蕎麦のおいしさを再確認 : Jigona Ya

I visited this place just two months ago, but I found myself craving it again, so here I am.
It’s a little past 12:30 on a weekday.
The parking lot is full, filled with cars from the local area.
I took a number from the ticket machine and found myself fourth in line.
Not too bad, I suppose.
This lovely soba restaurant is located in Miyota Town, at the foot of Mount Asama, halfway between Karuizawa and Komoro.
You can wait on a bench by the entrance or in the shade outside the shop.
However, I was seated on the terrace within about 10 minutes.
Once at my table, I found a tablet for ordering.
- Tempura Zaru Soba: JPY 1,970
- Walnut Sauce: JPY 480
I came with three friends, and we all ordered the same dish, just adding the walnut sauce.
First, the tempura arrived.
It came with matcha salt on the side, which I dipped into as I enjoyed it.
The tempura included shrimp, pumpkin, enoki mushrooms, eggplant, and maitake mushrooms.
While these are standard tempura ingredients, each one was exceptional and truly delicious.
Meanwhile, the soba was served.
It looked simple and beautiful, but surprisingly, there was a generous portion.
The high-quality tempura, soba, and dipping sauce were all excellent, and I particularly enjoyed the walnut sauce, which pairs perfectly with the soba.
I’m glad I returned.
Although it’s a bit of a distance from the center of Karuizawa, this soba restaurant is definitely worth the trip.
It was a great meal.

About six years ago, I visited Jigona Ya with some acquaintances. At that time, we were a large group and had a lively time on the terrace, so my impression was somewhat vague. However, this time I came to savor the flavors more thoroughly.
Even on a weekday afternoon, there were three groups waiting past 1 PM, indicating its popularity.
After about 10 minutes, I was shown to my seat—a spacious table for four in a tatami room. Orders were taken via a tablet.
On this day, I ordered the following:
- Tempura Soba (cold) JPY 1,970
- Walnut Sauce Soba (cold) JPY 1,470
The tempura soba came with a large shrimp and a variety of seasonal vegetable tempura. In Karuizawa, the "seasonal vegetables" are delicious everywhere, but they are especially delightful when fried.
The soba was chilled to perfection in icy water, featuring thin noodles that offered a wonderful texture. While the coldness might slightly diminish the aroma of the soba, it was still incredibly delicious.
The walnut sauce was generously poured into a small cup, and when I dipped the soba into it, a soft and refined sweetness filled my mouth. It was remarkably tasty, almost to the point of being moving.
Above all, this restaurant is known for its stunning views while dining, and it allows pets (on the terrace), making it a popular spot for many vacation homeowners in Karuizawa who come with their dogs of all sizes.
However, the taste of the soba is undoubtedly reliable, and it is certainly a recommended restaurant.
It was a great meal.