Soba or buckwheat noodles are a popular food for lunch in Japan.
There are many Soba restaurants in Otaru, and 一福 (Ichifuku) is one of my favorite Soba restaurants.
I had a bowl of Soba at Ichifuku after enjoying Seiji Kaneko's exhibition at Otaru Museum of Art last Sunday.
The Soba I chose then was 'Kake', a basic bowl of Soba in the hot soup.
You can tell the quality of a Soba restaurant by eating Kake or Mori,a cold Soba, as it consists of simplest combination of boiled Soba and soup.
kake is eaten with a little condiment; chopped Japanese leek and red pepper.
'Sobayu', the hot water Soba is boiled with is served in the pot to thin down and enjoy the soup after you eat the noodles.
Ichifuku is located near the Otaru Canal. It is about 5~6-minute-distance from JR Otaru Station on foot.
Go down Chuo-dori street, cross the former Temiya Railway line, turn right at 'Rail Side' a glass shop. Walk about 100m, then you will find Ichifuku on your left next to K2 cafe.
