What’s so special about the luxurious tsukesoba at “Shamihōan” in Kyoto’s Higashiyama Ward? A historic restaurant with 161 years of history

"Shamihōan" has been a local favorite for over 100 years.

I’ve heard that this place offers a carefully crafted flavor that soba lovers will find irresistible.

In this post, I’d like to introduce “Shamisen Kōan,” which has even been featured on television.

■Who is Shami Kōan?

Do you have a favorite soba restaurant in Kyoto?

When it comes to soba restaurants in the Higashiyama Ward area, I recommend “Shamikoan.”

This business was founded in 1861, the first year of the Bunkyu era.

This store has a history stretching back more than 160 years.

It all began when Lord Tomomi Iwakura—who had also been a key figure in the Meiji Restoration—ordered the store to open as a specialty shop for tsukudani.

Products made with chirimen sansho have been available ever since.

Even today, under the product name “Adult-Style Rice with Raw Egg,” you can enjoy a rich egg served over sansho pepper and ten-grain rice.

What makes the soba here special is that you can enjoy "jūwari soba," made entirely from buckwheat flour.

We also have our most popular menu item, so let me tell you about it.

■What is Shamihōan’s “Luxury Tsukesoba”?

At Shamihōan, the incredibly luxurious tsukesoba made with ingredients from Kyoto has become a popular dish.

It’s called “Kōan Pork and Kujō Green Onion Tsuke Soba.”

This is 100% buckwheat soba made from buckwheat flour ground in a stone mill.

The soba served in a colander has a strong aroma, and you can enjoy a rich, authentic soba flavor unlike any other restaurant.

In addition, Kōan Pork is a proprietary breed raised at contract farms in Kagoshima Prefecture and has a distinct sweetness.

Plus, the texture of the Kujo green onions pairs perfectly with the flavor of the soba, and combined with the sweetness of the pork, it creates a truly exquisite dish you can’t find anywhere else.

■ Reviews of Shami Koan

Let's take a look at reviews from people who have visited Shamisen Kōan.

・If you want to try Kyoto-style soba, this is the place to go. You can enjoy a delicious meal while listening to the murmur of the river and basking in the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees. It’s close to the station, so it was easy to get to.

・A charming, long-established restaurant. The interior has a great atmosphere. It has a Japanese-style vibe, and the view of the river outside is absolutely stunning. It was wonderful to enjoy my meal while watching the river flow by.

・The soba was amazing. The Kujo green onions were delicious. The staff provided excellent service.

・You can really taste the gentle flavor of the broth. The soba is delicious. The texture and thickness are just right.

・It’s a long-established restaurant, founded in the first year of the Bunkyu era. The building is a traditional Kyoto townhouse, and the restaurant itself was lovely. The soba was delicious, too. I’ll definitely be back.

■Shamihōan's Address and Directions

○ Shamisen Kōan's Address

393 Ishizumi-in-cho, west of Shirakawa-suji, north of Sanjo-dori, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture

○ How to Get to Shami Koan

About a 1-minute walk from "Higashiyama Station"

Phone number

075-771-0952

○ Homepage

https://sanmikouan.jp/

■ Summary

How was it?

In this article, I’d like to introduce “Shamihōan,” a shop with a history spanning more than 161 years.

This is a popular restaurant where you can enjoy exquisite 100% buckwheat soba made with Kujo green onions and Koan pork.

Please be sure to stop by when you visit the Higashiyama Ward area.