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2025年12月4日。
December 4, 2025.
山形県には幻のそばがある。
There is a mythical soba noodle in Yamagata Prefecture.
外はうっすらと雪が降っている。
Outside, there’s a light snowfall.
しかし、天童高原では、湯気を立てて打ちたての熱々のそばがあなたを待っています。
But on the Tendo Plateau, steaming hot, freshly made soba noodles await you.
香り高い新そばをぜひご賞味ください。
Be sure to try the fragrant new soba noodles.
今年も「天童高原新そばまつり」が開催されます。
The Tendo Plateau New Soba Festival will be held again this year.
この時期限定で提供される新そばは、収穫からわずか10日以内のそば粉から作られています。
Available only during this time of year, new soba noodles are made from buckwheat flour harvested within just 10 days.
その香りと甘みは、普通のそばとは一線を画しています。
Their aroma and sweetness set them apart from regular soba noodles.
一番人気の体験は、そば打ち体験です。
The most popular experience is the soba noodle making experience.
麺をこねる瞬間、香ばしいそば粉の粒がふわっと広がります。
The moment the noodles are kneaded, fragrant grains of buckwheat flour spread out in the air.
職人の指導のもとで打たれるそばは、お店で食べるそばよりも美味しいかもしれません。
Soba noodles made under the guidance of a master craftsman may even taste better than those from any restaurant.
さらに…写真家に人気の秘密の撮影スポットをご紹介します。
Plus… we’ll introduce you to a secret photo spot popular with photographers.
天童高原の奥深くにある展望台。
An observation deck deep in the Tendo Plateau.
雪を頂く山々と、湯気を立てるそば。
Snow-capped mountains and steaming soba noodles.
この組み合わせはSNS映え間違いなし。
This combination is sure to look great on social media.
そばは香りを味わうために食べると言われていますが、実は打った翌日には香りが半減してしまうそうです。
It’s said that soba noodles are eaten to savor their aroma, but in fact, the aroma is reduced by half the day after they’re made.
そのため、この祭りは「香りを味わう旅」とも呼ばれています。
That’s why this festival is also known as a “journey to savor the aroma.”
もし訪れるなら、午前中がおすすめです。
If you’re planning on visiting, we recommend going in the morning.
朝霧の中、そばつゆをすすれば、体の中から温まります。
Sipping soba soup in the morning mist will warm you from the inside out.
カメラを構えるなら、一番湯気が立ち上る瞬間を狙って撮影しましょう。
If you’re holding your camera, aim to capture the moment when the steam is rising most strongly.
私の畑の大根が白くなり始めています。
The daikon radishes in my fields are starting to turn white.
すりおろして新そばつゆに加えると…
When you grate some and add it to the new soba soup…
朝の味噌汁とはまた違う、冬の香りが立ち上ります。
A winter aroma different from that of your morning miso soup rises.
季節や食を楽しむには、香りを味わうのが一番です。
The best way to savor the seasons and food is to savor the aroma.
🌾 Tendō Kōgen New Soba Festival: Complete Guide to Charms and Photo Spots
December 4, 2025
On December 4, 2025, there is a legendary, “phantom soba” waiting for you in Yamagata Prefecture.
Even if a light layer of snow is falling outside, at Tendō Kōgen, piping hot, freshly kneaded soba noodles, steaming gently, will be ready for you. Please come and enjoy the fragrant new soba!
The Tendō Kōgen New Soba Festival is being held again this year. The new soba offered exclusively during this season is made from buckwheat flour harvested less than 10 days prior. Its aroma and sweetness are truly unmatched by ordinary soba.
The most popular activity is the Soba-Making Experience. The moment you knead the noodles, the fragrant buckwheat grains spread a comforting scent. Soba noodles made under the guidance of a professional artisan might even taste better than those you eat in a restaurant!
📸 Secret Photo Spot Revealed
We will also introduce a secret photo spot popular among photographers.
It’s an observatory deep inside Tendō Kōgen. The combination of snow-capped mountains and the steam rising from the hot soba is guaranteed to be a hit on social media.
It is said that soba should be eaten to savor its aroma, but the scent actually halves by the next day. For this reason, this festival is often called a “Journey to Savor the Aroma.”
If you plan to visit, the morning is highly recommended. Sipping the soba dipping broth (tsuyu) in the morning mist will warm you from the inside out. When setting up your camera, aim to capture the moment when the steam rises most prominently.
My own daikon radishes in the field are starting to turn white. Grating them and adding them to the new soba tsuyu… it offers a winter fragrance quite different from morning miso soup. To truly enjoy the seasons and food, savoring the aroma is the best way.
📝 Related Information on the Tendō Kōgen New Soba Festival
Based on the article and related search data, here is essential information for your visit.
1. Event Details and Features
| Item | Details | Relevance to the Article |
| Event Name | Reiwa 7 (2025) Tendō Kōgen New Soba Festival | The official name of the event. |
| Dates/Schedule | Held only on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays from October 31 (Fri) to December 7 (Sun), 2025. | The date “December 4th” falls within this period. |
| Location | Soba-dokoro Tendō Kōgen (Tendō Kōgen Community Exchange Center) | The main venue within Tendō Kōgen. |
| Hours | 11:00 AM to 1:45 PM (Three timed sessions: ① 11:00 AM, ② 12:00 PM, ③ 1:00 PM) | Relevant to the suggestion to visit in the “morning.” Advance planning for seating is required. |
| Reservations | Mandatory, Full Reservation System (Must book by the day before) | This is crucial information not mentioned in the article. Pre-registration via phone is required (023-657-3628). |
| Soba Variety | Made with 100% Tendō Kōgen-grown “Dewa-kaori” | The specific variety of the “phantom soba” praised for its aroma. |
| Experience | Soba Making Experience (Available year-round, April–October, reservation required) | Confirms the “most popular activity” mentioned in the article. |
2. Soba Charm and the “Journey of Aroma”
- Focus on Freshness: As the article states, using flour harvested “within 10 days” is the key to achieving the maximum aroma and sweetness, which are the main draw.
- “Dewa-kaori” Variety: This is a premium soba variety representing Yamagata Prefecture, known for its strong fragrance and excellent flavor.
- Aroma Preservation: The festival’s rapid service of freshly made soba directly counters the issue mentioned in the article—that the scent decreases by half the next day—validating the description of it being a “Journey to Savor the Aroma.”
3. Photography and Visiting Tips
- The Secret Spot (Observatory): To capture the scene of hot steam against the backdrop of snow-capped mountains (like Mt. Gassan or the Asahi Mountain Range), explore the areas around the Tendō Kōgen Lodge or follow the trails leading to the scenic overlooks.
- Morning Mist: The phenomenon of “morning mist” mentioned in the article is best seen during the early morning hours on cold and humid days, especially in late fall and early winter in the highlands.
- Capturing Steam: As suggested, aim for the moment when the steam rises most dramatically. The steam is best highlighted when shooting with backlight (the light source behind the steam) or side light (light coming from the side).
4. Transportation and Accommodation
🚗 Access to Tendō Kōgen
| Departure Point | Transportation | Estimated Time | Important Notes |
| JR Tendō Station | Taxi | Approx. 30 minutes | The most common way to access the venue. |
| JR Yamagata Station | Car | Less than 1 hour | For Shinkansen (Bullet Train) users. |
| Public Transport | Route Bus | None | There are no regular route buses. A taxi from Tendō Station or a personal/rental car is necessary. |
- Crucial Winter Warning: Since Tendō Kōgen is at a high elevation and snowfall is likely in December, winter tires (studless tires) are absolutely essential if driving a personal or rental car.
🏨 Accommodation
The best lodging options are concentrated in the nearby Tendō Onsen (Hot Springs) area, which is an ideal base for the festival.
- Tendō Onsen Area: A famous hot spring town known for its strong association with Shogi (Japanese chess) pieces. It offers traditional Ryokans (Inns) where you can enjoy hot springs and exquisite local cuisine.
- Examples: Tendō Onsen Shouhakutei Azumasou, Yubo Ichiraku Tendo SPA & BREWERY, Sakaeya Hotel.
- Business Hotels: Convenient options are also available near JR Tendō Station (e.g., Hotel Route Inn Tendō, Hotel Limax Tendō).
We recommend planning to travel to the plateau area by taxi or rental car from your accommodation base in or around Tendō Onsen.
