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Free Soba on a Blizzard Day?! "I Feel Like No One Will Come" - Did Anyone Actually Show Up? "I might get lost on the way..."
Horokanai, Hokkaido, known as "Japan's number one soba town," is one of the snowiest areas in the region. On a particularly snowy day, a soba restaurant in Horokanai posted something on social media that has been getting a lot of attention.
Today is Free Soba Day!
But I have a feeling no one will come lol
I wonder if this will be a new record? 😆
Source: @kiritatitei's post
The image shows a blizzard, as if the great northern land is showing its true power. Despite the heavy snow, which makes it difficult to even see the utility pole in front, the restaurant's resilient spirit of staying open has garnered comments like, "I'd probably get lost before I even got there..." and "I'd want to go, even if I have to shovel my way through the snow." Some brave souls even commented, "I want to go in this kind of extreme weather."
Kiritatei: A Soba Restaurant in the Overly Tested Land of Horokanai
The person who posted the video is Mr. Yamamoto, the owner of the handmade soba restaurant "Kiritatei" in Horokanai. It's a famous soba shop, also popular among touring motorcyclists.
In winter, the sign in front of the shop, shaped like a bowl, gets covered in a mound of snow, making it look like a large serving of rice or a soft-serve ice cream cone.
Source: @kiritatitei's post
Did any customers come that day?
On the day the heavy snow video was posted, did any customers actually show up? We asked Mr. Yamamoto.
One person from here in Horokanai came.
As for the "Free Soba Day" joke post, the situation was so bad that I would have gladly given them a free meal if they really came, but honestly, it was the kind of weather where you absolutely shouldn't go out.😅
In Horokanai, you could get stranded in that kind of weather, so even large vehicles would want to avoid it.😓
He said it was a joke post for his followers who know how terrifying the snow in Horokanai can be, but to think there was a brave soul who came to the restaurant in that weather...! As expected from the "overly tested land," perhaps the locals are also strong against the snow.
"Soeushinai Station" is a must-visit, even more than the restaurant
As we talked, Mr. Yamamoto said, "If you come to Horokanai, I'd rather you visit Soeushinai Station than Kiritatei." "Soeushinai Station" is a historic, decommissioned station near Kiritatei, over 90 years old. A crowdfunding campaign was held with the desire to preserve the valuable station building, and renovation work was completed in 2022. Inside the station building, you can find a commemorative stamp and a station notebook for visitors.
After enjoying soba at Kiritatei, why not visit Soeushinai Station? If you come in winter, please be very careful not to get stranded...!
Special thanks to: Mr. Yamamoto, the person behind Soba Dokoro Kiritatei
X: @kiritatitei
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