Hirobun

My wife and I visited this place due to videos we've been seeing online and I can say for sure the travel and wait time we're absolutely worth it. They seat 10 people at a time so you need to wait quite a bit unless you get there early. But they do have a waiting area quite literally right above the river. When you finally sit down to eat, you get assigned a bamboo to catch your noodles in. The flavor of the noodles was unexpectedly refreshing and delicious. Would highly recommend going. I know I definitely will.

This was a top meal for us in Japan- not only the service but the view too. The staff seemed to really care if we were comfortable and enjoying. I have a seafood allergy that they were nice enough to take seriously and make a different meal for me. We didn’t do the noodle experience but could watch it from our table. I think I liked eating the food while watching the noodles from afar rather than partaking . We loved it so much

It was more fun catching swimming somen than to eat it. Taste wise is normal, went for the fun of it. Make cash payment and went back at the said timing and continued to wait again. Every round, 10 pax get to enjoy the somen for approx 10-15 min. It was cooling waiting for your turn even during June summer.

Only did the Soumen noodles that come down the bamboo chutes which you can only do in summer. While its a decent wait, and only lasts 10-15 min, and is a bit "gimmicky", it was still an enjoyable and unique experience. Even on a weekday, expect a decent wait especially around lunchtime. This is the play: - Turn up to the reception desk and book your spot. They give you a fan (actually practical) with a number and a link to check the queue. You generally have to wait 1 - 1.5 hours to access just the waiting room downstairs - go do something else til you can access the waiting room. There are a few shrines nearby, have a bigger lunch, dip your feet in the water at the coffee bar about 100m up the hill from hirobun. - waiting room is 30-45min or so - then you access the waiting tables, 15min more wait - then you get to have your soumen noodle experience. You get maybe 5-6 "clumps" of noodles each before your time is up, which they indicate to you by sending red noodles down the pipe. For us, it was a 2.5 hour wait from putting our name down at reception, to actually scooping noodles. Though a good 1.5 hrs of that you can spend doing other things.

We had shabu shabu at the river restaurant after hiking the trail. This requires an advanced reservation. You can also try out the noodle shoot where noodles are sent down a bamboo for you to catch. I believe you cannot reserve this and can wait several hours to try it. The restaurant sits right on the river and has a perfect breeze. I have a seafood allergy and they were able to accommodate. This is a lovely spot to rest and enjoy the weather after a long hike.

Almost skipped this because of all the negative reviews but so glad I didn’t! Went all the way to kibune and thought why not just give it a try. It is very gimmicky, yes of course but it’s just for fun. Everything was very organized, you pay get a queue number (I went around 12.30pm), come back in an hour, wait for another 20-25 mins or so for your turn. Nothing to complain about, gave me enough time to have a proper lunch elsewhere and walk around for a bit before returning. Personally found the noodles and dip and the warabimochi quite yummy (except the pink noodles had a weird taste), although the noodles were too much for me in the end. The waterfall backdrop was just stunning. It was a fun experience! Didn’t regret it :)

Nagashi somen here is only available in summer and we were lucky enough to have experienced this! It costs 2000¥/pax, but the view and experience made this so worth trying! The matcha warabimochi included was delicious too 😊

We booked the restaurant of the hotel in advance by looking online, Looking forward to a traditional meal and we were really impressed with the quality of the food and the amazing service at our table. We paid around 20 000¥ for two people including service. Also the staff of the restaurant came to pick us up at the train station at our request. We recommend this place but make sure to book in advance.

Came here and there were two options available: Option 1) eat the noodles coming down from the bamboo, the line was huge that would take about 2 hrs or so so didn't do it Option 2) sit in for sorta fixed menu. The best meal of this wasn't available and for this you need to reserve ahead of time. Tried reserving online but there was no option online. Asked the people around and they could provide a clear answer and their English wasnt great. Disappointed by the experience... After struggling so much we were able to get a sit and get the second best menu there. The food was amazing (see picture), it was like sashimi experience that people would bring food to you and you get to slowly enjoy their taste and their beauty and sitting on a takami above a waterfall was an unique experience, I am still pissed off about how much effort you need to do to eat in there and how the instructions and directions arent clear. And had to be persistent because we already spent about an hour trip from Kyoto to come here and not leave empty handed After getting back we learned what needed to be done to get the proper meal. I would advise to have your hotel call them to make reservation for you, that seems the standard etiquette in Kyoto and its surrounding places

HIROBUN !!!!! **CASH ONLY** Gawd this experience will remain in my memory for a long time. I have never done anything like this. Scooping noodles from a stream flowing down a bamboo stick. I've only ever seen this on social media and idealized it as an "exotic" dream. On my last day in Kyoto, instead of taking a day trip to Kobe, and instead of waking up really early, I made a last minute decision to check out Hirobun. I took a ¥5940 Uber at 11:30 AM to destination "Hirobun". I had no idea what to expect. Our Uber driver wove through the windy narrow road and dropped us off in front of a bamboo building. I saw a whiteboard that said "25" and "28". I found out there was a line that I had to wait in order to get a number. Then there is another line after getting the number.... The people in queue do not wait there, so it's misleading. You think no one is waiting! I got to the window. I read the whiteboard sign in disbelief - it read "over 3 hours". My number was 90. Bruhhhhh. I paid ¥3400 for two people in cash here. When I checked back in two hours, they were calling "79". It really did take them 3 hours to call me back. However, the 3-hour wait only got me into the waiting area, where you remove your shoes and sit on the bamboo with everyone else. This is downstairs from the window to get your number. I waited another hour sitting down before they called numbers 90-95. Then we moved upward to the tables, where you are separated by group. Here I was able to watch the group ahead of me, and I learned that you have to be ready with your chopsticks to pick up the noodles. If you are not ready, then you don't get to eat the noodles. When you get the red noodles, that signifies your turn is over. There is also a very nice view ahead. But you can't really enjoy the view when you're constantly waiting for noodles. You can say I am crazy for waiting 3-4 hours for something like this. But I'm glad I did it. Now I don't have fly all the way back to Japan and make my way to Kyoto to do it again.

This is just for the nagashisomen experience. My fiancé and I got here by taking a DiDi ride from the Kibuneguchi station (only ¥1300, or about $10), which we got to be taking the Eizan line from Kyoto Station if I recall correctly. They do only speak Japanese but just based on common sense and the way scripts typically go in tourist destinations and restaurants, we understood that we took a fan that had a number on it and walked down to the waiting area (which is a platform that's behind the nagashisomen dining area, which in itself is a platform behind/below the main dining area). We waited there with our shoes off, and not even for very long. We went on May 18 (a Thursday) around 2pm and waited maybe 10 minutes. Each round is about 10-15 minutes. There are three separate bamboo chutes for the right side and three for the left side; when we went, it was 6 couples, or 12 people. So no one is just eating other random people's saliva from chopstick backwash or anything lol. The water flowing down the bamboo lets out a little disruption just before the noodles come out, and they also aren't terribly fast, so you'll at least have some warning. However if you miss your noodles, that's it! They're down the chute and gone. I can't remember how many clumps of noodles we got total--maybe 8? 10? But the last one, the noodles are dyed pink. The nagashisomen is open May 1 through September (no date specified for September on their sign), 11am to 3pm. Perfect for a summer day. CASH ONLY! At the time of this writing, it was ¥1700 per person. Beautiful and peaceful ambiance with a bamboo canopy overhead and the waterfalls in front of you as you dine.

Heavily featured on social media, this experience has become more popular and the wait times are LONG! Opens at 11am, but it's up in the rural mountains and will take about an hour from Kyoto station. You can take the subway to the Kokusaikaikan Station, and then change to a bus that takes you almost all the way up the mountain, and then change to a different bus that takes you to the base of the village, and from there it's about another 10 minute walk up to the restaurant. The buses will not be fully covered by the all day bus pass, they will charge an additional fee. Once there, you'll need to line up to pay (cash only, ~1700 yen per person) and get a fan with a number. We got here at 11am exactly, and it was a 2 hour wait for us before going in, and another 1 hour wait at the waiting/seating area. They call numbers by groups of 5, and once "seated", there's about 15-20 minutes to eat. Noodles float out of a bamboo half pipe, and catch them with chopsticks. There's sauce provided to dip the noodles in. If the noodles get missed, it's gone, no refunds. There's also a couple pieces of matcha provided. Red noodles signal the end of the meal. I think the highlight of this experience is the view of the waterfall and the sounds of the water, from the POV of being on a platform over the river water. It is very relaxing and beautiful, an experience unlike any other, even within Japan. You will not get full from the food, especially if you missed noodles. With a complicated transport system just to get here, and a 3-4 hour wait even with coming here right when it opens, I don't think I'd be down to come back again, but I am very glad I was able to try this place and explore the area. Also, technically no photography is allowed, so I have no personal pics, but it's not very strictly enforced.

Nagashi Somen (Flowing Noodles) review only: What this is: a small, beautiful, lush, green town about an hour away from Kyoto serving flowing cold noodles out of bamboo chutes at Hirobun restaurant. There are many restaurants built over stream platforms in Kifune (summer only), but as far as I'm aware of, Hirobun is the only one who has capitalized on nagashi somen. The rest of the Kawadoko (riverside dining) only serve traditional Japanese food ($$$$). I'm sure this place used to be a quiet, peaceful, and pretty idyllic town with only Japanese vacationers and locals frequenting the area but with Youtube media exposure, it's exploded, and I'm sure there are a lot of locals living in the town who are downright salty about us being there: case in point - my son was standing in line with the rest of the herd when an older lady dressed in kimono (staff) yelled at my son irritably to get into a single line, in pretty good English: "stay in line! It's dangerous!" (due to narrow roads and cars). I wonder how many times she had to practice that line to get the inflection just right, because it was pretty doggone good, even the irritated part! Even if it weren't for this minor downer, this place would still get a four-star anyway. PROS: - It is tucked away in a tiny town called Kifune (or Kibune), and I must say I truly loved this town. Next time I come back I'm spending the night at Hirobun's Ryokan! - The whole town is a water town! From it's flowing streams to even having water features at the bathroom and random faucets in the walls on the road is amazing! I keep forgetting this review is for the restaurant itself and not the town! - Approximately $13.00 USD is not a bad price to pay for such a novel experience. Price is only for the dining platform noodles experience. NEUTRAL: - Minimal English spoken (unless they are yelling at you) or give you the instructions written in English. - Cash only. And don't bring yens larger than a $100 USD or they will not have any change. - Allow a full day's excursion from Kyoto proper, because this place is only accessible through Eizan Line, Keihan Line and a local bus to get here. Clearly not near any other attractions, but I thought this was part of the charm. - If it is raining, be prepared to have your lunch cancelled, but they will refund your money. The restaurant itself is simply a thatched roof over a platform, and rain will go right through the straw roof. CONS: - Expect this 'somen lunch' to be just a snack. It's clearly entertainment and so you will not get filled up with food if you are thinking you'll get a hearty serving. Eat before you get to Hirobun so you won't go hungry the rest of the day. If you eat in their restaurant area (separated from the noodle area) be prepared to spend some serious money. - the more people in your party, the less chances you will have to grab your bunch of somen noodles (it comes down on one water sluice), so make sure you work it out with your group about the timing and spacing of the noodles. - Wait time around 2 hours, total. If you go after lunch, you shouldn't have too much of a problem. - Pretty disorganized, as far as getting any information about going down to the waiting platform. The employee (older man), told me the platform downstairs was filled, and I should go sightseeing around the town for about an hour. After 40 minutes, he tells me I need to head down to the platform pronto, bad news was that my family had wandered off around town and I had to find them. BOTTOM LINE: It was a fun and magical experience for just a day trip. If I were really a lot younger and more motivated (with more time and no teenagers in tow), I would hike from Kifune to Kurama and spend maybe another few hours in Kurama at their onsen before heading back to Kyoto (or stay in Kurama). There's a reason why people keep coming back to Japan year after year, maybe it's for magical places like these?

***Hirobun Nagashi Somen Restaurant Review*** One of my favorite meals in Japan, by far. Not in terms of great tasting, quality food, but in the experience itself. Located in the mountains outside of Kyoto, the area is beautiful, and definitely a point of interest for all those into nature. The village and restaurants/hotels within are all stunning. This is one of the most beautiful and coolest places I've been to. Definitely worth a trip out to see, and I would highly recommend booking a ryokan hotel out here, as well. When we arrived sometime around 11:45am on a Thursday, the wait to eat here was only 30 minutes. Once you pay (1,300 yen/person), make your way down the stairs to the farthest platform. The wait area is a platform that is placed over the river right in front of a waterfall. The view cannot be beat. The air and river are very refreshing. The landscape is top notch. It wasn't long until we were called up to the closer platform. Contrary to the videos and posts about this restaurant that went viral, the noodles that go down the bamboo shoots don't come from way up the mountain. They come from a small booth, not terribly far away. The noodle bar accommodates around 10 people. The meal lasts about 15-20 minutes, but is totally worth the wait. When we were seated, a lot of my questions and concerns got answered. Our party sat at the 4 seats farthest down the line, but each group has their own bamboo shoot to grab noodles from, so you don't have to worry about people in front of you grabbing your food. The experience was extremely fun and surprisingly filling. The bunches of noodles come quick and often. More than enough to go around, but be prepared, because if you aren't looking or get distracted, you may miss some of your noodles that will float right past you and into the river. The noodle bar overlooks the waterfall, with every seat facing it. You do sit on the ground, which is slightly uncomfortable. Every seat has a great view with lots to look at. It is breathtaking. The last round is pink noodles, so that's when you know the meal is over. The noodles themselves taste great. The quantity was more than enough to fill. We were all full and satisfied after the meal. This is a must-try restaurant when visiting Kyoto. The restaurant is ~45 minutes to an hour away in Kibune, but well worth the trek. This was the most fun meal yet. Where else can you eat nagashi-somen noodles on a platform on top of a river facing a waterfall? The bamboo shoots and bunches of noodles flowing in water down them was awesome to see and experience. Do not skip this one!

This was the highlight of my trip. We took 8th graders to Japan. Sitting on a waterfall catching noodles for lunch was awesome. The noodles move very fast so if you are trying to video and eat make sure you have a stand for your video or you will be hungry when you leave. They go by numbers but also based on the number in your party so it is sometimes out of order. This is a fun experience taking a cab to the location from Kyoto is expensive but it's worth it. If you are not with public transportation then it's a little over $60 from Kyoto Station.

One of my favorite experiences in Japan! It does take a little more planning since it is out of the way but definitely include Hirobun in your itinerary if you have time. Here are some tips for future travelers: ::TRANSPORTATION:: Kyoto doesn't have an all-encompassing bus pass like Tokyo does, so definitely plan your trip carefully! Hirobun is located deep in the mountains NW of Kyoto, so we opted to buy the 1-day bus pass that includes Mount Kurama for 1800Y at the Kyoto Station. It seemed quite pricey at first, but honestly the convenience of scanning a bus pass versus taking out a bunch of coins each time you transfer is worth it alone. Plus on the way back, you can use it to visit Sanjo Shopping Arcades, Nishiki Market, and Kiyomizu-Dera. Definitely make the use of your day pass! ::EXPERIENCE:: Get there EARLY. I got to the entrance of Kibune by 8AM. This gave me ample time to relax, enjoy the scenery, and walk around without the crazy amount of tourists! The restaurant opens at 11:00 AM; I was in line by 9:30 AM and still the 7th person in line. By 10:00 AM the line will be picking up fast. Once it hits 11:00 AM, you'll pay for your meal and then wait on the bamboo platform for your number to be called. It's so relaxing and beautiful there! Writing about it makes me want to go back T^T My group and I went crazy grabbing these noodles. It's SO FUN and kept us on our toes (even though the taste wasn't so great). Best part of the meal was the green tea mochi dessert that came with our nagashi-somen! The texture was dense and chewy and the matcha was very flavorful; which was nice considering the noodles were very bland. Overall, it was great for the experience to "catch your noodles" and to eat above the river but if I was to go back again I would order their kaiseki instead. DON'T COME LATER THAN 11:00 AM! By then, the Chinese tours are in full swing and it's so crowded/hot going up and down the mountain. Your goal should be to leave the area by noon and set off somewhere else. Best of luck traveling!

This restaurant is tucked deep in the mountain village of Kibune and is a kawa-doko, literally built hovering only about half a meter above a river. Visited in the summer to eat Nagashi-somen, a unique way of enjoying cold noodles as they are served to you literally flowing down a bamboo pipe. Be prepared to demonstrate your chopstick prowess, because if you suck--no noodles for you, they'll just whiz on by. You can certainly get more affordable somen elsewhere, but you're basically paying for the experience. Expect to wait for quite a while. I believe we waited for about 45 minutes, but it was fine as the tatami waiting area is also right above the flowing river providing a cool tranquility that can't be experienced in the city. When it's finally your turn to eat, mouthfuls of noodles are dropped down the bamboo pipe in order. You know you're on your last serving when you catch a pink ume flavored bundle. You're also given a few pieces of warabi mochi which helps to cleanse your palette after the meal. This is absolutely one of the most summeresque activities you can do if you're in Kyoto.

Fun experience. This is one of many restaurants on platforms over the river in Kurama. What makes this one special is the noodles that flow through a bamboo pipe and that you have to grab with your chopsticks before it's too late. It's very Japanese-kitsch, which we found entertaining and fun. The noodles weren't amazingly delicious - they're just noodles. (They give you a sauce or two to dip them in, but you're going for the experience, not the tastes.) We had to wait about an hour at noon on a nice weekend day. They do seatings in groups - they seat about 15 people per seating, and each seating lasts about 15 minutes (long enough for a bunch of noodles to flow through the pipes).