Kamiyo Soba (Hand-ground Izumo Soba)
Iconic Izumo soba restaurant in Okutani-cho, a 10-minute walk from Matsue Castle. Uses Matsue-grown Gengtan in-situ buckwheat variety, stone-ground in-house, served as 100% buckwheat. Closes when sold out; during busy seasons waits can exceed 2 hours. Tabelog 3.75, 910 reviews, 'Soba WEST 100 Best 2025.' Yahoo! Maps rating 4.02. Matsue residents unanimously call it 'my favorite soba restaurant.'
"Always eat here when visiting Matsue. The flavor is in a different league from other soba shops." "Waited 2 hours once even arriving before noon—yet I come back every year." "Old-established restaurant for which 'Matsue's soul food' is the most fitting description." "The aroma and texture unique to stone-ground 100% buckwheat—you only realize its greatness after leaving Matsue."