Event has ended】Representing local gourmet! Yokote Yakisoba Festival 2024

  • Akita
  • Eating
It has been nearly 20 years since the genre of "Gotochi Yakisoba" was established. What comes to mind when you think of "Gotochi Yakisoba"? Yokote City, located in the southeastern part of Akita Prefecture, is famous for Yokote yakisoba, one of the three most famous yakisoba in Japan. The reason why it has become loved not only by locals but also by tourists from outside the prefecture is that it won the Gold Grand Prix at one of the largest town revitalization events in Japan. Yokote Yakisoba, which is easily accessible and well-known, has attracted nationwide attention, and the Yokote Yakisoba Festival has been held since 2023. We will introduce the characteristics of Yokote Yakisoba and the Yokote Yakisoba Festival, which is gaining momentum.

What makes it different from others? Characteristics of Yokote Yakisoba

Yokote Yakisoba is characterized by the use of thick, straight, locally made boiled noodles. The noodles are topped with a fried egg, which is usually served with fukujinzuke (pickles). The sauce used is Worcestershire sauce to which each restaurant adds its own original dashi (soup stock), which gives the dish a soft and mild flavor with a low level of spiciness. Ingredients are generally cabbage and minced pork. Some stores add different toppings, such as motsu (pork guts)!
Straight, thick noodles and a tender, half-boiled fried egg make a perfect match!
Yokote yakisoba topped with motsu

Attractions of Yokote Yakisoba Festival

Purpose of the event

The "Yokote Yakisoba Four Heavenly Kings Tournament" was first held in 2007 to raise the level of "taste," "restaurant environment," and "customer service" at each Yokote Yakisoba restaurant. The 10 stores (8 stores in the latter half of the event) that were selected successfully competed in the main "Yokote Yakisoba Four Heavenly Kings Championship" at the Akita Furusato Village.
That year's "Four Heavenly Kings" were decided by visitors' disposable chopstick votes. This event has been held until 2022.
The "Yokote Yakisoba Festival" was first held in 2023 as a new project for the future of Yokote Yakisoba, following the recognition of Yokote Yakisoba as a 100-year food by the Agency for Cultural Affairs as a menu item to be passed down for 100 years.
Scenes from last year's festival

The Four Heavenly Kings Championship and Future Thoughts

The "Yokote Yakisoba Shitenno Kessen" is a competition to raise the level of Yokote Yakisoba to a certain level, and to encourage customers both in and outside the city to "take this opportunity to try it! The "Yokote Yakisoba Festival" has been held 14 times, aiming to improve the level of each restaurant and to make customers "glad they went" regardless of whether they are in or outside of the city.
The "Yokote Yakisoba Festival" is a new event that has been started as an opportunity for families and friends to enjoy yakisoba together in a relaxed atmosphere.
Mr. Konishi, a member of the executive committee, said, "The restaurants that will be open this year are the "Four Heavenly Kings" of the past. Each store has its own unique flavor.
We hope you will enjoy the experience of making your own Yokote Yakisoba and compare the different flavors of each store's specialty.
Stalls of various stores will be lined up! Very popular with a variety of tastes!

The festival will be held again in 2024!

Date: Saturday, September 28 and Sunday, September 29, 2024
Opening hours:10:00~15:00
Place：Akita Furusato Village Festival Plaza

On the day of the festival, in addition to enjoying Yokote yakisoba, there will be kitchen cars, a yakisoba making experience, a Yokote yakisoba recipe presentation, a Yosakoi dance performance, dance performances by children, a singer-songwriter show, and songs by Yokote singers on a special stage! The event will be held on a special stage!
YOSAKOI performance
Dance performance by children
Yokote yakisoba, which has become nationally known thanks to the B-1 Grand Prix, has its own unique flavor at each restaurant and was made popular by the local people. We hope you will visit the area and try it for yourself!
For the Yokote City Tourism Association website, visit

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