NEWS & TOPICS

The season for newly harvested buckwheat and fresh soba is just around the corner. Amongst the many festivals celebrating this annual tradition, below are some of the top representatives across Nagano.

Nagawa Autumn New Soba Festival … 10/1 (Wed.) to 11/3 (Mon., Holiday), Matsumoto City Nagawa District, 4 participating restaurants
Otari New Soba Festival … 10/7 (Sat.) to 11/26 (Sun.), Otari Village, 10 participating restaurants
Shinshu Ina Autumn Soba Month … 10/19 (Sun.) to 11/9 (Sun.), Ina City, various locations around the city, including Takato Castle Ruins Park and more
Togakushi Soba Festival … 10/30 (Thu.) and 10/31 (Fri.), Nagano City, Togakushi Area, 18 participating restaurants
Asama Onsen New Soba Festival … 11/1 (Sat.) and 11/2 (Sun.), Matsumoto City, Asama Onsen Square *Official details pending

*The Shinshu Matsumoto Soba Festival will not be held this year due to the ongoing demolition of the former Matsumoto City Museum.
*After harvesting, soba grains are dried and threshed to become “gen-soba” (buckwheat with husks), but gen-soba loses flavor easily at room temperature. Despite advances in storage technology in recent years, freshly harvested soba remains uniquely tasty!