Bashoan was named after the mizubasho flower which grows in Miyagi and Yamagata. It is perhaps the most famous soba restaurant in a town known for soba restaurants. Bashoan was established by Masuhiro Yamada in 1999 after founding his own buckwheat farm and spending five years mastering the art of soba making. The idea for Bashoan was conceived as a way to help resolve Shichikashuku’s declining population issue and reinvigorate the town through the cultivation of buckwheat.

As you drive along the scenic Route 113 towards Yamagata, you’re likely to encounter a queue of people waiting for soba at Bashoan. That’s okay, as in the meantime, Yamada-san’s pair of Shiba Inu dogs Jiro and Sumomo will entertain you. The view of the Shiroishi River flowing past the restaurant’s windows is spectacular and perfectly complements the food.

The soba is made from scratch with ingredients sourced from the buckwheat farms of Shichikashuku. The menu consists of set meals featuring soba served in a variety of ways: hot, cold, even duck soba. They also offer a special dessert made of fried tofu and soba flour.