A Guide to Japanese New Year's Soba

What Is New Year's Soba?

On these cold holiday nights, it’s tradition all over Japan to eat soba noodles called "toshikoshi soba" (new year soba). Soba is a type of noodle made with buckwheat, which lends a light brown color and delicious texture. For New Year's, these noodles can be served warm or cold, in a broth or with dipping sauces, in whatever style you prefer.
Toshikoshi soba is believed to have developed as a New Year’s tradition during the mid-Edo period (1603 - 1868) as an evolution from a previous tradition of eating soba on the last day of the month. Today, surveys have shown that almost 70% percent of people in Japan eat soba on New Year's Eve, which gives a sense of how widespread the custom is.
Why Is New Year's Soba Considered Lucky?

However, another reason that soba became such a popular tradition is that soba is also considered a lucky symbol. The idea of auspicious foods is fairly ingrained in Japanese culture, and noodles are often considered to be a symbol of longevity thanks to their long shape. The buckwheat plant itself is hardy, which symbolizes resilience, and soba noodles break off easily when bitten, which symbolizes a clean break with any hardships of the year before.

Lucky New Year's Soba Toppings

A classic topping that goes great with hot and chilled soba is green onion. The Japanese word, negi, is a play on words for the verb "negu", which means "to pray for protection". Abura-age, or fried tofu sheets, are delicious in a warm bowl of soba noodles, and are considered a favorite of the fox god Inari, who provides blessings for trade and harvest.
Seafood is also a rich area for symbolism. The shape of shrimp, for example, evokes the image of the long beard and bent waist of someone fortunate enough to reach old age. Red and white fish cakes, called "kamaboko", is a way to add lucky red and white colors into your New Year’s soba dish.
Variants and Other Lucky Foods

While eating soba on New Year's is popular all over Japan, it’s not uncommon to eat thicker udon noodles in some parts of the country, particularly in areas like Kagawa Prefecture that are known for making udon.

Regional Soba Recipes

Nishin soba is a local food of both Hokkaido and Kyoto. This hot soba dish is topped with herring that has been slow-cooked in a sweet soy sauce and vinegar sauce. The sweetness of the fish and the deep umami (Japanese savory taste) flavors of the broth make for a hearty combination that’s ideal for a chilly New Year's Eve.
Wanko soba, or "small bowl" soba, is an Iwate Prefecture favorite with a unique serving style. This type of warm soba is served in bowls in smaller portions that are continually refilled by wait staff until the customer has eaten their fill.

Soba Restaurants in Tokyo

Fumotoya Keio Plaza Hotel

Fumotoya Keio Plaza Hotel
[Saturday, Sunday, National Holidays] Lunch 11:30 am - 4:00 pm
[Weekdays] Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:00 pm)
[Saturday] Dinner 4:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:00 pm)
[Sunday, National Holidays] Dinner 4:00 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 9:00 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 5,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,200 JPY
Address: Keio Plaza Hotel, 2-2-1, Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Map
More Details Reservation
Edo Soba Teuchidokoro Asada

Edo Soba Teuchidokoro Asada
[Saturday] Lunch 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, Dinner 5:30 pm - 9:00 pm (L.O. 8:00 pm)
Closed: Sunday
Average price: [Dinner] 6,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,300 JPY
Address: 2-29-11, Asakusabashi, Taito-ku, Tokyo Map
More Details Reservation
Soba and meal Tsuzurao main branch

Soba and meal Tsuzurao main branch
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 3,500 JPY / [Lunch] 1,500 JPY
Address: 12F, Odakyu Department Store Main Bldg., 1-1-3, Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Map
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Kanda Matsuya

Kanda Matsuya
[Saturday, National Holidays] 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
Closed: Sunday
Average price: [Dinner] 2,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,000 JPY
Address: 1-13, Kanda, Suda-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Map
More Details
Tsukiji Sarashina no Sato

Tsukiji Sarashina no Sato
[Saturday] 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Closed: Sunday, National Holidays
Average price: [Dinner] 6,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,200 JPY
Address: 3-3-9, Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Map
More Details Reservation
Soba Restaurants in Kyoto
Souan

Souan
Address: 721-1, Higashi Shiokoji-cho, Karasuma-dori Shichijo-sagaru, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
More Details Reservation
Gontaro Okazaki branch

Gontaro Okazaki branch
Closed: Wednesday
Average price: [Dinner] 2,500 JPY / [Lunch] 1,500 JPY
Address: 19, Okazaki, Minami Gosho-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.
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