The end of the year is approaching in Japan. A quintessential part of this season is “Toshikoshi Soba,” eaten on New Year’s Eve. It’s an age-old custom to eat these long, thin noodles with wishes for longevity and to sever the misfortunes of the past year. This year, Japan’s Lawson is delivering an astonishingly luxurious and authentic lineup of “soba” to mark the end of the year!
Starting Tuesday, December 9th, 2025, special “Regional Soba” bowls, each supervised by a famous soba restaurant representing a different region of Japan, will be launched simultaneously. This is truly an “event” that elevates Konbini gourmet to a whole new level. Don’t you think it’s the ultimate experience to be able to enjoy the taste of famous restaurants from all over Japan at your local Lawson, without even having to travel?
So, let’s dive in and see what kind of bowl awaits you at your city’s Lawson!
The Essence of Edo, Available All Over Japan! A Bowl Supervised by “Kanda Matsuya”
First, let’s introduce a special collaboration that you can purchase at any Lawson all over Japan.
Kanda Matsuya Supervised Ebi-Kakiage Soba
“Kanda Matsuya” is a historic soba restaurant established in 1884, with its main branch in Kanda, Tokyo. A bowl supervised by this prestigious restaurant, which carries on the flavor of Edo to this day, is now available at Lawson stores nationwide.
The signature of “Kanda Matsuya” is its “tsuyu” (broth), which has a slightly rich and sharp soy sauce flavor. While recreating this traditional taste, it’s topped with a “kakiage” (a type of tempura where various ingredients like vegetables are battered and fried together) packed with plump shrimp. The moment the kakiage soaks into the broth and its savory flavor melds with the soba is pure bliss. It’s a classic yet ultimate taste that exudes the character of a long-established restaurant. The price is 697 yen (tax included).
>>Click here for the official Kanda Matsuya website to learn more about this historic restaurant.
Travel Japan with “Regional Soba”! What’s the Exclusive Flavor in Your Area?
From here, we introduce the lineup of unique “Regional Soba” bowls released exclusively in each area. Enjoy them as if you’re traveling all over Japan!
[Hokkaido Area] Chikuroen Azumaya Sohonten Supervised Ebi-ten Kashiwa Soba
Supervised by “Chikuroen Azumaya Sohonten,” a venerable restaurant with over 150 years of history in Kushiro, Hokkaido. This bowl recreates the restaurant’s most distinctive feature: its beautiful green soba noodles. A deep, flavorful broth that combines the umami of chicken (in Hokkaido, chicken is often called “kashiwa”) and seafood dashi is topped with shrimp tempura faintly scented with sesame oil. It’s a luxurious bowl packed with the history and tradition of the great north. Be sure to experience this taste. The price is 697 yen (tax included).
Discover more about this Kushiro legend at their >>Official Chikuroen Azumaya Sohonten Website.
[Tohoku Area] Issuntei Honten Supervised Warm Niku Soba (Meat Soba)
“Niku Soba” is a beloved soul food of Kahoku, Yamagata Prefecture. A version supervised by the famous “Issuntei Honten” is now available in the Tohoku area. The thick and chewy country-style soba perfectly matches the sweet and savory broth, which is packed with the flavor of chicken. The parent chicken meat topping is characterized by its unique, firm texture that is sure to get you hooked. The affordable price of 646 yen (tax included) is another great point.
Check out the roots of this Yamagata soul food >>here at the official Issuntei Honten website.
[Kanto Area] Naze Soba ni Rayu wo Irerunoka. Supervised Rayu Niku Soba (Meat Soba with Chili Oil)
With a unique name you’ll never forget—”Why do you put chili oil in soba?”—this shop, which started in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, established a new style as an antithesis to traditional soba culture by adding rayu (chili-infused oil) to soba. The special rayu adds a spicy kick to the sweet broth, while sweet and spicy stewed pork, a generous amount of nori, and sesame seeds stimulate the appetite. This junk-food-like, powerful flavor is truly symbolic of modern-day Tokyo. The price is 697 yen (tax included).
Explore this rebellious soba style on their >>Official ‘Naze Soba ni Rayu wo Irerunoka.’ website.
[Chubu Area] Sarashina Supervised Tori Nanban Tanuki Soba
“Sarashina” is a long-standing restaurant in Gifu City, dating back to 1928. This “Tori Nanban Tanuki Soba” recreates its traditional flavor. “Tori Nanban” is warm soba with chicken, and “Tanuki” refers to soba with tenkasu (bits of deep-fried tempura batter). In other words, this single bowl allows you to enjoy two classic flavors at once—a fantastic deal. The dashi-infused broth, fragrant noodles made with specially selected soba flour, and juicy chicken thighs create a reliably satisfying bowl, characteristic of a veteran restaurant. The price is 646 yen (tax included).
Learn about Sarashina’s history and dedication at their >>official Sarashina website.
[Kinki Area] Dotonbori Imai Supervised Kitsune and Mushroom Ankake Soba
From Dotonbori, Osaka’s representative entertainment district, comes the renowned restaurant “Dotonbori Imai.” The heart of this establishment is its meticulously prepared “odashi” (broth). This is an “ankake” (thickened sauce) style bowl featuring that delicate and deep-flavored dashi. It’s topped with sweet stewed “kitsune” (fried tofu) and mushrooms, with a touch of ginger to tie all the flavors together. It’s a gentle taste that will warm you from the core, perfect for the cold winter. The price is 646 yen (tax included).
Feel the warmth of Osaka’s famous dashi culture at the >>official Dotonbori Imai website.
[Chugoku & Shikoku Area] Chikara Supervised Niku Soba (with Wakame Topping)
Founded in 1935, “Chikara” is an immensely popular chain in Hiroshima. You can now enjoy their meat soba, made with their prized dashi that has even won a Monde Selection Gold Award, at Lawson stores in the Chugoku and Shikoku areas. The richly flavored broth is topped with sweet and savory beef and a generous amount of wakame seaweed. While simple, it’s a bowl that lets you fully appreciate the deep umami of the dashi, and you’ll understand why it’s so beloved by locals. The price is 646 yen (tax included).
See why Hiroshima loves “Chikara” on their >>official Chikara website.
[Kyushu Area] West Supervised Niku Gobo-ten Soba (Meat & Burdock Tempura Soba)
“West” is a popular chain widely developed in the Kyushu region. An indispensable topping in Kyushu’s udon and soba culture is “gobo-ten” (burdock root tempura). The broth, made from bonito, kombu, and dried sardines with a touch of mirin for a slightly sweeter finish, is classic Kyushu style. The combination of sweet and savory stewed beef and crispy gobo-ten is irresistible. It’s a bowl full of regional character—nostalgic for those from Kyushu and a new discovery for first-timers. The price is 646 yen (tax included).
Get a taste of Kyushu’s favorite noodle chain, >>West, at their official website.
Source: 2025年12月9日(火)より、名店監修のご当地そばが登場!
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