2024-2025 | [YANESEN] Perfect Year-End Soba Picks & Exclusive “Toshikoshi Soba” for Guests!
Hello from HOTEL GRAPHY NEZU!
As December begins, the chill of winter has grown sharper, and we are left with only a few weeks of 2024. How was this year for you? Surely, everyone has had their own unique experiences.
To bid farewell to this year and welcome 2025 on a positive note, why not enjoy a bowl of Toshikoshi soba? In the YANESEN area—encompassing Yanaka, Nezu, and Sendagi—where our hotel is located, you can find a variety of traditional soba restaurants brimming with the charm of an old downtown. Some of these restaurants remain open during the New Year period, so if you plan to visit YANESEN, be sure to check them out!
Here, we introduce three soba restaurants near the hotel that are perfect for the year-end season, along with a special service we’ll be offering to guests staying at HOTEL GRAPHY NEZU.
Summary
・Recommended Soba Restaurants Near the Hotel
・[Exclusive for Guests] Ring in the New Year with Toshikoshi Soba at HOTEL GRAPHY NEZU!
Recommended Soba Restaurants Near the Hotel
① Soba Matsukaze
A 12-minute walk from HOTEL GRAPHY NEZU, Soba Matsukaze is located along Shinobazu Street.
The serene atmosphere of the shop’s exterior leaves a lasting impression.
Soba with Kakiage Tempura (¥1,900 tax included)
The restaurant uses their own blend of flour to craft thin but firm juwari soba (100% buckwheat noodles), which pairs wonderfully with the warm dashi broth—perfect for savoring on a chilly day. Their freshly fried tempura is also generously portioned and a must-try.
In December 2024, Soba Matsukaze will be open until lunch on December 31. Remarkably, they celebrate their 6th anniversary this year on December 19. The cheerful and friendly staff shared with humor, “Please note in your article that we can’t speak English (laugh).” Don’t worry, though—there’s an English menu available for international guests.
Soba Matsukaze
Address: 2-37-12 Nezu, Bunkyō-ku, Tokyo (Hongo Building 1F)
Hours: Lunch: 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, Dinner: 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Closed: Sundays and Mondays
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② Soba Azegami
A 20-minute walk from HOTEL GRAPHY NEZU, this restaurant is situated in the heart of Yanaka Ginza. Known for its smooth and aromatic nihachi soba (80% buckwheat, 20% wheat flour), Soba Azegami is hard to miss with its warm exterior and light green noren (curtain).
Tempura Soba (¥1,500 tax included)
Their tempura pairs perfectly with matcha salt provided on the table, offering a light, crispy texture. Simple yet flavorful soba is a treat for warming up on cold days.
Soba Azegami also offers hearty combo meals with rice bowls and soba—ideal for those looking for a filling meal. They are open until 8 PM on December 31 this year, so plan your visit accordingly.
Soba Azegami
Address: 3-11-11 Yanaka, Taitō-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM (last order 8:30 PM)
Closed: Mondays (and two Tuesdays per month)
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③ Sanri
Just a 10-minute walk from HOTEL GRAPHY NEZU, Sanri is a modern-looking soba shop run solely by a quiet but kind owner. The shop allows up to eight customers at a time.
Highly Recommended Kamo Seiro (¥1,850 tax included)
Their signature dish, the kamo seiro (duck dipping soba), is highly recommended and has been their star menu item since the restaurant opened in 2001.
The duck meat and meatballs are tender and flavorful, without any gamey taste. The soy-based dipping sauce strikes a perfect balance and enhances the delicate thin soba. Sanri is also selling takeout toshikoshi soba (¥1,800 for two servings), with instructions for cooking it perfectly on their official website.
Sanri
Address: 2-33-9 Nezu, Bunkyō-ku, Tokyo
Hours: Lunch: 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, Dinner: 5:00 PM – 10:30 PM
Closed: Wednesdays
Official Website
[Exclusive for Guests] Ring in the New Year with Toshikoshi Soba at HOTEL GRAPHY NEZU!
At HOTEL GRAPHY NEZU, we offer complimentary beer exclusively to our guests every evening from 6 PM to 7 PM. However, on December 31, this special service will include toshikoshi soba! For this one night only, the free beer session will also be extended to two hours, from 6 PM to 8 PM. In addition to beer, we’ll be serving orange juice and apple juice, ensuring everyone can enjoy the festivities.
December, known as shiwasu in Japanese, signifies “the month when even monks run around in haste,” and for many, it truly has been a busy time. Why not take a moment on the final day of the year to relax at HOTEL GRAPHY NEZU? Enjoy the gentle flavors of soba and the cozy atmosphere of our hotel as you reflect on the past year. Let the soothing taste and warm environment rejuvenate your mind and body.
Toshikoshi Soba Details
Service Time: Tuesday, December 31, 2024, 6 PM to 8 PM (guests only)
Location: GRAPHY NEZU CAFE & LOUNGE
In this feature, we’ve introduced soba restaurants perfect for the year-end season. Soba, known for its tendency to break easily compared to other noodles, is traditionally eaten as toshikoshi soba to symbolize “cutting away the hardships and misfortunes of the year, leaving them behind as you step into the new one.”
Start 2025 on the right note with a bowl of toshikoshi soba! The YANESEN area, rich in soba culture, boasts many exceptional restaurants where you can savor delicious noodles made with care.
Whether it’s a year-end treat, a satisfying lunch, or a post-work snack, soba fits every occasion. Stay warm this winter, and we wish you a happy and healthy New Year!
HOTEL GRAPHY NEZU
HOTEL GRAPHY NEZU
Address: 4-5-10 Ikunohata, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-0008
Access: 3-minute walk from Nezu Station on the Chiyoda Line.