Soba has been one of the most traditional food in Japan, dating back to the Jomon Period (14,000-300 B.C.). While there are different saying about the place of origin, Nagano was the first location mentioned in some historic documents of the Edo Period（1603-1868) producing soba. So when you visit Nagano Japan, don’t miss the chance to taste the soba noodles. Soba noodles can be served either chilled with a dipping sauce, or in hot broth as a noodle soup. Chilled isn’t really cold. Soba noodles are rinsed with cool water after cooking and served on a bamboo sieve. Dipping sauce called Tsuyu is served on the side. Some soba shops are very particular in making their own dipping sauce which gives flavor to the noodles. While many restaurants serve the dipping sauce in just a small cup and room temperature, others provide a pot of warm dipping soup that you may consume as regular soup as well. In Matsumoto, Nagano Japan, soba noodles are served in hot pot style.
