The warm temperature, which occasionally reaches 30ºC, makes many Indonesians complain about the heat. But, this temperature is normal during the summer season in four-season countries, including Japan. In fact, the temperature there can sometimes exceed 30ºC.
With such a high temperature, Japanese people must adapt to remain comfortable while going about their days. One way to do this is by eating dishes specially made for coping with the summer heat. What are they? Let’s find out!
Zaru means colander. The name of this dish comes from how it is served, which is placed on top of a bamboo colander, which has been used since the Edo period. Soba and udon are named after the type of noodles served. Zaru soba uses noodles made from buckwheat flour, while zaru udon uses noodles made from wheat flour.
The serving and preparation are the same for both, which involve boiling the noodles in boiling water until cooked, then rinsing them with cold running water to remove excess flour before soaking them in cold water a moment prior to serving. To eat them, you need to briefly dip them in tsuyu soy sauce, just a little because the soy sauce is salty. You can also add wasabi and chopped green onion if you like.
If you want to try these dishes in Japan, you can visit Maguro Soba in Asakusa. For Muslim visitors, you do not need to worry because the restaurant serves Halal Soba Tsuyu. You just need to inform the staff to provide a halal menu for you.
To get there, you can take the Ueno-Tokyo Line train from Tokyo Station to Ueno Station, then transfer to the Ginza Line train to Asakusa Station. From there, it is a 260 m walk to the restaurant. The trip fare is around ¥350.
Somen is a dry, thin noodle made from wheat flour with a diameter of less than 1.3 mm. It is typically served by placing the cooked noodles in flowing water and allowing customers to catch the noodles they want to eat. This eating style is called nagashi somen.
One of the most famous restaurants, popular among diners, that serve nagashi somen is Hirobun. To get to this place, you can take a bus from Kyoto Eki (The Thousand Kyoto) to Nanajo Keihan Mae, then walk to Shichijō Station and take the Keihan Main Line train to Demachiyanagi Station. From there, transfer to the Eizan Main Line train to Kurama Station. Then, it is best to continue by taxi because the restaurant is about 3.8 km from the station.
Kakigori is a traditional Japanese dessert that can be found in many other countries, including Indonesia. Kakigori is shaved ice made from pure water and served with syrup. Sometimes, kakigori is also served with toppings according to taste.
Kakigori is a favorite during the summer because it is made of ice, making it taste very refreshing. In Japan, kakigori can be easily found anywhere as it is considered a street food. You can buy it as a snack on the street or in restaurants that serve this fresh icy dessert. One of the restaurants serving kakigori is Housekibako in Nara. To get there, you only need to walk 1 km from Nara Station.
Hiyashi chuka is another type of cold ramen besides zaru soba, zaru udon, and nagashi somen. The noodles are served in a bowl or container with toppings on top, then poured with pre-chilled broth.
The toppings for hiyashi chuka are varied, including thin slices of omelet, tomatoes, cucumbers, crabsticks, and other toppings. If you make it yourself, you are free to customize it with any toppings you like. So, you will be more excited to enjoy it.
If you want to try hiyashi chuka in Japan, you can visit Yosuko Saikan in Tokyo. From Tokyo Station, you can take the Marunouchi Line train to Otemachi Station and then transfer to the Hanzomon Line train to Jimbocho Station. Then, walk 240m to the restaurant location. The fare to get to this restaurant is around ¥180.
If you already have plans to come to Japan in the summer, you can definitely try the cuisines listed above. So, you can experience a new way of enjoying noodles, which are usually served hot. However, to make your culinary adventures more enjoyable, make sure to protect your trip to Japan with Travel Insurance from MSIG Indonesia.
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