Who doesn't like Udon? While in Japan I travelled to Takamatsu and for lunch tasted some of the best udon noodles that I've ever tasted in my life. Quite a bold claim isn't it! haha But this restaurant named Waraya at the foot of Sanukitoshogu Yashima Shrine was a special experience for me and their noodles, which are all made by hand in house, were super tasty so I wanted to share the pictures here with you today.

We actually ordered the special bucket of noodles which supposedly can be eaten by 2 people. I'm not sure what 2 people they are talking about but we had quite a lot left over and were totally stuffed! Saying that, the tempura and the udon with stock tasted superb and I think the theme of the restaurant is actually quite rare considering many of the elements are traditional and it feels like Japan in the Edo period.

I didn't know much about the restaurant so I used my bad Japanese to read through their website and understand the property in more detail. The building is actually a restored private home from the Edo Period, hence the old authentic feel, and was moved from the Iya Valley in Tokushima Prefecture to this location. Everything was kept original as possible when they moved this property which obviously adds to the feel of the place.

The most popular dish is the one we had, "kama-age" udon. They boil this udon in a black iron cooking book and serve it in a large wood tub, on the side a soy-based dipping sauce where you can add chopped green onion and freshly grated ginger to taste. The broth is a secret recipe but is said to contain dried sardines harvested from the Seto Inland Sea and dried ‘konbu’ seaweed from Hokkaido (don't tell them I told you!) haha Anyway, here are a few photos of the restaurant and the food. I hope you will visit if you're ever in Takamatsu, you won't be disappointed! 🙂

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More from my Travels:

Exploring Japan - A Visit to the Kyoto Concert Hall
Exploring Japan - A Walk Through Toji Market in Kyoto
Exploring Japan - Tadao Ando's Garden of Fine Arts in Kyoto
Exploring Japan - A Visit to Kyoto Botanical Gardens
Exploring Japan - Yuzuruha Shrine in Kobe
Exploring Japan - A Visit to Kosetsu Museum of Art Garden
Exploring Darwin - A Trip to Crocodylus Park

All photos captured by Mark Robinson.

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