About a 3.5-hour drive from Yokosuka Naval Base, Kiso Valley in Nagano Prefecture is home to beautiful landscapes made up of majestic Japanese Alps, clean rivers and impressive villages where old traditional buildings, temples and shrines await.

Kiso Valley, or Nezame no Toko, is known as one of Japan’s five most beautiful valleys. Visitors can enjoy breathtaking views of countless white rock formations, the deep turquoise water of the Kiso River, and the thick green forestland by walking along a long rock stairway.

Having enjoyed a pleasant stroll around the scenic valley, my wife and I dropped by a notable soba (buckwheat) noodle joint nearby, as the Kiso area and its home Nagano Prefecture are famous for their quality buckwheat noodles.

Among numerous soba joints scattered in the Kiso area, Kurumaya is known as one of the best, and its unique flavor and texture of well-grounded buckwheat noodles attract soba noodle enthusiasts from all over the nation.

Kurumaya is housed in a classical three-story building in Kisofukushima, a small town that has a sort of 1970s nostalgic feel, along the Kiso River.

When we pushed through a blue noren curtain into the joint, we saw the interior made up of classical wooden-hued walls and traditional tatami floor tables, wide and cozy and good enough for accommodating about 30 guests.

After sitting at one of the tatami floor tables, we ordered zaru soba (cold buckwheat noodles) for 1,400 yen (about $10) and tenzaru soba (cold buckwheat noodles and various tempura) for 1,880 yen.

When our soba noodles arrived, we noticed they were a darker grey than most other Nagano soba noodles we’d had before, But they looked shiny and beautiful on a bamboo platter, showing how fresh they were.

With only a bite, the soba noodles charmed me with the pleasant aroma, perfect chew and sweet, smooth flavor.

The shrimp and vegetable tempura were hot and crispy and went well with the high-grade buckwheat noodles and broth. Even my wife was impressed.

“It was one of the most delicious soba noodles I’ve ever sampled,” she said with a smile.

Tasty soba noodles enjoyed with a nice view of the Kiso River recharged and reenergized us after our long walk in the valley.

Kurumaya offers local sake, such as Nanawarai and Nakanorisan for around 500 – 1,000 yen. So, if you are not driving, be sure to sample some with the tasty noodles.

Don’t miss dropping by Kurumaya when you visit the Kiso area. You won’t regret it!

Kurumaya (soba noodle joint)

• Location: 5367-2 Fukushima, Kiso Town, Kiso-gun, Nagano Prefecture (a 15-minute drive from Nezame-no-Toko)

• Hours: 11 a.m. – (close when noodles run out)

• URL: www.soba-kurumaya.com/

• Tel: 0264-22-2200

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