Tokyo Kagurazaka series by Okinawa-based blogger @owncolorstravel , who runs a blog themed around travel and lifestyle, both domestic and international. Kagurazaka is a unique area where traditional Japanese style and modernity intersect in the heart of the city.
In search of delicious soba, I made my way to Kagurazaka in Shinjuku.
Where I currently live in Okinawa, there aren’t any soba shops within walking distance, so one of the best parts of traveling to Tokyo is how easy it is to find a great soba spot.
In this post, I’ll highlight the soba restaurants I actually visited and enjoyed around Kagurazaka during my stay.
・Kyorakutei
Kyorakutei 1st floor, Kagurazakakan, 3-6 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0825
Handmade soba restaurant Kyorakutei opens from 5 p.m. for dinner. They also serve lunch, but I visited for dinner.
In the evening, the alleyway is dimly lit, so it can be a bit hard to find—look for Kenban Yokocho as a landmark.
Even though I was using Google Maps, I still got a bit lost trying to find this place.
This restaurant is so popular it has earned a Michelin star. When I arrived at 6 p.m., it was already quite busy, but I was able to get a seat at the counter.
The counter seating makes it very welcoming for solo diners, which I appreciated.
The space overall is a bit narrow, but there are also table seats available. From the counter, I could watch the chefs at work, which was a nice touch.
I ordered the Nishoku soba (two-color soba). The noodles were thin and smooth, making them easy to enjoy with each bite.
The à la carte menu offered so many tempting options that it was hard to choose, but I decided on the simmered beef tendon.
It had a light, delicate flavor that let the natural taste of the meat shine—almost like the broth you’d find in high-quality akashiyaki. They offer a half-size portion, which was perfect for a solo diner like me.
They served sobayu (soba broth) at the end of the meal.
As I left, I thought about how I’d love to try their tempura next time I visit.
・Soba dining NAGOMI
soba dining Nagomi 2F, 3-2-31 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0825
I visited Nagomi for lunch.
It’s located along Geisha Shinmichi. This spot can be a bit tricky to find, especially for first-time visitors to Kagurazaka, so it helps to know the street name beforehand to make it easier to get there.
This restaurant serves juwari soba (100% buckwheat noodles) made with soba flour from Aizu in Fukushima Prefecture. I ordered the tenzaru (cold soba with tempura). The noodles had a firm texture and great chew, characteristic of juwari soba.
The dish was served on a large, beautifully crafted ceramic plate.
They also have counter seating, making it a perfect spot for solo diners.
The tempura included vegetables like green beans and perfectly crispy shrimp, lightly fried to a satisfying crunch.
The sobayu (soba broth) here has a gentle, soothing flavor.
At Soba Dining Nagomi, they offer something called Silk Soba. This unique soba is made by mixing buckwheat flour from Aizu, Fukushima with edible silk from Kyoto. Silk is rich in high-quality amino acids, which are said to help improve liver function, reduce cholesterol and blood sugar levels, and promote collagen production when combined with vitamin C. This means it may also have benefits for skin elasticity, smoothness, and radiance—making it appealing not only as a delicious dish but also for its potential beauty benefits! If my favorite soba can support wellness too, it’s something I’d happily enjoy more often.
・Other soba restaurants you can enjoy in Kagurazaka.
Just by strolling around Kagurazaka, you can find plenty of soba shops, which makes it incredibly charming.
There’s Kuzuryu Soba, where you can enjoy Fukui’s local dishes and oroshi (grated radish) soba, and Kagurazaka Yamasemi, a spot where you can experience a unique pairing of soba and tonkatsu.
Kuzuryu Soba Main Store 3-3 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0825
Kagurazaka Yamasemi 1F, 5-31 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0825
At Kamo Shou , a restaurant specializing in duck dishes along Geisha Shinmichi, you can enjoy soba for lunch.
Kagurazaka Kamo Shou 3-2-36 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0825 L. V Annex 1F
Kagurazaka is a soba paradise, with so many places to try that it’s impossible to visit them all in just one day. If I lived nearby, I’d want to go all the time, and it makes me want to explore Kagurazaka even more.
Kagurazaka in Tokyo—a place that satisfies your appetite. How about a tour of top soba restaurants, perfect for solo dining and discovering Tokyo’s best eats?
