1
Teuchi Izumo Soba Kizuki

Enjoy the aroma of stone-ground, hand-made "Wariko Soba"

Since opening, this soba restaurant has been popular with both tourists and locals. They use domestically produced buckwheat flour that is coarsely ground in a stone mill, with the origin and blend finely adjusted according to the season. The slightly whitish, thin noodles are characterized by their grainy texture and smooth finish. The bonito-based dipping sauce is slightly sharp and crisp, perfectly enhancing the flavor of the coarsely ground buckwheat.

In addition to classics like wariko and kamage soba, there is also a daily "Chef's Special" menu. You can enjoy a variety of flavors depending on the day, such as "Duck Soup Soba" or "Fresh Yuba Soba."

A calm, Japanese-style space renovated from an old folk house

Pass through the gate with the noren curtain and walk through the garden to enter the restaurant, which is a renovated old folk house. After taking off your shoes to enter, you will find a spacious and atmospheric Japanese-style room. It is a nostalgic, homey tatami room with a countryside feel. Two to four-person tables are spaced widely apart, allowing you to relax and enjoy the carefully prepared, hand-kneaded soba made every morning while looking out at the garden through the windows.

Located along the "Kami-mukae no Michi" (Path of Welcoming the Gods) that leads from Izumo Taisha to Inasa Beach, it is the perfect place to stop for a break while traveling.

Local
Supporter

The "Today's Recommendation" menu sometimes features rice bowls and appetizers in addition to soba dishes. Past offerings have included a "Squid Bowl" made with local ingredients and the Matsue specialty "Ago-no-yaki" (grilled flying fish paste), allowing you to encounter local flavors alongside the "Izumo Soba."

2
Honkaku Teuchi Soba Izumo Sunaya

A shop where you can enjoy 100% buckwheat "Izumo Soba," just a 1-minute walk from the Seidomari Torii gate

A 100% buckwheat soba specialty shop located about a 1-minute walk from the main gate of Izumo Taisha Shrine. The noodles are made only with domestically produced stone-ground buckwheat flour and water, using a coarse grind. Despite being 100% buckwheat noodles made without any binding agents, they are resilient and have an impressive, chewy texture. Because they are thick-cut, you can fully enjoy the firm texture and flavor characteristic of “Izumo Soba”.

The dipping sauce has a rich flavor carefully crafted primarily from round herring, along with Rausu kelp and bonito flakes. A delightful touch is the complimentary "bite-sized soba-gaki" (buckwheat dumpling) dessert, included out of the owner's desire to help guests recover from the fatigue of their travels.

Enjoy authentic flavors in a modern Japanese space

In contrast to the Japanese-style exterior that resembles a storehouse, the interior has a modern and calm atmosphere. It is a beloved spot where you can enjoy authentic Izumo Soba in a space that is easy to enter.

In addition to the simple "Wariko Soba," the "Irodori Sanshoku Wariko" (1,560 yen), which features a variety of toppings including fried shrimp tempura bits, grated yam, and plum with grated daikon, is also a classic choice. For warm "Kamaage Soba," we offer 10 varieties with different toppings such as beef, raw egg, grated daikon, and plum with grated yam. After your meal, be sure to try our fragrant "Soba Ice Cream" kneaded with buckwheat flour.

Local
Supporter

This is a rare soba restaurant where you can enjoy "Izumo Soba" made with 100% buckwheat. It is a nice touch that it is served as thick noodles so that the texture is not lost even after some time has passed. You can add rice dishes, soups, and more to your soba for an extra charge, allowing you to enjoy it in a set-meal style.

3
Sobadokoro Tanakaya

The famous "Sanshoku Wariko Soba," where you can enjoy three different flavors

“Soba-dokoro Tanakaya” is located right in front of the main gate of Izumo Taisha Shrine. Their specialty is Wariko Soba, where you can enjoy three different flavors: grated yam, tempura flakes, and a hot spring egg. The chef hand-kneads the noodles every morning using buckwheat flour made from whole, stone-ground domestic buckwheat. The noodles are dark in color and have a rich, fragrant aroma that fills the nose.

The noodles have a firm texture and go down smoothly. The dipping sauce is made using "Urume Iwashi" (round herring), a high-quality sardine known for its elegant sweetness and rich umami. The deep, flavorful dashi broth enhances the aroma of the buckwheat, allowing you to savor the unique taste of Izumo Soba with every bite.

A long-established soba restaurant beloved in front of the Izumo Taisha main gate

Located right in front of the main gate of Izumo Taisha, this soba restaurant is easy to stop by before or after your visit. In addition to the "Sanshoku Wariko Soba," popular items include "Natto Soba," topped with domestic natto and plenty of condiments, and "Tempura Wariko Soba," which comes with shrimp and organic vegetable tempura. With options like the "Rabbit Plate" kids' menu, it is widely used by everyone from solo travelers to families.
The restaurant also offers the "TableCheck Fast Pass" priority seating service, which allows you to receive priority seating by purchasing in advance, ensuring a relatively smooth entry even during busy times.

Local
Supporter

Behind the restaurant is "Izumo Miyage Tanakaya Bunten." They have many items to help you enjoy "Izumo Soba" more deeply, such as bowls, bamboo colanders, and condiment dishes. Izumo souvenirs are also available, so be sure to stop by after your meal.

Soba-dokoro Tanakaya

• 364 Kizukihigashi, Taisha-cho, Izumo-shi, ShimaneMAP
• Approx. 5-minute walk from Izumo Taisha-mae Station on the Ichibata Electric Railway
• Take a bus from JR Izumo-shi Station, get off at "Seimon-mae," and walk for approx. 1 minute
• 11:00–16:00 (ends when soba runs out)
• Thursdays, and other irregular holidays
• 0853-53-2351
• Available (compact cars only)

4
Kenjo Soba Haneya Main Store

Enjoy the flavor unique to handmade noodles with the "3-Tier Warigo Soba"

A long-established restaurant founded at the end of the Edo period, it has been loved by locals for generations. Using Izumo-grown buckwheat flour and finished with a traditional hand-kneaded method, the rich aroma and firm texture are a local flavor that can truly be called "authentic Izumo soba." The homemade dipping sauce, based on a dashi of dried fish and kelp, is deep, rich, and mellow—a robust flavor that perfectly complements the taste of the soba.

In addition to "Wariko Soba," which is enjoyed simply with condiments and dipping sauce, we also recommend the "Sanshoku Wariko Soba" topped with mountain vegetables, grated yam, and tempura bits, as well as the "Goshoku Wariko Soba," which adds deep-fried tofu and egg yolk.

A long-established "Izumo Soba" restaurant beloved by locals

"Kenjo Soba Haneya" operates two locations within Izumo City. Known as a prestigious restaurant with a history of serving the Imperial Family, including Emperor Taisho, it is popular with both tourists and locals. The main branch in the city center features a space with calm lighting and the warmth of wood. In addition to table seating, there is also a detached building with spacious tatami mat rooms where you can relax.

Along with Izumo region staples like "Wariko Soba" and "Kamaage Soba," our warm "Kamo Nanban" soba topped with duck meat is also popular. You can also enjoy a chicken and egg rice bowl (oyakodon) that makes the most of the umami in our soba dashi broth.

Local
Supporter

Located a little away from Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine, this is a long-established soba restaurant frequently visited by locals. The surrounding area is dotted with historic Japanese confectionery shops and sake breweries, and the Takase River, where willows sway, is also within walking distance. If you enjoy a stroll through the town after your meal, you will encounter the authentic charm of Izumo, where you can feel the local way of life.

Kenjo Soba Haneya Main Store

• 549 Honmachi, Imaichi-cho, Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture MAP
• Approx. 10-minute walk from JR Izumoshi Station
• Take a bus from JR Izumoshi Station, get off at "Yokomachi-kado", and walk for approx. 1 minute
• 11:00–15:00, 17:00–18:45 (ends when soba runs out)
• January 1st–January 4th (New Year holidays)
• 0853-21-0058
• 23 spaces *If full, please use nearby paid parking lots

5
Arakiya

Taste traditional Warigo Soba, dating back to the Edo period, right at the foot of Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine

This is the oldest and most renowned Izumo Soba restaurant, with a history of approximately 240 years dating back to the late Edo period. Our stone-ground "Ni-hachi Soba," passed down through eight generations, is a blend of three types of buckwheat flour, including some from Shimane Prefecture. You can enjoy these thin yet firm and flavorful noodles with our sweet soba dipping sauce, which has remained unchanged since our founding.

Ideally located just a 5-minute walk from Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine

Wariko Soba can be enjoyed as a single serving, and in addition to the standard three-tier set, you can choose four or five tiers, or even order additional tiers one by one. Each tier can be customized with various toppings like fertile eggs, grated yam, or tempura bits, making it fun to compare different flavors. You can also enjoy "Kamaage Soba," another classic Izumo Soba menu item.

The restaurant is located about a 5-minute walk from the "Seidamari Torii Gate" of Izumo Taisha Shrine. Since many people stop by before or after visiting the shrine, there is almost always a line on weekends, so we recommend arriving early.

Local
Supporter

The basic way to eat Wariko soba is to place the condiments on top of the noodles and pour a small amount of soba dipping sauce over them in a circular motion. Use the remaining sauce for the next bowl as you continue eating, and finally, try adding the leftover sauce to the soba-yu (hot water used to boil the noodles) to drink.

6
Sobadokoro Kaneya

One of the most popular and highly-regarded restaurants in the Izumo Taisha area

A popular soba restaurant that many tourists visiting Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine consider for lunch. Our top recommendation is the three-tier wariko soba topped with grated yam and a raw egg, along with condiments. The noodles are relatively firm and satisfying, and their uneven thickness is proof that they are hand-kneaded. The broth, made from Hidaka kelp and round herring, carefully brings out the rich aroma of the buckwheat.

Located within walking distance of Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine and open from 10:30 a.m., it is a convenient place to stop by before or after your visit.

A relaxing space that is easy to visit whether alone or with family

When you pass through the noren curtain, you will see rows of tables in front of you, and five raised seating areas extending from the front left to the back of the restaurant. Compared to other shops, it seems that many people visit alone.

In addition to wariko, the menu offers a wide variety of hot soba dishes, including kamaage, tsukimi, yamakake, 'awayuki' topped with grated yam and egg, and 'goen soba' topped with grated daikon radish and bonito flakes. The thick, rich soba water is also unique to this restaurant, so why not order it when you eat the wariko soba?

Local
Supporter

Oroshi Wariko, topped with grated daikon radish, is a refreshing dish that allows you to simply enjoy the firm texture and aroma of the soba. The spiciness of the radish and the sweetness of the sauce are a perfect match.

Sobadokoro Kaneya

• 659 Kizukihigashi, Taisha-cho, Izumo-shi, Shimane MAP
• Approx. 10-minute walk from Izumotaishamae Station on the Ichibata Electric Railway
• Take a bus from JR Izumoshi Station, get off at "Seimon-mae," and walk for about 6 minutes
• Weekdays 10:30–14:00
  Weekends 10:30–14:30
• Tuesdays and Thursdays
• 0853-53-2366
• Free

7
Kamiyo Soba

Stone-ground 100% buckwheat noodles served with a dipping sauce containing "Jidenshu"

A restaurant where you can enjoy soba from various regions, with a focus on locally sourced ingredients. All of their soba is 'tokuwari' (100% buckwheat) made without any binding agents like wheat flour, and they are highly regarded for the time and effort they put into their craft, such as grinding the buckwheat kernels three times using three different stone mills.

Furthermore, their homemade dipping sauce uses 'chidenshu,' a local sake that has long been cherished in the Izumo region as a special cooking sake. Its rich umami and sweetness soften the sharpness of the soy sauce, resulting in a mellow flavor. Their commitment to local ingredients is another appealing aspect, as they use brown buckwheat from Matsue for some of their dishes and source eggs and yams from Shimane Prefecture for their toppings.

A soba restaurant you can stop by while sightseeing at Matsue Castle

Located within walking distance of the National Treasure Matsue Castle, this restaurant is a popular stop for tourists. With a bus stop right in front, it is also very accessible from Matsue Station.

The menu is relatively simple, with three types of cold soba: 'wariko soba,' 'tororo wariko,' and 'sansai wariko.' While 'tororo wariko' is the most popular, we also recommend the 'wariko soba' served only with condiments if you want to enjoy the true flavor of the buckwheat. They also offer hot soba dishes such as 'kamaage soba' served with soba water and 'tori soba'.

Local
Supporter

Nearby on Shiomi Nawate Street, there are many popular classic spots such as the Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum and the Matsue History Museum. It is the perfect restaurant for lunch while sightseeing in Matsue.

Kamiyo Soba

• 324-5 Okudani-cho, Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture MAP
• Approx. 10 minutes by car from JR Matsue Station
• Take the "Gurutto Matsue Lake Line" bus from JR Matsue Station and get off at "Koizumi Yakumo Kinenkan-mae," then walk for about 1 minute.
• 11:00–14:00 (L.O. 14:30) *Closes when the soba runs out.
• Wednesdays, irregular holidays
• 0852-21-4866
• Free

8
Chugoku Sanchi Soba Kobo Funatsu

Natural 100% buckwheat noodles, with the artisans involved from cultivation

A restaurant run by a craftsman who pursues the art of soba making from scratch, even visiting the contract farms in person. The buckwheat kernels grown in Okuizumo Town, Shimane Prefecture—an area ideal for cultivation—are stone-ground in-house. The "juwari soba" (100% buckwheat noodles), made without any wheat flour, is thick and has a crisp texture, with a rich aroma that spreads with every bite.

The dipping sauce, made with dashi from mackerel flakes and shiitake mushrooms, is slightly sweet and packed with umami. The restaurant also stocks local sake selected by the craftsman, and enjoying their specialty Izumo soba with a dry junmai sake is truly a blissful experience.

Two types of soba to choose from according to your preference

In business for about 50 years, the folk-art style exterior blends into the Matsue cityscape, while the interior, surrounded by aged beams and furniture, is a charming space that makes the soba taste even better.

For hot soba, the restaurant offers regional menu items such as "Maitake Tempura Soba," made with maitake mushrooms—a specialty of Okuizumo Town—and the classic Izumo "Kamage Soba." Meanwhile, for cold soba, they offer two types of flour, allowing you to enjoy both "Izumo Soba," ground with the husks, and the so-called "Edo Soba," ground after the husks are removed.

Local
Supporter

Since the restaurant is often closed during Golden Week and the Obon holidays, it is recommended to avoid visiting during major consecutive holidays if possible.

Chugoku Sanchi Soba Kobo Funatsu

• 117-6 Sotonakahara-cho, Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture MAP
• About 9 minutes by car from JR Matsue Station.
• Take the "Gurutto Matsue Lake Line" bus from JR Matsue Station and get off at "Shijukkenborigawa," then it is right there.
• 11:00–14:30 *Closes when the soba runs out.
• Mondays, 3rd Tuesday, New Year's holidays, Golden Week.
• 0852-22-2361
• Free
• No reservations