Inaniwa Udon

稲庭うどん

Photos by Tohoku Digital Archive

Historical Background

Inaniwa Udon has around three hundred years of history, starting from the early Edo era. It was named after Inaniwa, a snowy town in Yuzawa. The fine udon was first created by Ichibei Sato, using local flour, and this is said to be the beginning of Inaniwa Udon. Lord Satake in Akita loved its smooth and silky texture so much that he often presented it to other lords as a gift. After the Edo period, the manufacturing method was available to the public in 1972. This has increased the production amount of Inaniwa Udon in accordance with the change from domestic manufacturing to factory production. The Inaniwa Udon Council was established in 1976 to promote Inaniwa Udon, and the Akita Prefecture Inaniwa Udon Cooperative Association was established in 2001 with the aim of further enhancing and developing Inaniwa Udon. Today, Inaniwa Udon is known as one of the most famous Udon in Japan, together with Sanuki udon from Kagawa Prefecture and Mizusawa udon from Gunma Prefecture. Moreover, Inaniwa Udon was selected by the Ministry of Agriculture as one of Japan's best regional dishes.

Characteristics

Inaniwa Udon shows its uniqueness with its ingredients and process of making. There are only three ingredients for Inaniwa Udon: Water, flour, and salt. These three good quality ingredients are enough to produce the rich and unique flavor of Inaniwa Udon. Unlike other Udons, Inaniwa Udon is handmade by professionals, using processes such as kneading dough, drying, and selecting fine noodles. It takes around four days until it's ready to be served. People can buy only dried noodles, and they have to be cooked with boiled water before serving. The noodles are pure white, and the texture is smooth and chewy.

Current Activities

Yuzawa City, located southeast of Akita, is now the center of Inaniwa Udon manufacturing. Many Inaniwa Udon companies, such as Satou Yosuke, Ogawa, and Kanbun Gonendou, are in this city. For example, Sato Yosuke Shoten in Yuzawa allows people to observe the process of making Inaniwa Udon as well as experience making it.

Moreover, Inaniwa Udon is becoming international as people in foreign countries can purchase the Udon online. Companies have conducted market research in France in 2022 to increase the export of the Udon. Currently, companies from France, Italy, and Turkey have made a deal with Inaniwa Udon, and it is expected that Inaniwa Udon will be promoted and spread in the world soon. Considering the existence of vegans, Inaniwa Udon Ogawa invented a vegan soup for Inaniwa Udon, which resulted in huge success. Together with students from Akita International University, Inaniwa Udon has expanded its market and started the journey for new traditions that will be loved by not only Japanese people but also people outside of Japan.

How to get there

Sato Yosuke (The first Inaniwa Udon maker)

Take an Ou line from Akita station to Yuzawa station. Take a bus, Yuzawa-Oyasu line, from Yuzawa station and get off at Inaniwa Naka-machi. Walk 1min from there.

How to purchase

You can buy Inaniwa Udon at any supermarket, souvenir shops sells it with professional wrapping. If you want to enjoy Inaniwa Udon at home, it is better to buy it in the local supermarket as the price might be cheaper and it is not in the formal wrapping. However, if you would like to gift it to your friends, family, or loved ones, you might want to go to the souvenir shops or Udon shops for better wrapping in the box and authentic labels. Depending on the brand, amount, and fanciness of Udon, the price can be from 1,000 yen to 5,000 yen at the supermarket. Moreover, if you are in a foreign country, you can purchase Udon online or from Japanese imported production shops. The online price is around $10.