Kawatana Onsen

A small onsen town famous as the birthplace of kawara soba, green tea soba noodles sizzled on a hot roof tile (kawara) until crispy, then dipped in warm mentsuyu with lemon and momiji oroshi. The dish was invented here in the 1960s, inspired by soldiers grilling food on tiles during the Seinan War. Multiple shops compete for the crispiest, most aromatic version.