Located in Chubu region, Nagano Prefecture sits near the center of Japan. Mountains as high as 2,000 – 3,000 meters run north to south in this landlocked prefecture.

Even though rice has been a staple for centuries in Japan, buckwheat, which adapts well to severe winter weather or poorly conditioned land, has been grown all over Japan as a substitute for rice when the rice yields are low.

Nagano’s climate, which has a big difference in temperature between day and night, makes soba produced in Nagano quite flavorful. Soba noodles made in Nagano using locally produced buckwheat are called Sinshu Soba, one of the most known dishes in the prefecture.

Ina city, located in southern Nagano has a unique soba noodle called Takato Soba, which is served with a dipping sauce made with the extract of Japanese radish and roasted miso.