World Heritage Site: Gift Shop and Restaurant in Ainokura

We shopped at this shop. There were trinkets on straps or chains that can be hung on phones or bags or used as key chains.




A paper decoration.





There were also souvenirs of traditional items like these straw snow boots and this wooden instrument used for a regional dance.




These eel traps could be used as decorations.




The shop also had tables in the front where customers could sit and order soba and rice balls to eat. The baskets along the side are part of the shop and are for sale.


I've included this close-up of the table because of the beautiful piece of wood. A container of chopsticks, a menu, an ashtray, and a bottle of soy sauce sit on top.




This is part of what we ordered. These noodles are called soba. We ordered them cold. It can also be ordered hot. It is dipped into a small cup of sauce made of soy sauce, mirin, and seaweed broth. There is a small plate of shallots and mushrooms on top of this cup that is scraped into the dipping cup. There are rice balls and pickled vegetables on the black plate shaped like a leaf. The bamboo "plates" are sold in the shop. You may be able to see them under the eel traps in the picture above.

Somen, Cold Noodles

These thin noodles are called somen. They are bound by a paper tab and come in a package with several bundles. They boil quickly and then they are chilled. They are served cold. We rinse them in cold water and then put them in the refrigerator for a few minutes. I have seen others serve them with ice cubes in the bowl.

They are eaten with chopsticks and are dunked in sauce in a small cup made especially for somen and soba (thicker noodles). We buy the sauce in a bottle and keep it in the refrigerator. It is concentrated so after pouring a little in the small cup we put cold water in it. The sauce has mostly soy sauce and seaweed broth with a little sugar. My kids like to eat somen with mandarin orange slices. These came from a can. My daughter likes to put horseradish in her sauce. Papa likes to put slices of leek. My son likes lots of orange slices.