“Osukuni” handmade soba noodles and mountain cuisine

About 40 minutes from the Shimobe Onsen Hayakawa Interchange of Chubu-Odan Expressway, and about 20 minutes from the entrance of Hayakawa-cho, there is a soba and local cuisine restaurant called “Osukuni”.

“Osukuni” is managed by Mr. and Mrs. Kurauchi who moved to Hayakawa-cho when they were young. Daisuke, the husband, was a researcher of the local culture in university. On the other hand, Yoshiko, the wife, who had worked in a newspaper company, was drawn to the fascination of “soba” noodles and traveled to distant countries like Nepal to research worldwide “soba culture”. In 2019, they fulfilled their dream of opening a small soba restaurant in Hayakawa-cho, which is not only a member of the Most Beautiful Villages in Japan but also the least populated town in Japan.  

Even though “Osukuni” is new and very small, it represents the food culture of Hayakawa-cho. This is because the owners are very passionate to promote the local culture and cuisine that they love. It’s not simply a “soba” restaurant. You will know how the local people have lived their life here in mountainous region receiving the blessings of nature.

Savor handmade “soba” noodles that Yoshiko prepares and

Daisuke’s “mountain cuisines”. All the dishes served here, full of tender care, will make you happy.

Tempra of freshly picked wild mountain vegetables, “Hayakawa Wariko”, a set menu of soba and seasonal traditional dishes, walnut and miso dipping soba, “amago”, fresh-water fish, cooked with “sansho” Japanese green pepper are some of the musts.

Almost all the ingredients used in “Osukuni” are harvested or picked in the nearby mountains. As there are so many dishes to try, you cannot eat them all in a single visit. Become a regular!

In “Osukuni”, you don’t need to reserve a table at lunch time. But for dinner, you need to make a reservation.

There is another option to take as much pleasure as possible in “Osukuni”; staying at their inn called “Tsukiyomi Sanso”.

It is a renovated traditional house built in about 100 years ago, which you can rent.

“Tsukiyomi” literally means reading the moon, and the name of the Moon God in Japanese mythology. “Sanso” means a mountain villa. Speaking of Japanese mythology, “Osukuni” is the name of the land where Tsukiyomi Moon God ruled.

Now you know everything about “Osukuni”!

Stay in “Tsukiyomi” mountain villa and look at the beautiful moon from the garden drinking delicious sake! Silence, the beauty of nature, the blessings of mountains, and delicious food… You may start thinking to move in just like Mr. And Mrs. Kurauchi did.