We all know that udon and Japan are inseparable. They are everyone’s favorite noodles and are likely to be found on every street corner. Udon are tasty and perfect to consume as a meal at anytime of day. If you’ve been to Japan then I bet that you would have tried udon at least once or twice. But are you sure that you’ve tasted them all?
Unlike the other famous Japanese noodles, soba, udon are thicker. They are made of wheat flour and can be served as both hot and cold dishes. Sometimes they are prepared inside a bowl of soup or special sauce. Another way is by serving it together with a dipping sauce. Additionally, an udon dish is usually topped with tempura, chicken, vegetables, and many more.
There are many varieties of udon noodles in Japan. They are all different, depending on the place of origin. But don’t worry, luckily now you wouldn’t have to travel across Japan to try them all. You can just take a train or a bus and head over to Gion in Kyoto and visit the Udon Museum.
The museum that claims to have all varieties of Japanese udon noodles is strategically located near the intersection of Shijo and Kawabata Street. Look for a concrete building with an udon character at the corner, called udon-kun. Once you step inside, you’ll soon realize that this place actually looks more like a restaurant with a souvenir shop selling everything about udon, including dried udon and books. Right at the corner there is also a display showcasing all types of udon that can be found in Japan.
But if you really want to know more about these Japanese noodles, especially the ones that you’re not very familiar of, then I strongly suggest that you try eating in at the restaurant. It’s located just in front of the shop. I was curious about the Himokawa Udon from Gunma prefecture, so I decided to give it a try. Served with a brown dipping sauce, these udon look like layers of cheddar cheese with a soft texture. They’re also quite easy to chew and very tasty indeed.
The Udon Museum is open from 11am to 10pm, every day. It is easily accessible by bus number 5, 10, 11, 12 and 15 to name a few.
