizu, he was no exception and brought along a soba chef, and it is said that the teachings of this "Takato soba chef" led to the spread of the current "Takato soba" in the Aizu region.
At the time, in the Aizu region, it was common to eat soba noodles with spicy grated daikon radish soup and grilled miso. This way of eating was passed down, and it is said that, combined with the modern culture of soy sauce and dashi, the Takato soba noodles we know today were created
In fact, the way of eating Takato Soba, using spring onions instead of chopsticks, originated in Ouchijuku!
Misawaya's "Negi Soba"
Among the many restaurants in Ouchijuku, one of the most popular is "Misawaya ," the restaurant where the whole leek soba was first created.
Misawaya's specialty negi soba is an authentic dish that uses only grated daikon radish juice and no soba broth whatsoever, allowing you to enjoy the traditional flavor!
Lift the soba noodles with the spring onion that comes with it, take a bite, and the flavor of the soba and its refreshing spiciness will fill your mouth. Of course, chopsticks are provided, so don't worry
Inside the restaurant, skewered trout are grilled over an open hearth, allowing you to enjoy soba in an atmosphere that makes you feel like you've traveled back in time to the Edo period!
Have you heard of walnut soba, a traditional dish from Ouchi-juku?
Nowadays, Takato soba noodles made with green onions are famous, but Ouchijuku has long had " walnut soba" Yamamotoya's walnut soba is a popular specialty dish made with natural walnuts harvested in Aizu.
Every morning, the walnuts used that day are carefully ground and kneaded while adding water little by little to create a rich, flavorful walnut. Locally grown walnuts are very popular for their high oil content and rich, creamy taste!
Yamamotoya also sells grilled dumplings and trout in front of the store! The grilled dumplings are a specialty dish, generously smeared with homemade miso, and are even more delicious when eaten under the eaves of the thatched roof!
Ouchi-juku also hosts many seasonal events, making it a place you can enjoy throughout the year. Why not visit Ouchi-juku, a place where you can experience the scenery of the Edo period?
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