A New Style of Soba Shop to Enjoy with Finely Crafted Tableware

• EAT/DRINK
• RESERVATION REQUIRED

This is Go for Kogei’s limited-time collaboration between ceramic artist Kuwata Takuro and the soba shop Shukyoraku Kuchiiwa located in the Iwase townscape. Kuchiiwa, which is open by reservation only, is a popular shop loved by both regulars and tourists alike for its exquisite cuisine, which brings out the natural flavors of the ingredients, the buckwheat noodles in particular. They are very excited to collaborate with an artist for the first time, and you will be able to savor a completely new style of soba noodle course meal, accompanied by Kuwata’s vibrant tableware. Inside the restaurant, selected works from Kuwata’s studio will also be on display, so we hope you’ll enjoy the unexpected collaboration between buckwheat noodles and contemporary art.

How to Enjoy Shukyoraku Kuchiiwa
・As the name Shukyoraku, which means “Relax with Sake & Soba,” suggests, this is a soba shop where you can enjoy soba noodles with sake.
・We also have soft drinks available for those who do not drink alcohol. However, if everyone in the reservation party is planning to order only non-alcoholic drinks, we ask that you refrain from making a reservation.
・We only serve course meals. We do not accept à la carte orders.

About Reservations
This event requires a reservation. Reservations can only be made via Facebook Messenger or Instagram DM with the owner, Mr. Kuchiiwa.
Please include the following information in your message. Once Mr. Kuchiiwa has confirmed the contents of your message, your reservation will be complete.
1. Name of the Person Making the Reservation
2. Telephone Number
3. Number of People in the Reservation Party
4. Desired Day

Make a Reservation
Booking via Facebook Messenger
Booking via Instagram DM

PROFILE

Kuwata Takuro

Born in Hiroshima Prefecture in 1981, Kuwata graduated from the Kyoto Saga University of Arts Junior College (now Kyoto Saga University of Arts) in 2001, and from Tajimi City Pottery Design and Technical Center in 2007. His major solo exhibitions include Together Shiyoze! (Let’s Get Together!) (Salon 94, USA, 2025), Kamaage Udon (Gallery & Restaurant Butaiura, Tokyo, 2025), and Strange Clay: Ceramics in Contemporary Art (Hayward Gallery, UK, 2022-2023). Significant awards include the Loewe Craft Prize Special Mention (2018) and the 2021 Japan Ceramic Society Award (2022). His work is housed in public collections worldwide, including the Rubell Family Collection, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Palm Springs Art Museum, and the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa.

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Photo: Terada Masahiro

Shukyoraku Kuchiiwa

Stop by for Japanese sake, soba, and occasional al fresco drinking. The restaurant’s multicourse menus showcase the owner Kuchiiwa Tomohiko’s spirit of inquiry when it comes to soba. Guests are treated to a multisensory experience as they witness buckwheat being milled and transformed into culinary creations before their eyes. Reservations are required.

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