Noodles are a staple in the Japanese diet and make the perfect quick meal before you set out on another adventure. Offering affordable and convenient transportation to destinations in Tokyo and to prefectures north, a journey for noodle lovers awaits with Tobu Railway! Here are three deliciously unique classic noodle dishes that you can find along the tracks of the Tobu Railway line.
Historic Yakisoba in AsakusaAsakusa is a historic hotspot of Tokyo and retains its historic vibes as an old merchant town. Today the area is home to some of Tokyo's most popular destinations such as the towering TOKYO SKYTREE© and its surrounding historical sites such as the Senso-ji Temple and Japan's oldest amusement park, Hanayashiki.
Hidden in Japan's oldest underground shopping arcade Asakusa Chika Shoutengai is Fuku-chan, a family-run Yakisoba Noodle Restaurant that has been open since 1964. Fuku-chan's menu is simple and affordable (the cheapest Yakisoba is only 350 Yen!). The most popular dish is their signature Yakisoba – noodles cooked in their signature sauce on top a teppanyaki hotplate with a variety of vegetables and meats topped with a fried egg. The combination of Fuku-chan's homemade salty-sweet sauce with the thick chewy noodles will have you addicted after your first bite.
Since its opening, the store has become somewhat a local legend and with the interior remaining mostly in its original condition, it boasts classic retro-Japan vibes.
How to get there:
Yakisoba Fuku-chan is located conveniently just a minutes' walk from the Tobu Asakusa Station.
A Japanese delicacy reborn of Nikko
Nikko in Tochigi prefecture, a 2-hour train ride north from Asakusa, is famed for its extravagant World Heritage sites such as Nikko Toshogu Shrine and Rinnoji Temple and its access to natural wonders like Kegon Falls and Lake Chuzenji.
Here, a by-product created during the production of soymilk has come to be a local delicacy. Yuba is a thin sheet of coagulated soy proteins that form on the surface of hot soy milk. It has a rich flavour of soy milk and chewy texture like that of a fresh mozzarella ball.
In Nikko City, you can find various restaurants offering Yuba served in different styles. A few, such as the 'Maruhide Shokudo' offer Yuba in noodle dishes, some which a suitable for vegetarians. Ranking number one in popularity at Maruhide is the Spicy Tomato Soup Noodles. Other popular Yuba dishes include a battered Yuba egg and rice bowl, and even a Yuba burger!
How to get there:
The Maruhide Shokudo is only a 3-minute walk from Tobu-Nikko Station – the perfect pit-stop before you explore Nikko.
For information on Tobu Railway's special passes to Nikko, please see:
https://www.tobu.co.jp/en/ticket/nikko/all.html
Ramen with a special oomph
Further north, Kitakata City of Fukushima Prefecture is famed for its own special dish - Kitakata Ramen. This ramen's lightly flavoured soup is made with a slowly cooked clear pork bone broth and soy sauce. The signature noodles are thick, flat and curly with a soft and chewy texture. Locals recommend having this dish for breakfast.
You will be spoiled for choices with over 100 ramen restaurants in Kitakata City alone that compete to serve the most delicious Kitakata ramen in the city. Kitakata ramen restaurant Kiichi is a local favourite winning first place in 2018 and 2019 in the People of Fukushima's Ramen Choice Awards.
YUTTARI AIZU TOBU FREE PASS
The Tobu Railway offers the 'YUTTARI (relaxing) AIZU TOBU FREE PASS' a special pass to this area that includes a return ticket from Tokyo and allows you to explore historical landmarks like Fukushima Prefecture's iconic Tsuruga Castle, the thatched roofed traditional buildings of Ouchi-Juku and the picturesque Higashiyama Onsen located in the mountains.
The pass provides free rides between Shimoimachi-Station to Kitakata Station and offers its users with special discounts at some tourist facilities, shops and restaurants.
More information on the YUTTARI AIZU TOBU FREE PASS can be found here.
The Tobu Railway has made sufficient measures to protect their passengers to prevent the spread of COVID-19. These include regular sterilization of all station equipment (ticket machines, handrails, etc) as well as cleaning and ventilation of all trains. For more information, please see their official statement.
About Tobu Railway/Group
Tobu Railway's massive network extends through Tokyo as well as four surrounding prefectures: Chiba, Saitama, Tochigi, and Gunma. With 463.3 kilometres of operating track, Tobu is Kanto's largest private railway and is used by commuters, students, business travellers, and tourists. Tobu Railways is one of many companies that is part of the Tobu Group, which also operates health clubs, golf courses, theme parks, and hotels. These include Tokyo SKYTREE; Tobu World Square, where the world's most famous structures are re-created at 1:25 scale; the Courtyard Marriott Ginza Tobu Hotel and the Tobu Hotel Levant Tokyo, operated in partnership with the Marriott Group.
For more information, visit:
https://www.tobu.co.jp/en/
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