Arakiya — Restaurant in Izumo

Walked in and was seated straight away. But disappointed that the tempura was already sold out at 12.30pm, but still plenty of options, both hot and cold. I went with the cold Yondai soba with 4 bowls - plain, yam, egg and Japanese horseradish.

Service was fast and attentive. My Japanese is terrible so nodded along like I knew what I was being told, but worked it all out by simply watching other diners.

The soba itself was nice enough, a good texture, but after having Sanuki Udon in Takamatsu, it was bland in comparison.

The store has been open since the late 1700s so you can't...

Great soba, consumed via a style different from other regions of Japan.

Place is always busy. Came on a rainy Monday just before noon and it was a 1 hour wait until we got in.

Has mostly tatami seating with a small number of table and chair seating.

Soba was great. Ordered the big set and could've ordered extra portions but didn't think of it until after we left - but we were full nevertheless.

Lots of other soba shops in the area but this is the oldest one. Worth a visit if you have the time to wait and enjoy...

出雲大社参拝の帰りに、評判を聞いて荒木屋そばへ。日曜の昼過ぎに到着しましたが、既に店先には10人ほどの行列。約20分ほど待って入店しました。歴史を感じる落ち着いた和の店内は、木の香りと蕎麦の香りが心地よく、観光地らしい活気もあります。注文したのは名物の割子そば三段にとろろを追加。細めの麺はしっかりとしたコシがあり、噛むごとに蕎麦の香ばしさが広がります。出汁はやや甘めで、上品かつまろやか。とろろを絡めると、さらに旨味と滑らかさが増し、飽きずに最後まで楽しめました。薬味も新鮮で、ネギや海苔の香りがアクセントに。スタッフの接客は丁寧で、忙しい中でも笑顔を絶やさない姿が印象的でした。観光価格ではありますが、この品質と雰囲気なら納得。行列必至ですが、出雲を訪れたなら一度は味わってほしい老舗蕎麦屋です。

After visiting Izumo Taisha, I stopped by the well-known Arakiya Soba. I arrived on a Sunday afternoon to find about ten people already in line, but the wait was only around 20 minutes. The traditional wooden interior, with its subtle aroma of soba and fresh timber, created a calm yet lively atmosphere typical of a popular tourist spot. I ordered the restaurant’s specialty—three-tiered wariko soba—with grated yam on the side. The thin noodles had a pleasant firmness, releasing a rich, nutty buckwheat flavor with every bite. The dipping sauce was slightly sweet, refined, and mellow, pairing beautifully with the noodles. Adding the grated yam brought extra smoothness and depth to the taste, keeping each mouthful satisfying until the very end. The toppings, like fresh green onions and crisp nori, added just the right accent. Despite being busy, the staff remained friendly and attentive, which added to the positive experience. While the prices are on the higher side, the quality and atmosphere make it worthwhile. A must-try for anyone visiting Izumo who wants to enjoy authentic soba in a...