hello everyone welcome to WAORYU channel
today we're in kyoto
sakura is already in full bloom and everything looks extremely magical
but today we are not here for the sakura we are here to discover one of japan's oldest restaurant that started in sengoku period
let's go and discover some more
the restaurant HONKE OWARIYA has been running since the year 1465.
it started out as a confectionary shop in the owari region
and later moved to Kyoto in search of more customers
around the mid EDO period honkey OWARIYA expanded their business to making soba noodles
at that time soba noodles were mainly made by zen monks in Kyoto's temples
but as they could not keep up with the growing demand for soba noodles
the confectionery shops who had proficient skills in kneading rolling and cutting the dough have started to take soba orders too
SOBA has been part of ancient history but noodles became popular only around MUROMACHI period
a zen monk brought them to Kyoto from china
and the popularity of soba noodles grew since then alongside zen buddhism
HONKE OWARIYA had the honor of delivering noodles even to the imperial palace
the restaurant is currently run by ARIKO-san, the 16th generation owner
whose aim is to spread the knowledge about soba and its health benefits
as well as its deliciousness
Ariko-san is a professional photographer
and she spent 10 years living abroad
it was only when she went to Iceland and took pictures of the nature
that reminded her of the pure nature of Kyoto, that she started to consider going back to her roots
she has now been leading HONKE-OWARIYA, trying to honor the family's traditions
while adjusting to the ever-changing times
So, how would she describe her experience working alongside the previous owners?
it was very short time with my grandpa
It was only a few years before he passed away
that i could
tell him that i'm gonna take over the restaurant
so it was such a happy good news for him
he needed to introduce me to all his friends to tell that you know OWARIYA be okay for next generation nice
i grown up in this house and my dad and grandpa's working here
and my mom and grandma is always helping them
and i come home from school and i used to eat dinner with them
so i didn't really learn about business from them
but i learned a lot from growing up with them
because i grown up next door
so the restaurant and home is kind of together
my dad always said to me that people who work here they are like a family
it's important to try something new to keep our business going
but without knowing the history,
your understanding of tradition you cannot start like new
because it's a completely different meaning
so what exactly makes SOBA so great?
soba noodles are made of buckwheat flour and are healthy refreshing and light
soba noodles are rich in essential acids and vitamins that help prevent heart diseases
it can also help you maintain strength and appetite thanks to the vitamin B1
soba also contains vitamin B2 that is good for skin and vitamin E that is good for anti-aging
so how about trying some recommended foods from HONKE OWARIYA?
i decided to go for the most popular meal called HORAI
this meal was created by ariko's grandfather and is the most popular option on the menu
it consists of five stacked trays of soba noodles
along with eight different condiments
like shiitake mushrooms, tempura, sesame seeds, wasabi ,nori ,leeks ,daikon and omelet
to eat this meal you might want to follow the instructions that come with it
so the first thing you do is take
anything you like from here
then put it on top of soba
and then add soy sauce
it is a meal called HORAI and it was made by Ariko-san's grandfather
and she even said that people would line up outside of the store for hours just to get a taste of this
so i'm really excited about trying this
they even gave me a small manual of how to eat it
okay
super super refreshing
extremely extremely refreshing
it's a bit sweet
sweet and salty kind of combination
this soba is much thinner than the one i'm used to in tokyo
each layer tastes different because of the way you combine the condiments and the way
you add soy sauce
each layer is actually a new experience because it's just a
different combination every single time
so it's a new experience whenever you finish each plate.
maybe by the time you get to the last plate you already figure out which combination like the best
so you can enjoy the last plate with your favorite combination
at the end of the meal make sure to pour the hot soba water into your cup
and mix it with salted cherry blossoms in it
this soba water contains all the good nutrition and it is believed to lower the blood pressure
i'm so full
and what is the key to Honke Owariya's success?
and what are Arikosan's hopes for the future?
in the days, there is a big respect for each other and
when we think or make a decision about something
we think about is it gonna affect like
good for future?
it's gonna bring a good for us?
and also good for future and also good for others?
And also you know respect
Respecting what our ancestors in our past
so it's not only thinking about me or now
In a very big scale
but it's not only me. i'm not the only one
It's almost like it's that counter spirit
So i try not to worry or think too much about 10 years 20 years from today
Just to be present. But present moment. Every present moment, i'm not thinking about only about us.
Is this gonna make good for the earth?
good for the people?
good for our community?
and good for our health?
It's a simple question
but if everything is yes yes yes i believe even the things gonna change
Or maybe i will reach a good place
I'm sure you will
you definitely on the right path
if you ever get a chance to come to kyoto
make sure to stop by HONKE OWARIYA and taste famous soba meals that people have been enjoying in japan for over 500 years