The city of Odate in northern Japan’s Akita Prefecture is known as the birthplace of the legendary and faithful Akita dog named Hachi. As the story goes, Hachi patiently waited for his master’s return from Shibuya Station for 10 years. In Tokyo’s bustling Shibuya today, the Hachiko Statue commemorates this loyal dog and is the typical meeting point for anyone visiting the city’s shopping and entertainment center.

A few hundred miles away from Shibuya, in Odate, Akita you can enjoy a slice of rural life during this authentic, hands-on soba making class. Surrounded by glorious farmland, it is the perfect opportunity to break away from city life and rejuvenate yourself with a taste of the quieter rural life.

Akita is known for its high-quality rice and sake, boasting excellent regional cuisine with produce from the fertile soil of a diverse climate. This soba making experience gives you insight into local food and culture of the area. During this cooking class in Akita, you will learn how to make regional Nakayama soba noodles.

Thanks to the local climate, the buckwheat flour used to make these soba noodles is rich with umami flavors. Its unique texture comes from the addition of special mountain yams grown in the Odate region, making them extra tasty and unique.

Step by step, you will learn how to make these soba noodles from scratch during this class. Taught by friendly female farmers in the local area, this experience is guided with warmth and kindness, just like cooking with your grandma! At the end of this soba noodle-making class, enjoy eating your delicious meal of fresh, handmade, and local Nayakama noodles.