{"id":22751,"date":"2019-02-01T12:28:58","date_gmt":"2019-02-01T12:28:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/?p=22751"},"modified":"2019-01-24T16:18:30","modified_gmt":"2019-01-24T16:18:30","slug":"iwate-prefecture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2019\/02\/01\/iwate-prefecture\/","title":{"rendered":"Iwate, autumn leaves and the wanko soba noodle challenge"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4>Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/h4><ul class=\"wpfai-list\"><li class=\"wpfai-list-item facebook\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F22751&amp;t=\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"wpfai-facebook wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-facebook fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item twitter\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F22751\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"wpfai-twitter wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-twitter fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item pinterest\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F22751&amp;description=&amp;media=\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"wpfai-pinterest wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-pinterest fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item linkedin\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F22751&amp;title=\" title=\"Linked In\" class=\"wpfai-linkedin wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-linkedin fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item envelope\">\r\n      <a href=\"mailto:?subject=&amp;body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F22751%20-%20\" title=\"E-Mail\" class=\"wpfai-envelope wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item stumbleupon\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F22751\" title=\"Stumble Upon\" class=\"wpfai-stumbleupon wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-stumbleupon fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item reddit\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F22751\" title=\"Reddit\" class=\"wpfai-reddit wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-reddit fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><\/ul><p>Travel consultant <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/about-us\/staff-profiles\/travel-consultants\/179\/shakira-johnson\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Shakira<\/a>\u00a0takes in the sights, sounds and (most importantly) tastes of Iwate. Luckily she arrived hungry for the\u00a0wanko soba challenge&#8230;<br \/>\n<!--more--><br \/>\nGetting beneath the surface is a goal of many tourists who visit Japan, and what better way to do it than by exploring some of Japan\u2019s most beautiful countryside in the northern prefecture of Iwate?<\/p>\n<h2>Iwate Prefecture<\/h2>\n<h2><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium-plus-size wp-image-22779\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/The-most-beautiful-tree-in-Iwate-510x510.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"510\" height=\"510\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/The-most-beautiful-tree-in-Iwate-510x510.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/The-most-beautiful-tree-in-Iwate-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/The-most-beautiful-tree-in-Iwate-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/The-most-beautiful-tree-in-Iwate-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/The-most-beautiful-tree-in-Iwate-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/The-most-beautiful-tree-in-Iwate-564x564.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/The-most-beautiful-tree-in-Iwate-1200x1200.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/The-most-beautiful-tree-in-Iwate-900x900.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/The-most-beautiful-tree-in-Iwate-720x720.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/The-most-beautiful-tree-in-Iwate-1440x1440.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/The-most-beautiful-tree-in-Iwate-390x390.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/The-most-beautiful-tree-in-Iwate-780x780.jpg 780w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 510px) 100vw, 510px\" \/><\/h2>\n<p>Nestled on the eastern side of the Tohoku region, Iwate prefecture is known for its vast size and small population, as well as resident volcano Mount Iwate, natural geothermic hot springs, lovely cherry blossom in the spring and fiery foliage in the fall. The eastern coast of Iwate prefecture was heavily impacted by the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami disaster in 2011 but is doing well in its recovery.<\/p>\n<h2>Fall in Morioka<\/h2>\n<h2><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-22764 size-medium-plus-size\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-3560-e1548262380826-510x680.jpg\" alt=\"Autumn in Iwate\" width=\"510\" height=\"680\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-3560-e1548262380826-510x680.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-3560-e1548262380826-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-3560-e1548262380826-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-3560-e1548262380826-423x564.jpg 423w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-3560-e1548262380826-900x1200.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-3560-e1548262380826-720x960.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-3560-e1548262380826-390x520.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-3560-e1548262380826-780x1040.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-3560-e1548262380826.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 510px) 100vw, 510px\" \/><\/h2>\n<p>I first fell in love with Iwate\u2019s capital city Morioka when I moved there in the fall of 2014. The city itself is small and rather spread out, with narrow winding streets in the downtown area and longer parkways stretching out in every direction. When I arrived then, the <em>koyo<\/em> (fall) season was just setting in, and it seemed like the trees were on fire with vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows all over the city and surrounding mountains. The people were incredibly charming and always willing to help me find my way around.<\/p>\n<h2>History of Iwate and Morioka<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium-plus-size wp-image-22761\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Fall-in-Iwate-Park-510x906.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"510\" height=\"906\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Fall-in-Iwate-Park-510x906.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Fall-in-Iwate-Park-169x300.jpg 169w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Fall-in-Iwate-Park-768x1365.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Fall-in-Iwate-Park-576x1024.jpg 576w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Fall-in-Iwate-Park-317x564.jpg 317w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Fall-in-Iwate-Park-900x1599.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Fall-in-Iwate-Park-720x1280.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Fall-in-Iwate-Park-390x693.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Fall-in-Iwate-Park-780x1386.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Fall-in-Iwate-Park.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 510px) 100vw, 510px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>I quickly learned that Morioka is a city rich with history, from the ruins of Morioka Castle in Iwate Park, to the ancient shrine of Mitsuishi. According to legend, three rocks were spewed out of Mount Iwate in an eruption long ago and designated as a sacred site known as Mitsuishi by the townspeople.<\/p>\n<p>One day, a demon came down from the mountains and began terrorising the town. But when the people called upon the spirits of the Mitsuishi to protect them, the demon was captured, tethered to the three rocks and made to vow that he would cease tormenting the town. As a mark of his oath, the demon made a handprint on one of the rocks and the townspeople have been protected since. Iwate translates literally as \u201crock hand,\u201d giving birth to the name of Iwate.<\/p>\n<h2>Famous noodles<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium-plus-size wp-image-22778\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5350-e1548262317398-510x680.jpg\" alt=\"Iwate prefecture\" width=\"510\" height=\"680\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5350-e1548262317398-510x680.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5350-e1548262317398-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5350-e1548262317398-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5350-e1548262317398-423x564.jpg 423w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5350-e1548262317398-1200x1600.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5350-e1548262317398-900x1200.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5350-e1548262317398-720x960.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5350-e1548262317398-1440x1920.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5350-e1548262317398-390x520.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5350-e1548262317398-780x1040.jpg 780w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 510px) 100vw, 510px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Aside from interesting history and beautiful landscapes, Morioka is also known for its three different types of noodle dishes: wanko soba, reimen, and jajamen. Jajamen are noodles similar to udon and come topped with a black miso sauce. Reimen is a cold noodle dish served with kimchi and watermelon or apples. Perhaps the most interesting of them all is wanko soba, an incredibly fun all-you-can-eat style contest where you are served soba noodles until you burst!<\/p>\n<h2>Chokurian<\/h2>\n<h2><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-22767 size-medium-plus-size\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5341-e1548262539271-510x680.jpg\" alt=\"Chokurian wanko soba noodles Japan\" width=\"510\" height=\"680\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5341-e1548262539271-510x680.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5341-e1548262539271-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5341-e1548262539271-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5341-e1548262539271-423x564.jpg 423w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5341-e1548262539271-1200x1600.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5341-e1548262539271-900x1200.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5341-e1548262539271-720x960.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5341-e1548262539271-1440x1920.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5341-e1548262539271-390x520.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5341-e1548262539271-780x1040.jpg 780w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 510px) 100vw, 510px\" \/><\/h2>\n<p>Visiting Morioka again in October 2018, I had the opportunity to visit Chokurian, a famous wanko soba joint in downtown Morioka. This charming machiya style house-turned-restaurant has two floors with low tables atop bamboo tatami mats. Patrons seat themselves on the floor and are immediately served tea from bright kimono-clad waitresses.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium-plus-size wp-image-22760\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/34-510x907.jpg\" alt=\"Wanko soba noodle waitress\" width=\"510\" height=\"907\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/34-510x907.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/34-169x300.jpg 169w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/34-576x1024.jpg 576w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/34-317x564.jpg 317w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/34-720x1281.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/34-390x694.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/34.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 510px) 100vw, 510px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>My server, Ms. Natsuki Saito, works as a server part-time while attending Iwate University as a first-year student. After serving tea, she brings out a spread of fresh and lovely ingredients to add to your soba; there are brightly colored salmon eggs, thinly sliced tuna sashimi, slippery mushrooms mixed with shredded daikon radish, crunchy seaweed flakes and my favorite, chopped Japanese scallions. After setting the table with great care, Natsuki-san kneels next to me and begins to explain the process of wanko soba.<\/p>\n<h2>Wanko Soba all-you-can-eat contest<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium-plus-size wp-image-22770\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5343-510x383.jpg\" alt=\"Wanko soba noodle ingredients\" width=\"510\" height=\"383\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5343-510x383.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5343-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5343-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5343-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5343-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5343-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5343-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5343-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5343-1440x1080.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5343-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5343-780x585.jpg 780w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 510px) 100vw, 510px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The object of the contest is simple: eat as many bowlfuls of soba as you can! The soba will be served by Natsuki-san to you in mouthfuls and will be placed into the bowl you hold aloft. The noodles are served with a small amount of dashi soup base and you can add ingredients from the middle as you wish.<\/p>\n<p>Another mouthful of noodles will be added to your bowl quickly and you must keep eating, but if you cannot take any more, you should put the lid onto your bowl so no more noodles will be added. You will also need to keep track of your own count using the matchsticks provided.<\/p>\n<p>To give a bit of perspective, a normal serving of cold soba for one person is about 8 mouthfuls. Natsuki-san informed me that the average amount of wanko soba eaten by women is about 40, but If you eat over 100 bowlfuls, you will be presented with an award detailing your achievement and a wooden keepsake to take home with you.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium-plus-size wp-image-22775\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5349-510x383.jpg\" alt=\"Wanko soba noodle in Iwate\" width=\"510\" height=\"383\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5349-510x383.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5349-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5349-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5349-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5349-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5349-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5349-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5349-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5349-1440x1080.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5349-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5349-780x585.jpg 780w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 510px) 100vw, 510px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>I am ready to go! Natsuki-san informs me that she will be back with the mouthfuls of soba shortly. Upon her return, I hold my bowl aloft and she enthusiastically says \u201chai, don don!\u201d meaning \u201cyes, quickly!\u201d I slurp my mouthful of noodles and hold my bowl aloft again. Natsuki-san adds another mouthful to my bowl with a happy \u201chai, mo hitotsu!\u201d meaning \u201cyes, one more!\u201d Two! I think to myself as I slurp my noodles happily. Amid Natsuki-san\u2019s cries of \u201chai, janjan!\u201d \u201chai, dozo!\u201d \u201chai, yuusho!\u201d my matchsticks begin to pile up and my belly begins to fill. I add scallions and seaweed to my soba as quickly as I can and hold my bowl high for Natsuki-san to keep filling.<\/p>\n<h2>Could I beat 81?<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium-plus-size wp-image-22773\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5344-510x383.jpg\" alt=\"Chokurian Japan\" width=\"510\" height=\"383\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5344-510x383.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5344-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5344-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5344-1024x769.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5344-564x424.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5344-1200x902.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5344-900x676.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5344-720x541.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5344-1440x1082.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5344-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/IMG-5344-780x586.jpg 780w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 510px) 100vw, 510px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>After about 30 bowlfuls, I think I\u2019m going to burst! Natsuki-san adds another mouthful to my bowl and I hesitate. I am really full and the soba isn\u2019t tasting as delicious as it was at the beginning\u2026 but with Natsuki-san\u2019s encouraging \u201chai, mo hitotsu!\u201d (yes, one more!), I slurp the noodles up and hold my bowl up again. I can do this!<\/p>\n<p>After about an hour, I count my matchsticks and have, to my surprise, 75 altogether! My record from four years ago was 81\u2014can I eat 82 this time? I hold my bowl aloft yet again and Natsuki-san says cheerily \u201chai, yuusho!\u201d (yes, victory!). Only seven more\u2014I can do this! After number 82, I slammed the lid on my bowl before Natsuki-san could add another mouthful and groggily claimed \u201cgoshiso-sama deshita!\u201d (thank you for the lovely meal).<\/p>\n<p>I did manage to eat 82 bowlfuls and boy, did I feel it! I couldn\u2019t believe it\u2014I ate more than TEN normal servings of soba! Unfortunately, I didn\u2019t make it all the way to 100, so no commemorative keepsake for me, but the pictures and memories are all I need to stay full and happy for at least a day or two.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\">Authentic Japan<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium-plus-size wp-image-22755\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/3.-Fall-at-Iwate-Park-e1548262617552-510x680.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"510\" height=\"680\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/3.-Fall-at-Iwate-Park-e1548262617552-510x680.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/3.-Fall-at-Iwate-Park-e1548262617552-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/3.-Fall-at-Iwate-Park-e1548262617552-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/3.-Fall-at-Iwate-Park-e1548262617552-423x564.jpg 423w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/3.-Fall-at-Iwate-Park-e1548262617552-1200x1600.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/3.-Fall-at-Iwate-Park-e1548262617552-900x1200.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/3.-Fall-at-Iwate-Park-e1548262617552-720x960.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/3.-Fall-at-Iwate-Park-e1548262617552-1440x1920.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/3.-Fall-at-Iwate-Park-e1548262617552-390x520.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/3.-Fall-at-Iwate-Park-e1548262617552-780x1040.jpg 780w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 510px) 100vw, 510px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Wanko soba is a really great example of what makes the Japanese countryside so great\u2014incredibly kind and encouraging people, spectacular food, and warm conversation really made my time in Morioka wonderful. At first, it may be intimidating to visit somewhere so seldom frequented by Western tourists, but for the adventurous traveler, it really is the best way to experience authentic Japan. Lacking the crowds, noise, and general hustle and bustle of other cities, Morioka is a breath of fresh air (quite literally).<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Explore the beautiful Tohoku area on our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/japan-small-group-tours\/i-ans\/a-northern-soul-ijt-classic-\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Northern Soul<\/a> Small Group Tour, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/self-guided-japan-holidays\/i-nhs\/northern-highlights\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Northern Highlights<\/a> Self-Guided Adventure. Alternatively,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/about-us\/contact-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">get in touch with our Japan experts<\/a> to plan your own tailormade trip.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h4>Like this post? 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Help us by sharing it! Travel consultant Shakira\u00a0takes in the sights, sounds and (most importantly) tastes of Iwate. Luckily she arrived hungry for the\u00a0wanko soba challenge&#8230; Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":65,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_sitemap_exclude":false,"_sitemap_priority":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2360,2366,2367],"tags":[1885,4100,4103],"class_list":["post-22751","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-travellers-tales-from-japan","category-japanese-food-and-drink","category-japanese-culture-and-history","tag-morioka","tag-wanko-soba-noodles","tag-iwate-prefecture"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22751","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/65"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22751"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22751\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22791,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22751\/revisions\/22791"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22751"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22751"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22751"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}