Bashokan 芭蕉館

The wanko soba experience

Bashokan named after the haiku poet is a short walk from Hiraizumi Station in the world heritage town. The century-old restaurant serves wanko soba. Wanko soba, a style of serving soba noodles, is a feature of Iwate Prefecture's cuisine. To serve the noodles as fresh as possible, small portions are presented in lacquer bowls that the servers refill as you eat. You might be presented with a whole tray full of noodle bowls. I opted for a set menu of zarusoba and flavorful pickles. Enough noodles for me! My companion went for the full wanko deal. It's good fuel for walking or cycling around to the heritage sites.