Though you may only know Zama City as the home of the U.S. Army Garrison Japan at Camp Zama, it is also a place to enjoy some good food and beautiful natural elements.

Before World War II, prior to its existence as Camp Zama, the installation was the headquarters of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy. Today, the area surrounding the camp is well-known for its various parks, shrines and museums, perfect for spending quality time in nature.

Visits to the Zama Yatoyama Park, Zama Shrine and Fujisawa Park are a must when you’re in the area. And don’t forget the stunning sunflower fields near the Sagami River in the late summer.

Near JR Sobudaishita Station, I took a break from my Zama exploration to enjoy a hearty bowl of soba buckwheat noodles at Kayano.

Look for the grape-themed noren curtains at the entrance of this quaint and cozy noodle joint. Inside, the dining area accommodates about 20 guests. The dozens of shochu bottles on display and karaoke setup are a reminder that at night, Kayano is also a party spot for the evening izakaya pub crowd.

During my lunch visit, Kayano’s atmosphere was a little more subdued. I sat at the counter and ordered a bowl of tanuki (raccoon) soba topped with bits of fried tempura batter for 570 yen (about $4).

To my surprise and delight, I was served small bowls of tuna sashimi and rice, cut persimmon and pickles to go along with my forthcoming soba meal. The sashimi bowl is relatively small, but I saw it as a decent lunch for a small eater.

Worried that this was an error, I spoke up to the chef over the counter to let her know I ordered soba, not sashimi.

“No, it’s a complementary side dish that goes with any noodles during lunch time,” the chef replied with a chuckle.

With the go-ahead, I proceeded to dig right in while I waited for my noodles to arrive. The side dishes were tasty, the tuna was fresh and tender, and the persimmon portions were crisp with the perfect sweetness for the season.

Five minutes later, a large bowl of soba was placed before me, a generous portion of noodles, broth, vegetables and fried tempura batter threatened to overflow at any moment.

Carefully, I picked up some of the thin noodles dripping with the umami-packed kelp-based broth and slurped them up. The sweet flavors burst into my mouth the more I chewed on the springy noodles. For high-quality soba like this, tasty spring water is required in the noodle-making process. Zama happens to be blessed with 15 springs which, according to city officials, provide 85% of the local water supply.

I devoured my lunch. I could not believe a meal so large and delicious could still be only 570 yen. Kayano is a great lunch option that won’t empty your wallet.

Kayano (soba noodle joint)

• Location: 1957-9 Shindo, Minami-ku, Sagamihara City, Kananagawa Prefecture

• Hours: Mon., Tue., Wed., Fri., Noon – 2 p.m., 5 p.m. – midnight, Sat. and Sun., 5 p.m. – midnight (closed Thursdays)

• URL

• Tel: 046-252-7704

Camp Zama

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