Sanuki udon

available in various areas

Try popular shops with long lines of Kagawa foodie fans

You’ll find udon shops almost everywhere In Kagawa Prefecture — at airports, in front of train stations, even in the middle of rice paddies. There are numerous well-liked places, but the shop visited by our editorial staff is Yamauchi Udon-ten. At this shop, the dough is hand-stretched without using a machine and noodles are boiled over a wood fire. The result is full-bodied yet soft udon, allowing you to savor Japan’s truly superb noodle cuisine. If you have difficulty deciding which shop to visit, why don’t you hire a local expert? Just hail Udon Taxi service (which provides rides to one or two udon shops per hour for 4,500 yen). Or hop aboard Udon Bus to visit various famous udon shops and sightseeing spots (half-day course starting from 800 yen).

Kagawa Prefecture “soul food” — don’t leave without trying it

Any Japanese tourist who visits Kagawa Prefecture looks forward to having udon (traditional Japanese noodles) only available in this local area. While you may find some udon restaurants that serve “Sanuki udon” in Tokyo and Osaka, the ones you enjoy in Kagawa can be quite different. Soup made from iriko (dried sardine bouillon) is combined with strong full-bodied noodles — such an economical treat! If you have about 200 yen in your pocket, you can enjoy what may be the best udon in Japan. There are approximately 800 noodle shops in the prefecture, and some of them are so popular that there’s always a long waiting line for this Kagawa soul food. If you find a good shop, don’t hesitate. Just get in and taste the udon.

How to enjoy udon called “Sanuki” — the old name for Kagawa

Sanuki is the ancient historical name for Kagawa Prefecture, called “the land of Sanuki” in literature from around the 8th century. In that sense, Sanuki udon was “born” in Sanuki country. Bukkake style is the popular way to savor Sanuki udon, which is removed from boiling water and served in bouillon soup with a topping of egg and finely chopped scallions. Moreover, there are numerous unique styles of Sanuki udon. For example, kamaage udon is served with the hot water in which it was boiled, and kamatama udon is accented with whisked egg and soy sauce. Because flavor and menu vary depending on the shop, be sure to taste Sanuki udon in several different places.