Kagurazaka Kuzuryu Soba

Though it is known primarily as one of Tokyo’s old geisha districts, what many visitors — and even Tokyoites — might not know is that Kagurazaka has a surprisingly deep connection to Fukui Prefecture. Kagurazaka even holds an Echizen-Wakasa festival every year to celebrate the culture and cuisine of those two regions in Fukui. Historically, the famous Fukui feudal lord Sakai Tadakatsu was gifted a mansion in modern-day Yarai-cho by the third shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu in the year 1628, and the ties continue to run deep to this day. It was for this reason that the owner started Kagurazaka Kuzuryu Soba, naming it after the mighty river that bisects his hometown, Katsuyama City. Every time he returns to Katsuyama, the sound of the thundering river brings strength to both his body and spirit — and with the Fukui delicacies offered at Kuzuryu Soba, visitors too can have their hearts and bodies re-energized. Kuzuryu takes advantage of its unfettered access to the finest ingredients from the Hokuriku region, the breadbasket of northwestern Honshu island. All year round, the restaurant’s seafood comes fresh from the frigid, tumultuous waters off the Echizen Coast, while its soba noodles are made with Echizen buckwheat. Naturally, the noodles are served Echizen oroshi style: chilled and topped with a generous serving of grated daikon and bonito flakes. Echizen cuisine is not complete without Echizen sake, and the collection of local varieties at Kuzuryu Soba is a personal point of pride for the owner. With over 30 types to choose from, guests are sure to find a type that suits them. Most end up finding several over the course of their meal, as they relax in Kuzuryu’s traditional mingei-style interior, an oasis of calm that's all earthy shades and dark wood furnishings.