Tamba-Sasayama, Hyogo, Japan｜Roan Matsuda

My visit to Roan Matsuda was without a doubt, the best food experience I have had in Japan. The location is a little remote, but is well worth the pilgrimage! Set in an idyllic valley, you are surrounded by nature on all sides, ensconced in a beautifully maintained and thoughtfully decorated traditional building. Sitting in Roan Matsuda gives you the feeling of peace. The menu is set, with some specials you can add to your meal. Every course was intensely local, and incredibly fresh. You were literally eating what you saw out the window. I ate many things that I had never encountered before (all of them delicious) The cuisine was incredibly thoughtful, beautifully presented, masterfully created, and impeccably delicious. The entire team are clearly incredibly passionate and devoted, which you feel reflected in both the food and surrounds. This was THE finest food I have eaten in Japan, and I have had the pleasure of attending many great tables. I hope to one day again visit Roan Matsuda. Thank you for the meal, and congratulations on creating something truely special and beautiful. It was unforgettable.

You can read other reviews for details of the food. All I can do is absolutely reinforce those that wax eloquent as to its virtues. This is soba taken to an entirely other level, I visited with family and friends on a balmy spring day . The location is one of rustic splendour and the cuisine mirrored the natural bounties of the season. All dishes delightfully leveraged local and foraged product to deliver an exquisite seasonal experience. The soba dishes were each fresh, creative and distinctive. The ambience was superb and the service impeccable. Our host's enthusiasm for his art was compelling. All together an unforgettable experience. My son-in-law, himself a talented chef, voted the meal the "best in his life". Roan Matsuda is surely better than any two star Michelin restaurant I have visited. Sadly its location is such that few foreign travellers are likely to ever experience its subtle and sublime delights. If you find this review;go! you will not regret the experience of a lifetime.

In mid-August, after visiting the grave, I visited for lunch. Lunch is only a 7,000 yen course per person. Reservations are required. Vegetables (wild grass?) and wild game that you don't usually eat are wonderful. The delicate dishes that were carefully finished seemed to be good for the body. There are three types of soba noodles that are ground differently. All of them had a strong taste of soba. The duck soup that comes out with the second bowl of soba is also the best. You can use it as a dipping sauce for soba or eat it as is. It also pairs wonderfully with homemade yuzu pepper. It's optional, but highly recommended.