• News

Experience Gastronomy Tourism in Shiga: Delight in Traditional Pottery and Japanese Cuisine (Part 2)

• delicious Japan
• November 5, 2024

In Part II, we will unveil the specifics of this opulent gastronomic tourism journey that merges pottery with exquisite cuisine.

Shinonome's 100% buckwheat soba noodles are crafted with specially purified water, offering a fragrant flavor and velvety texture. They are served in pottery that showcases traditional Shigaraki ware techniques like "Scarlet" and "Bidro." Dinner features an exquisite course meal prepared by a chef from Sakuragawa restaurant in Kyoto, which has received a Michelin star for ten consecutive years in the Kyoto and Osaka Guide, highlighting the essence of Sakuragawa's Japanese cuisine. Available by reservation only, the "100% buckwheat soba Shinonome x Japanese restaurant Sakuragawa ~ A Feast of Craftsmanship~" comes in two price options: 26,450 yen and 37,950 yen. Sake pairings enhance the experience, featuring rare local sake from Shiga, Fukui, Kyoto, and beyond, alongside their unique craft gin made with locally sourced, rare raw juniper berries harvested on-site.

At the adjacent OOGOYA, over 10,000 pieces of pottery are on display and for sale, and pottery classes are available where you can try your hand at pottery wheel throwing and painting. Why not plan to use this as a new base for enjoying Shigaraki gastronomy tourism to the fullest in conjunction with the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo?

Exclusive Menu Available at Shinonome in Partnership with Sakuragawa

Shinonome is a destination for experiencing the beauty of Japanese architecture and traditional crafts

The restaurant name, Shinonome, was bestowed by Japanese artist Rieko Morita and translates to "the rising sun over Higashiyama, announcing the dawn." A plaque at the entrance, penned by Buddhist priest Hasegawa of Sangen-in Temple in Daitokuji, Kyoto, adds to its charm. The noren curtain, which reads "Kyoto Kusakizome Dyeing Yoshioka," flutters at the entrance in vibrant orange, reminiscent of the morning glow. Outside, a white ceramic plate crafted in OOGOYA 's snake kiln gleams beautifully.

Upon entering the restaurant, you will notice exquisite curtains crafted from clam shells and elegant tables formed from single pieces of fine wood. This high-ceilinged structure took over a year to build and was crafted by a skilled shrine carpenter. The Daikoku and Ebisu pillars, made from noble “ichii” wood, stand proudly alongside walls adorned with a distinctive clay finish derived from Shigaraki soil. The stunning ceramic tiles gracing the floor were also shaped in OOGOYA's snake kiln, reflecting the traditional Japanese "silver ratio." The restaurant's interior showcases a lavish use of “ichii” wood and cedar, embracing the rich beauty of traditional Japanese design. When you step inside, you will feel immersed in a unique atmosphere that echoes a Zen temple's serenity and aesthetic charm.

The soba noodles are made from 100% buckwheat flour and use specially purified water. The meal begins with a taste of "soba porridge," simmered in its original clay pot, made especially for soba porridge. The soba is served once your stomach is warmed and your sense of taste and smell is sharpened. The first bite is enjoyed without any toppings; the second is enjoyed with Guérande salt to fully appreciate the aroma and flavor of the soba, followed by Shizuoka wasabi to experience the change in flavor, and then enjoyed with soba soup.

For lunch, a 100% buckwheat soba menu (11 varieties) is available. The "100% buckwheat soba with sesame sauce" is particularly delicious. The unique sesame sauce, expertly blended with Shinonome's silky 100% buckwheat soba, is a product refined through numerous trials. One bite and you'll be sure to enjoy the unforgettable flavor. Starting in November, soba noodles made with wild yam from Shigaraki will be available, and from mid-November, soba noodles made with rare purple wild yam will also be available for a limited time. Menus are available in multiple languages, including English, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese. For dinner, two kinds of kaiseki courses inspired by Sakuragawa from Kyoto are offered, along with a simple, special menu (reservations needed) crafted in Sakuragawa's style.

The sake selection features local varieties from Shiga alongside unique options from Fukui and Kyoto. Additionally, they provide house-made craft gin and whiskey, crafted from juniper berries sourced directly from the OOGOYA grounds. Furthermore, you can savor wines curated by Academie du Vin that pair perfectly with 100% buckwheat soba.

The restaurant showcases pottery, featuring exceptionally rare "ash-covered" Shigaraki ware. Every dish used to serve food is a unique creation by Shigaraki artists, made exclusively for Shinonome. You can indulge in your meal with all five senses while appreciating the artistic Shigaraki ware, which results from the intriguing interaction of the kiln's high temperature and the wood flames. If you see a dish you like, it’s available for purchase at the nearby OOGOYA.

OOGOYA is Where Taro Okamoto's "Tower of the Sun" was Created for the 1970 Osaka Expo

OOGOYA, a well-established manufacturer of Shigaraki ware since 1874, originally produced ceramic silk-reeling pots during the Meiji era for silk thread production. These pots were utilized at the Tomioka Silk Mill, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and were showcased at the 2nd Paris World Expo. In the Taisho and early Showa periods, OOGOYA expanded into manufacturing chemical containers, continuing this trend into the postwar Showa era. OOGOYA also produced many reliefs, including artist Taro Okamoto's “Tower of the Sun” for the 1970 World Exposition (Osaka Expo).

OOGOYA, which opened on September 11, 1997, carries forward Shigaraki's 150-year legacy of traditional craftsmanship. Located on a 13,000 m² site, the two-story structure features a tiled façade and a grand entrance resembling a museum. Visitors can interact with and purchase 10,000 traditional ceramic pieces, explore gallery exhibits, dine, play, and casually enjoy ceramics alongside their pets. This facility offers a full day of enjoyment, all while guests can appreciate the shifting beauty of the four seasons. The “Shigaraki no Mori Art Museum” is just a short walk away.

Nobuyasu Okuda, Representative of OOGOYA, holding a relief of the “Tower of the Sun”

For those of you from overseas currently residing in Japan, and for those planning a trip to Japan in the future, we hope you will enjoy the gastronomic tourism experience in Shiga, which is close to Kyoto. Enjoy every moment of your adventure!

---

Shinonome / OOGOYA

Location: 2349, Chokushi, Koka City, Shiga. Shinonome and OOGOYA are adjacent, and the parking lot has a capacity of 80 cars.
Access: If you take the Shin-Meishin Expressway, take the Shigaraki Interchange and head toward Shigaraki City for 5 minutes. If you take Route 25 of the Meihan Expressway, take the Maruchu exit at the Mibuno Interchange, and it's a 25-minute drive.
Train: JR Biwako Line via Kusatsu Station, transfer at Kibukawa Station on the Kusatsu Line 17 minutes walk from Shigaraki Station on the Shigaraki Kogen Railway, 35 minutes by taxi from Ishiyama Station on the JR Biwako Line
Bus: Get on the Teisan Bus at JR Biwako Line Ishiyama Station and get off at the Tougei no Mori bus stop. It's a one-minute walk from there.

100% Buckwheat Soba “Shinonome”

Restaurant name: 100% Buckwheat Noodles “Shinonome”
Typical customer spending: Lunch: around 1,500 to 3,000 yen, Dinner: 9,200 yen, Course: 26,450 to 37,950 yen (negotiable)
Business hours: 11:00-15:30, 17:00-21:00
*Ends when soba runs out
*Dinner reservations are necessary, and we can tailor budgets and business hours to suit your needs.
Closed: Fridays, but may be closed on other days
Size: Approximately 3300m², approximately 26 seats
Dinner reservations: 0748-83-2220
https://www.instagram.com/shinonome2220/

OOGOYA

Open all year round
Experience: Hand-building experience 1,980 yen, potter's wheel experience 3,850 yen, painting experience 2,200 yen
Business hours: (Weekdays) 10:00~17:00
(Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays) 10:00~18:00
http://www.oogoya.co.jp/