Honke Owariya

The first position on the list of the oldest restaurants in Japan is Honke Owariya. In Kyoto, Honke Owariya was established in 1465 as a confectionary selling soba (buckwheat) rice cakes. The sweet red bean paste was wrapped in a dough consisting of buckwheat flour, eggs, and sugar for the rice cakes, which quickly gained popularity throughout the city.

After being established in Kyoto, Honke Owariya started providing buckwheat flour and buckwheat noodles to Buddhist and Zen temples. The temple priests initially manufactured their own noodles, but when demand grew to an unmanageable level, they turned to city confectionery businesses, which already possessed the necessary abilities (specifically, the ability to knead, roll, and cut for the job).

Honke Owariya also had the privilege of supplying soba to the Imperial Household, solidifying its position as one of the most prestigious soba producers in the city. The restaurant is still a popular destination today. The proprietors claim that the water used to prepare the dashi, or soup stock, contains the secret. A sizable subsurface water resource is present in Kyoto. Honke Owariya draws the pure water from its own well and uses it to create its dashi. All other forms of cooking, such as kneading and boiling soba, use the same amount of water.

Location: 322, Niomontsukinukecho, Nakagyo Ward, 〒604-0841 Kyoto, Japan
Phone: +81 75-221-6080
Website: honke-owariya.co.jp