Soba is loved not only in Japan but also by people overseas, and there are many different types available all over the country.

Of course, there are soba noodles that are popular in Tokyo as well. The most famous one is Jindaiji soba. Jindaiji soba is a local B-class gourmet dish that is handed down around Jindaiji Temple in Chofu City, Tokyo.

Let's explore the characteristics and history of Jindaiji Soba.

Characteristics of Jindaiji Soba

The main feature of Jindaiji soba is its white color. Jindaiji soba is ground using the center part of the buckwheat, known as No. 1 flour. The center part is the most nutritious and has a beautiful white color.

Because it uses high-quality parts, the soba noodles have a smooth texture and go down easy. They also have a strong soba flavor and a unique sweetness.

There is no specific definition of Jindaiji soba, and some restaurants make it by hand and others by machine. There are also many different ways to eat it, including hot and cold soba. Popular varieties include oroshi soba, tanuki soba, sansai soba, and yam-kake soba.

If you choose to dip the soba in the soup, the water used to boil the soba (sobayu) will be served after the meal, so add it to the remaining soup. It will be a delicious soup that allows you to taste the flavor and nutrition of the soba. Jindaiji soba can be enjoyed in a variety of ways, and is loved by many people.

The history of Jindaiji soba

Jindaiji soba was described as "extremely exquisite" in the "Shinpen Musashi Fudokigo," a book compiled in the Edo period, but there are various theories about its history.

It is said that Jindaiji soba began during the Edo period when soba noodles made from buckwheat flour donated to the temple by nearby farmers were served to customers.

Originally, the area around Jindaiji Temple was suitable for growing soba. Buckwheat was cultivated in a type of soil called "kuroboku soil," and the surrounding spring water was used as soba washing water.

Jindaiji soba became famous thanks to Prince Koben, the fifth head priest of Kan'ei-ji Temple in Ueno. It is said that Prince Koben tried soba grown at Jindaiji and praised it highly, leading to its popularity among feudal lords all over the country.

Many people sent messengers to Jindaiji Temple hoping to try the white, delicious Jindaiji soba, and it came to be called "Kenjo Soba."

There is also a theory that soba became popular after the third shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu, stopped by during a falconry trip and praised the taste of the food, recommending it.

Also known as "presented soba," Jindaiji soba was only eaten by a very small section of the upper classes, and was never eaten by ordinary people.

During the Bunka-Bunsei era in the late Edo period, a man of culture, while inspecting the Tama River as a shogunate official, tried Jindaiji soba and promoted it widely. After that, Jindaiji soba became beloved by cultural figures strolling around Musashino, and became even more famous.

However, after the war, the number of buckwheat fields decreased, and soba was gradually grown at Jindaiji Temple. After that, in 1961 (Showa 36), the Jindai Botanical Gardens opened and the area began to flourish, and there were efforts to revive Jindaiji soba, which led to it gaining even more attention.

Tourist information and access for Chofu City, Tokyo

Chofu city, where you can eat Jindaiji soba, has many attractive tourist spots. This time, we will introduce three popular tourist spots in Chofu city.

Jindaiji Temple

The lush green Jindaiji Temple is a power spot visited by many people for its blessings in finding love and warding off evil spirits. Various events are held at Jindaiji Temple throughout the year.

Among them, the Jindaiji Daruma Market, one of the three biggest Daruma markets in Japan, held every year on March 3rd and 4th, is famous. In addition, the Jindaiji Soba Festival is held during the new soba season. Special soba can be eaten at the Sobamori Kannon Memorial Festival.

Jindai Botanical Gardens

At Jindai Botanical Garden, you can enjoy a variety of flowers throughout the seasons. The garden is divided into 30 blocks according to the type of plant, such as the rose garden, azalea garden, plum garden, and bush clover garden. Rare tropical plants are collected in the large greenhouse, and colorful flowers can be enjoyed even in winter.

The various events held at Jindai Botanical Gardens are also worth seeing. The Sakura Festival is held during cherry blossom season, the Spring Rose Festival is held every May, and the Autumn Rose Festival is held every October.

Tenjin Street Shopping District

Tenjin-dori Shopping Street, located near Chofu Station, is lined with a variety of shops, including restaurants and toy stores.

There are monuments of characters from "GeGeGe no Kitaro" by Shigeru Mizuki, a representative Japanese manga artist, scattered all over the area, and the area is also famous as a shopping street where you can encounter monsters. It is a popular tourist spot where you can enjoy eating while walking around and taking commemorative photos with monsters.

Chofu City, where you can enjoy both gourmet food and sightseeing, is located almost in the center of Tokyo and is easily accessible from the city center. If you take the train from the Osaka or Tochigi areas, you will arrive in about 3 hours and 30 minutes. We also recommend taking a leisurely drive there. Find the best way to get there.

Location of Chofu City, Tokyo

summary

It was only thanks to the nature of Jindaiji that the smooth and sweet "Jindaiji Soba" was born. In addition to soba, some restaurants offer original dishes made with buckwheat flour, such as soba manju.

If you visit Tokyo, be sure to try Jindaiji soba.

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