A tour of Sanuki udon in Kagawa, the prefecture of udon! A recommended itinerary that can be enjoyed with or without a car

*Prices include tax.

The reason why Sanuki udon developed in Kagawa in the first place is because the area had an environment suitable for making udon. It is said that the ingredients needed for udon were easy to obtain, such as high-quality wheat, dried sardines caught in the Seto Inland Sea, and soy sauce made on Shodoshima Island.

Sanuki udon has long been loved as a local dish, and each shop has its own unique flavor and characteristics. Why not try visiting different shops and find your favorite bowl?

No car needed! Recommended udon restaurants in Takamatsu that can be reached by train

The first course is recommended for those who use Takamatsu City as their base and plan to use trains and buses for sightseeing. The limousine bus is a convenient way to get from Takamatsu Airport to downtown Takamatsu. It takes 45 minutes to Takamatsu Station, and 40 minutes to Kawaramachi Station in the city center.
There are two railways that can be used within the city. One is JR Shikoku, which connects to Tokushima and Ehime, and the other is the private Takamatsu-Kotohira Electric Railroad, affectionately known as "Kotoden." Here, we will introduce three delicious udon restaurants within a 10-minute walk from the station using each railway line.

A very popular restaurant with a Western touch: "Teuchi Judan Udon Baka Ichidai"

Our tour of Takamatsu's udon restaurants starts at Teuchi Judan Udon Baka Ichidai. It takes about 7 minutes to get there from Kawaramachi Station, the main station on the Kotoden line. It's open half a day, from 6am to 6pm, but it's always busy with customers, and there are often lines even on weekdays.

Because it is such a famous restaurant, many famous people have visited Kagawa for concerts, TV shoots, etc. Autographed autograph cards are lined up on the walls inside the restaurant.

"We want you to always enjoy the best noodles," says the restaurant, which is committed to serving noodles within 10 minutes of taking them out of the pot. There are various ways to enjoy the noodles, but if you come here, we recommend the signature dish, "Kama Butter Udon." Freshly boiled udon noodles are mixed with butter and egg yolk and topped with a few drops of soy sauce. Season with black pepper to taste, and this dish is also known as "udon carbonara." The smoothness of the butter and the smooth noodles are a perfect match, making it easy to eat as much as you like.

Handmade 10th Dan Udon Baka Ichidai

16 minutes from Kawaramachi Station on the Kotoden Shido Line

"Zaigo Udon Honke Waraya" is a long-established restaurant in Yashima.

Next, take the red train on the Kotoden Shido Line and get off at Kotoden-Yashima Station. Yashima is a place with a deep history, said to have been the stage for the Genpei War. The surrounding area is also known as a tourist destination, with attractions such as the New Yashima Aquarium and an observation deck overlooking the Seto Inland Sea.

Zaigo Udon Honke Waraya is located within the grounds of Shikokumura Miuseum, an open-air museum made from old houses relocated from all over Shikoku. The store, with its impressive thatched roof, is a relocated house built at the end of the Edo period. The ceiling beams are apparently still there.

The "zaigo" in the restaurant's name "Zaigo Udon" is a corrupted version of the word "zaigo," which literally translates to "country udon." The name is meant to convey the hope that customers will enjoy the setting of the thatched roof.
I selected the "Extra Large Udon" which allows you to eat a lot of kamaage udon. The udon is served in a tub, and it's impressive in size.

The udon noodles are made using the highest quality wheat flour specifically made for udon, and are never prepared in advance, so they are always freshly made and boiled. The smooth and silky noodles are removed from the tub and dipped in the broth.

The soup stock is made with dried sardines from Kagawa Prefecture and high-quality kelp from Rishiri, and is apparently made using a secret recipe. The tokkuri containing the soup stock is heated in a hot water bath before being served. They are also particular about the condiments, ordering yakko negi (green onions) and ginger from Kochi Prefecture.

Sharing it with friends or family will make it even more delicious.

Zaigo Udon Honke Waraya

6 minutes on the Kotoden Shido Line from Kotoden Yashima Station

"Udon Seto Hare" is becoming increasingly popular due to its unique texture

The third stop was "Udon Setobare."

The owner, who trained for many years at the famous "Honkaku Teuchi Moriya" restaurant near Takamatsu Airport, opened the restaurant in 2019. The interior of the restaurant, which relocated and reopened in July 2022, has a warm wooden interior and a cafe-like atmosphere.

Its popularity is growing year by year, and it is becoming a common sight to see lines forming before the store opens.

When the shop opened, the Fukuoka-born owner chose "Chikugoizumi" wheat from the Chikugo region of Fukuoka to create noodles that were "his own style." After much research into the mixture of salt and water, he created a one-of-a-kind texture. Customers often comment that the chewy, springy texture is "a texture they've never tasted before." We recommend choosing the simple "Kake Udon" or "Nama-gyouyu Udon" to enjoy the texture of the noodles and the natural flavor of the wheat.

Udon Seto sunny

No car needed! Great udon in the suburbs that can be reached by train

Besides Takamatsu City, Kagawa has many other famous tourist spots, such as the Shikoku Aquarium and Konpira-san. Of course, there are also popular Sanuki udon restaurants. Don't give up if you don't have a car. Some restaurants can be accessed by train, so we've picked out some famous restaurants that you should definitely try if you visit Kagawa. Be sure to stop by while you're sightseeing.

We will be taking the JR Yosan Line, which connects Takamatsu Station to Ehime, and the JR Dosan Line, which connects Tadotsu Station to Kochi. All three restaurants are within a 15-minute walk from each station, so you can enjoy a udon tour without using a car. All three restaurants are famous for their distinctive "specialty udon." Please take your time to enjoy the differences between each udon.

Nagata in Konoka: a famous restaurant serving kamaage udon noodles with a unique broth

In Zentsuji City, about 50 minutes west of Takamatsu City on the JR Dosan Line, there is one of the prefecture's most famous kamaage udon restaurants.

Nagata in Konoka is popular for its traditional plump noodles and the simplicity of using only secret dashi stock made from locally produced ingredients. As mentioned above, the restaurant's signature dish is the kamaage udon.

The boiled noodles are placed in a bowl together with the boiling water. The style is to eat warm udon with the dipping sauce. The noodles have the chewy texture typical of Sanuki udon, but the soft and chewy texture can only be enjoyed because they are freshly boiled.

The tokkuri with the words "Ka no Ka" written on it in large letters is the shop's specialty. The tokkuri filled with dashi is placed directly into a hot water bath and served piping hot. The dashi is an original, unique blend of dried sardines, bonito flakes, and kelp from Kagawa Prefecture. Many people come to the shop saying, "I want to try this dashi," and it's no wonder it's so delicious.

Kamaage Udon Nagata in Ka no Ka

11 minutes from Kinzoji Station on the JR Dosan Line

You'll never get tired of eating this meat-filled ramen every day at Noodle Shop Wataya Marugame Branch

We moved to Marugame City, which is said to be a fierce battleground in the prefecture for noodle udon. Our destination is "Mensho Wataya Marugame Branch," which is about an 8-minute walk from Marugame Station. There is always a line, so it's easy to find.

It wasn't originally a udon restaurant, but rather started as a public restaurant by the grandfather of the current owner over 60 years ago. He later established a catering company and began serving employee meals and delivering bento lunches. The udon restaurant opened in 1997 and continues to fill the stomachs of working people to this day.

Since it was opened targeting people who come to eat during their lunch breaks at work, portions are larger than other restaurants. It is no exaggeration to say that what is considered a "medium" size at other restaurants is Wataya's "small" size.

The "Niku Bukkake" has a lot of noodles, but it is topped with so much meat that the noodles are almost hidden, making it a hearty dish. The meat is boiled before being seasoned, so it is not greasy and has a light taste. The meat is boiled in a soup stock with added seasoning, which gives it a sweet taste. The combination of the umami of the soup stock and the moderately sweet meat makes you naturally keep eating.

The udon noodles are an original made from a blend of several types of wheat flour, with the ratio of each being slightly changed depending on the season. Please try this bowl of noodles, which is made with care by our artisans.

Noodle shop Watanaya Marugame branch

2 minutes from Marugame Station on the JR Yosan Line

"Okaizumi" where a giant shrimp tempura stands tall

Next is Okaizumi, about a 15-minute walk from JR Utazu Station.

It opened in front of Sakaide Station in 1992 and moved to its current location more than 30 years ago, and is known as a famous restaurant even among the many famous udon restaurants in Utazu.

The water that is essential for making udon is purified with binchotan charcoal before it is used. This removes unnecessary substances, making the water mellow and delicious, and perfect for making udon.

The "Hiyaten Oroshi" is a signature dish that has been on the menu since the restaurant first opened, with two giant shrimp tempura towering over freshly made noodles. The combination of hot tempura and cold, soft noodles is an excellent match. The noodles are rinsed in water immediately after being taken out of the pot, giving them a smooth texture and a springy bite.

The tempura flour is a blend of soft and medium-strength flour, which gives it a crispy, crunchy texture. A squeeze of lemon adds a refreshing taste that will have you eating more and more.

Within walking distance of Okaizumi, there is the Shikoku Aquarium and the Gold Tower, where you can get a close-up view of the Great Seto Bridge, making it an attractive place to stop by while sightseeing.

Authentic handmade udon noodles Okaizumi

Tour famous udon restaurants by rental car

The last plan is recommended for those who will be traveling by rental car. The advantage of a car is that you can get around without having to worry about train times. This also means you can visit more shops. Rent a car near Takamatsu Airport and head for Sakaide City and Marugame City in the central part of the prefecture. It takes 17 minutes at the closest shops and 40 minutes at the furthest.

The prefecture has the fourth highest road density in Japan (※), with many well-paved and spacious roads, making it easy to drive even if you are not familiar with the area. Here, we will introduce four udon restaurants that we were able to visit thanks to our maneuverable car.

*Reference: "Kagawa Prefecture as seen through 100 indicators (Reiwa 3rd Edition / Kagawa Prefecture)"

"Yamakoshi Udon" known as the birthplace of Kamatama Udon

Yamakoshi Udon in Ayagawa Town is about 17 minutes away from the airport.
This shop originally started out as a wholesale udon noodle manufacturer. It is known for the long lines that surround the shop, especially during long holidays, and the parking lot is often filled with cars with license plates from outside the prefecture.

You can always see staff boiling the udon noodles at the front of the store. Kamaage udon can take as long as 15 to 16 minutes from the time you order until it's boiled, but since many customers order kamaage udon here, such as kamatama, the udon is served within about 5 minutes of ordering.

This restaurant is famous as the birthplace of "Kamatama," a dish of udon noodles freshly taken from the pot, dipped in a raw egg. It is said that it originally began when a regular customer brought in eggs to mix with the freshly boiled noodles. When the bonito broth for Kamatama is poured over the udon, it combines with the egg to create an exquisitely mellow flavor. Furthermore, the egg is mixed into the springy, medium-thick noodles, making it easy to swallow, and it's so delicious that you'll finish a whole bowl in no time.

There is a garden on the premises, where you can sit on a bench outside and enjoy your udon while taking in the view. It looks like a happy moment where you can refresh yourself while filling your stomach.

Yamakoshi Udon

Approximately 20 minutes by car

When it comes to udon noodles with sauce, this is the place to go! "Gamou Udon"

The next place we visited was Gamou Udon, which has been in business in Sakaide for 64 years. The first owner renovated his old house and opened an udon restaurant, and word of mouth spread about the deliciousness of the udon, especially among locals, making it a popular restaurant. Currently, the restaurant is run by a family led by the third generation, and the charm of the time can be felt everywhere inside and outside the restaurant.

Although there are tables available inside the restaurant, most customers choose to sit outside and enjoy their "Blue Sky Udon" while gazing at nature.

All you have to do to order is declare how many servings you want and whether you want it hot or cold. After you pick up your tempura or eggs and pay, you pour the broth over yourself. Choose between hot or cold broth.

At the time of the interview, I ordered the standard combination of Kake Udon and Chikuwa Tempura. For the Kake Udon, I chose a hot noodle and soup stock. The noodles are chewy yet soft, making this a unique dish.

Because the flavor of the original chikuwa is so strong, no seasoning is added to the chikuwa tempura. When you actually eat it, it's so delicious that you won't believe it wasn't seasoned.

There is also a souvenir shop on the premises where you can purchase the original noodles and soy sauce. You can also eat ice cream, which is recommended as a dessert after your meal.

Gamou Udon

Approximately 20 minutes by car

Simple is best. If you want to experience the deliciousness of noodles, try Junteuchi Udon Yoshiya.

About 20 minutes by car southwest from Gamou Udon, you will arrive at Marugame's popular Junteuchi Udon Yoshiya. Customers are already waiting when the store opens at 7am, and it is a popular store that often sells out more than an hour before closing time.

What sets this place apart is that the udon is made entirely by hand, stomping the flour with your feet, rolling the dough with a rolling pin, and then "hand-cutting" each piece with a knife, adhering to the traditions of Sanuki udon.

The owner, who is originally from Kotohira-cho, used to visit the legendary udon shop "Miyatake Udon" in Kotohira from an early age. When he became an adult, he wondered "why Miyatake is so delicious", and he came to the conclusion that it was because of the knife cutting, so when he started his own shop, he decided to make his udon using the knife cutting method.

The souvenir packaging sold in stores also features illustrations of knives.

If you want to taste carefully made noodles, we recommend the simple "Shoyu Udon." The udon has a firm texture. The slight unevenness and irregularities that come from cutting the noodles by hand create a unique texture, resulting in a one-of-a-kind deliciousness.

The "Sanuki Mochi Pork Bukkake Udon" and the summer-only "Hiyahiya Sudachi" are also popular. It's an unforgettable dish that will make you want to come back and eat it again in the summer!

Yoshiya, handmade udon

Approximately 1 minute by car

A blissful taste in combination with chicken tempura "Handmade Udon Ayu"

For the fourth bowl, we went to "Teuchi Udon Ayu", located just a short distance from the aforementioned "Yoshiya".

Many Sanuki udon restaurants only serve simple versions such as kake or bukkake, but this restaurant has about 40 different types of udon on the menu at all times. Each dish has its own fan base, so it's difficult to even reduce the number of dishes. When you see the menu for the first time, you'll be left wondering what to order.

If you can't decide what to order, we recommend the popular "Toriten Bukkake." Toriten is made with the assumption that it will be eaten with the udon broth, so it is lightly seasoned.

When you actually try it, the chewy elasticity of the chicken breast meat wrapped in a crispy batter is irresistible.

For those who want to combine it with other udon noodles or who just want to eat a little, we also offer the "Chicken Tempura Half" option.

The noodles are made from a blend of two types of wheat flour, and each and every noodle has a strong presence. The noodles have beautifully sharp edges, which are described as "edgy" udon. They have a chewy texture and firmness, which is said to be the highest compliment for Sanuki udon. This bowl is reminiscent of the techniques that have been cultivated over many years.

Kagawa is also known for having udon restaurants where you can also eat oden. You can choose your favorite ingredients and serve them on a plate with oden miso. The price is reasonable at 100 yen each. The broth is well-infused and has a comforting taste. There are many famous Sanuki udon restaurants in the area, including the aforementioned "Yoshiya," so if you have room in your stomach, try visiting one of the nearby udon restaurants.

Handmade Udon

Kagawa's Sanuki Udon Map

Even though it is generally called Sanuki udon, there are many different ways to eat it and its flavor. Udon restaurants are scattered in various places, such as in city areas, suburban areas, and mountains, so enjoy your udon tour by checking out famous restaurants and popular restaurants.

A journey around Japan's heritage sites: Shikoku Pilgrimage, a circular pilgrimage route and its unique pilgrimage culture

Follow in the footsteps of Kobo Daishi on the Shikoku Pilgrimage and embark on a journey of the heart to reflect on yourself.

Related article

Enjoy a special stay that stimulates your senses at a lodging in Naoshima, a mecca for contemporary art.

Naoshima, one of the venues for the Setouchi Triennale held in April 2022, allows you to enjoy touring the art scattered across the island whenever you visit. While you're there, why not immerse yourself in art to the fullest by staying at a Naoshima lodging where the stay itself is an art experience? A special experience unique to Naoshima awaits you, touring the island's art during the day and falling asleep surrounded by art at the lodging at night.

ontrip.jal.co.jp

A smart transportation experience made possible by "MaaS". A bus trip to Ehime, filled with gourmet food and history

The sunlight shines on the sparkling water. Ehime Prefecture, which faces the Seto Inland Sea coast, is famous for its gourmet food, scenic spots, and history. For sightseeing based at the airport, try JAL MaaS. Using digital technology, you can check train and bus route information within Ehime Prefecture from your smartphone. For Izumi Kanko, Iyotetsu Bus, and Hijinan Travel routes that connect the airport, you can use JAL MaaS to simply show the driver your pre-purchased ticket to get on and off. Take advantage of this new form of transportation and go on a winter trip to Ehime.

ontrip.jal.co.jp