It used to be a private residence, but now this lovely old house in Yokohama is a soba restaurant, one of the Minato-an restaurant chain. There are two seating areas, one a traditional tatami room, and one with chairs and tables. I really wanted to sit in the beautiful tatami room, but sitting on the floor is hard on my knees. I ordered the cold soba and tempura set, which cost less than 1000 yen during for lunch. The soba noodles are served with dipping sauce. The tempura was so delicious, and I always enjoy cold soba. I went there by bicycle, but if you are driving, there is a spacious parking lot outside the restaurant.
- 1 min read
Eating Soba at Minato-an
Can you eat a mountain of soba?

By Cathy Cawood
Community writer

Soba-yama... a mountain of soba noodles!

Beautiful traditional style

Models of food on the menu in a display window near the entrance

Very traditional tatami room

Rush 'cushions' on the bench seating

Drink as much delicious cold tea as you want

Regular size soba and tempura set

I love soba!

All the dishes were beautiful

Large paper doll hanging in the corridor

Samurai armor on display

Small garden outside the window
Join the discussion
I agree with your uncle, Yui. It is definitely one of the best kinds of simple luxury to share a soba meal! However, I haven't decided yet what my favorite soba dish is, and it might not be easy. Once, I Googled soba noodles, and I was amazed at the huge variety of ways people eat soba!
Yui Yamaguchi
11 years ago
My uncle often says eating soba together with a bottle of beer is a kind of luxury. Have you discovered your favorite soba dish already (tenzaru soba, yamakake soba, nishin soba, etc)?
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