For soba in Asakusa, there are few better places to visit than Namiki Yabusoba. The highlight is its flavorful, concentrated dipping sauce - it’s sure to be a novel experience for those already familiar with soba.
Namiki Yabusoba - image © Florentyna Leow
Its pristine white walls might give the impression of newness, but Namiki Yabusoba has been around since 1913. The restaurant specializes in ‘yabusoba,’ a style of serving buckwheat noodles where the salty dipping sauce is especially strong and concentrated - so much so that they suggest dipping just the tip of your noodles into the sauce.
Indeed, their dipping sauce isn’t your average shoyu and broth-based one. It takes three days to make a single batch of sauce at Namiki Yabusoba! Don’t forget to ask for the soba-yu - the hot water used for cooking noodles - after your meal. Pour this into the remaining dipping sauce, and you’ll have a broth to finish your meal on a warm note.
They pride themselves on serving ‘juwari’ buckwheat soba, i.e. noodles made from 100% buckwheat. While theoretically this means it’s suitable for gluten-free diners, soy sauce in Japan these days is not entirely wheat-free. If this is a concern, it’s best to confirm the exact ingredients with Namiki Yabusoba before dining there.
English name:
Namiki Yabusoba
Japanese name:
並木藪蕎麦
English address:
2-11-9 Kaminarimon, Taito-ku, Tokyo, 111-0034
Japanese address:
〒111-0034 東京都台東区雷門2-11-9
Opening hours:
11am-7:30pm
Closed Thursday
Price:
Non-smoking section:
Completely Non-Smoking
Reservations:
No Reservations
Nearest Transport:
Subway: 2-minute walk from exit A4 of Asakusa Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza line, and Toei Asakusa line.
Telephone:
+81-3-3841-1340
Website:
none
Customer Reviews:
:: Read customer reviews of Namiki Yabusoba on TripAdvisor.
Near To Here:
Namiki Yabusoba is located in Tokyo's Asakusa and Ryogoto district. See our complete list of things to do in Asakusa and Ryogoto, including places to eat, nightlife and places to stay.
Where Are These Places Located?
See these places on the Truly Tokyo Google map:- Open the Tokyo map
- You will see the list of places on the left hand side. (Click the 3-line icon in the top left corner if not). Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want.
- Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map.
- Map pins are color coded - BLUE: Hotels / Ryokan / Guesthouses | VIOLET: Ryokan | PINK: Places to Eat | GREEN: Shops | YELLOW: Things to See and Do
- If you're using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location.
Tokyo Vacation Checklist
- For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Tokyo guide
- Check Tokyo accommodation availability and pricing on Booking.com - usually you can reserve a room with no upfront payment. Pay when you check out. Free cancellations too.
- Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Tokyo
- You can buy a Japan SIM card online with Klook for collection on arrival at Tokyo Narita or Haneda airports. Or rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router.
- See my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
- Compare airline flight prices and timings for the best Japan flight deals.
- If you're visiting more than one city, save a ton of money with a Japan Rail Pass - here's why it's worth it
- A prepaid Suica card makes travelling around Tokyo much easier - here's how.
- It's essential you have travel insurance for Tokyo - we recommend World Nomads
