This time, we will introduce the characteristics and history of "cha soba," a local B-class gourmet food in Kyoto Prefecture.

Kyoto Prefecture is a city located almost in the center of the Japanese archipelago, and as Japan's ancient capital, it is the area where you can most vividly experience its history, traditions, and culture.

We will introduce this charming local B-class gourmet dish of Kyoto Prefecture, "cha soba," as well as tourist spots in the prefecture.

What is Cha Soba?

Cha soba is a type of green soba that is eaten in Kyoto Prefecture. It is made by mixing soba with Uji matcha, and is known as a type of kawari soba.

It is smooth and easy to swallow, and the moment you eat it, the rich flavor of matcha spreads throughout your mouth.

It has a rich aroma, so we recommend trying it as is before dipping it in the noodle soup.

The history of green tea soba

Cha soba noodles are said to have first appeared in the mid-Edo period.

Around this time, the development of milling technology for white plain mustard flour and the creation of a noodle-making technique called "yugone" led to the creation of a variety of "creative soba" varieties.

According to the book "Ryori Sankaikyo" published around 1750, the first soba dish was "tamago sobakiri."

Later, varieties such as "Yuri-kiri", "Beni-kiri", and "Ebi-kiri" were invented. Incidentally, Sanshoku soba is made of white soba, red shrimp, and green tea soba. Goshoku soba is made by adding black sesame and yellow egg to this.

The popularity of these three-color soba and five-color soba in the mid-Edo period seems to be related to an event called "hina soba." Hina soba is eaten as a festival soba when putting away the hina dolls on the day after the Girls' Festival. Like toshikoshi soba at the end of the year, hina soba is also an auspicious food eaten to pray for the happiness and longevity of the family.

It is said that during this period when many different types of soba were being created, cha soba was also born.

Characteristics of Cha Soba

The defining feature of cha soba is undoubtedly the strong aroma of matcha.

It has a strong Uji matcha aroma that is unlike any other soba, and a refreshing aftertaste that means you'll never get tired of eating it.

Another feature that sets it apart from other soba is its green color. You can tell that so much matcha is mixed into the soba that it takes on a color.

How to make Cha Soba

Here we will introduce a recipe for meat soba noodles using brown soba noodles.

First, thinly slice the spring onion diagonally. Put water in a pot and bring it to a boil. Add the green soba noodles and boil according to the package directions, then drain the water.

After that, rinse under running water and drain thoroughly.

In another pot, add 250ml of water, 100ml of double concentrated noodle soup base, 2 teaspoons of chili bean paste, and chili oil and heat over medium heat.Once boiling, add the minced beef and simmer.

When the beef mince has changed color, add the chopped green onions and simmer for about 2 minutes.When the beef mince is cooked through, remove from heat.

Finally, put the boiled green tea soba noodles into a bowl and pour the prepared sauce over them to complete the dish.

Tourist spots in Kyoto Prefecture

From here, we will introduce some recommended tourist spots in Kyoto Prefecture.

Kiyomizu Temple

Kiyomizu-dera Temple is the head temple of the Kitahosso sect of Buddhism, located in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City.

This temple is registered as one of the World Heritage Sites, "Cultural Monuments of Ancient Kyoto." In addition to the main hall, there are many other sights to see, including the Niomon Gate, the three-story pagoda, and Otowa Falls.

The main hall, built to jut out into the cliff, is a spectacular spot where you can enjoy the changing scenery of the four seasons, making it an indispensable part of Kiyomizu-dera Temple.

Many tourists from Japan and abroad visit this beautiful temple every year.

Yasaka Shrine

Yasaka Shrine is a shrine located in Gion-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture.

This shrine has a history dating back to before the capital was moved to Heian-kyo, and has been worshiped since ancient times as a shrine that protects against epidemics.

Yasaka Shrine has been hosting the world-famous Gion Festival, one of Japan's three major festivals, for over 1,000 years.

The main hall, shrine buildings, and other buildings, which have been recognized as national treasures and important cultural properties, are a vibrant red color that is so beautiful it will leave you speechless.

With cherry blossoms in the spring, festivals in the summer, autumn leaves in the fall, and snowy scenery in the winter, each season offers different beauty, so be sure to check it out when you visit Kyoto.

Yasaka Pagoda

Yasaka Pagoda is one of the most representative buildings in Kyoto and is also known as the "Five-story Pagoda."

The tower is located within Hokanji Temple, which was founded during the Asuka period, and the one that was rebuilt in 1440 still remains today.

It stands out in the area around the University of Tokyo, where there are no tall buildings, and its beautiful scenery will make you want to stop and take photos.

In the evening, the tower is lit up, creating an even more fantastical atmosphere. Come and enjoy Yasaka Tower in a different light than during the day.

Access to Kyoto Prefecture

From here, we will introduce how to access Kyoto Prefecture.

If you are traveling from Tokyo to Kyoto, we recommend taking the Shinkansen or express bus. If you are traveling by Shinkansen, it will take about 2 hours and 10 minutes from JR Tokyo Station to JR Kyoto Station.

However, the Shinkansen is expensive, so if you want to save on transportation costs, we recommend using the express bus. There are express buses bound for Kyoto Station from Shinjuku Station and Tokyo Station, and they cost between 2,000 and 8,000 yen.

If you are traveling from Osaka to Kyoto, we recommend taking the train. It takes about 30 minutes from Osaka Station to Kyoto Station.

Location of Kyoto Prefecture

summary

This time, we introduced "cha soba," a local B-class gourmet food from Kyoto Prefecture.

Cha soba differs from other soba noodles in that it has the aroma of matcha and a smooth texture that goes down easily.

In addition to the recipes introduced here, there are many other delicious recipes using green tea soba noodles, so be sure to try them out!

Besides cha soba, Kyoto Prefecture has many other fascinating foods and tourist spots, so be sure to check them out!

\ We are looking for Tempo Star affiliates! /