今年（2014年）訪問した長野県内の食事処：心和む軽井沢の本命蕎麦屋 : Shinshu Soba Dokoro Kirisato

After finishing skiing in Karuizawa, I absolutely wanted to visit this soba restaurant.
I took a taxi and arrived at the place, marking my fourth visit.

I started with my usual sake, Meikyoshinshu, and ordered the same tempura soba as last time.

First, I enjoyed the sake while savoring the tempura.
Once again, it was perfectly crispy and fragrant, enhancing the flavor of the sake.
The taste of the soba at the end was unchanged—simple, nourishing, and delicious.
The dipping sauce started off slightly sweet, inviting me deeper into its rich flavor.

A tranquil atmosphere enveloped the dining area.
Even with a crowd of customers, I could enjoy my soba in peaceful silence.
The warm ambiance of the restaurant adds to the experience.

Once again, I left feeling fantastic and boarded the Shinkansen back to Tokyo.

In my previous review from October 2011, I had crossed over Mt. Asama from Joshu to reach Karuizawa.
Along the way, I stopped by Shiraito Falls, which was bustling with tourists drawn by the autumn leaves.
By the way, the fall colors this year were quite dull.

When you think of Karuizawa, this soba restaurant is a highly recommended spot.
The atmosphere is delightful, and both the soba and dipping sauce exceed average quality, making it a must-visit for my wife and me.
This marked my third visit.

I arrived just before noon and was shown to my usual seat.
Nozawana pickles were served and they were incredibly tasty.
I often bought some to enjoy at home, and they had a great flavor.

Here, I enjoyed my usual sake, Meikyoshinshu Junmai.
Yesterday, I had sake from a soba restaurant in Joshu which was exquisite.
For the first time, I ordered soba with tempura.

The taste of the soba was as good as ever with a generous portion.
The dipping sauce had a slight sweetness and depth.
The tempura, which I was trying for the first time, was fragrant and satisfying in both texture and quantity.
Once again, my wife enjoyed it greatly.

As I left the restaurant, the autumn sun cast beautiful light on the maple trees along the street.

<Previous Review>

It took about 10 minutes on foot from the Shinkansen, Karuizawa station, but there were already people waiting in line.
The June light and breeze were refreshing, yet the smoke from customers waiting felt irritating.
After waiting for about 40 minutes, I was seated.
Right away, I ordered Meikyoshinshu Junmai for JPY 730 and Mori Soba for JPY 810.
As I enjoyed my sake slowly, I took in the surrounding atmosphere.
The dining area was lively, but somehow it felt calm.
The taste of the soba... is a firm texture with a unique gritty feeling from the coarsely ground soba.
The umami of the dipping sauce perfectly binds the soba, creating a rich flavor.
Moreover, the pricing is quite reasonable.
It's definitely not overpriced, so I was satisfied.
This is certainly a soba restaurant not to be missed in the Karuizawa area.

I first found the bustling atmosphere at the south exit of Karuizawa Station quite confusing, but I located my intended soba shop along Prince Avenue among the passing cars.
This was a place recommended by Tatsu.
Once seated, soba tea and Nozawana pickles were served automatically.
Typical of Shinshu, it was a pleasant gesture.

I ordered my favorite Meikyoshinshu Junmai for JPY 730 and Mori Soba for JPY 810 from the sake menu.
Both the sake and soba were surprisingly affordable for a tourist destination like Karuizawa.

As I slurped the soba, I noticed it was somewhat firm, likely from the coarsely ground soba, giving it a gritty texture.
It also had a grassy flavor, smooth in the mouth and easy to swallow, allowing me to appreciate the simple flavor of the soba itself.
The dipping sauce was light and refreshing, suppressing the soy's character while allowing the umami and flavor of the broth to shine, bringing out the best in the soba and gently tying the flavors together.
I even ordered additional soba and a side of seiro for JPY 520.

The inside of the restaurant seemed to be non-smoking, creating a calm and traditional atmosphere.
Though a bit of a walk from Karuizawa Station, the approach while enjoying the view of the shopping mall inside Prince Hotel can be quite pleasant.