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"粉やなぎ" (Koyanagi) is about a three-minute walk from Hirao Station on the Nishitetsu Omuta Line. "葉・菜・野" (Ha, Na, Ya / lit.: Leaves, vegetables, fields) and "粉" (flour) are at the heart of this restaurant. Koyanagi is also the name of the individual behind the new establishment. The owner set up the restaurant in March this year after working in the udon industry for more than a decade. Koyanagi drew on this experience and a passion for nature when creating a concept "葉・菜・野" for the eatery. The vegetables and grass encountered during various outdoor adventures proved a great source of inspiration. Koyanagi confirmed that "葉・菜・野 " is a word that was created/coined especially for the restaurant. On top of these core values, the establishment aims to fully utilize the most fundamental ingredient used to make udon... "粉" (flour).

"Koyanagi" serve slightly soft, flat, wide noodles neatly nestled into a carefully prepared, delicious umami broth. The toppings are made from unique ingredients, which are not served in many other restaurants. One example is watercress, which they source from Shirakami-Sanchi, Akita Prefecture. Koyanagi first tasted this type of watercress while travelling through the Ōu Mountains and was blown away by its flavor. Koyanagi said. "I like to go take trips to farms. They are great places to pick up cooking tips and recipes." This love of traveling continues to unearth new ingredients. These discoveries ensure the restaurant maintains a high level of individuality and originality.

The owner is constantly pursuing the endless possibilities of flour. The evening menu features a range of unique, delicious items, including a dish called "udon-sashi," which looks like sashimi, and sui-gyoza (boiled dumplings). A glass of sake goes great with their fabulous food! Koyanagi's aim is to create course meals using the concept of "Ha, Na, Ya / lit.: Leaves, vegetables, fields" and "flour." There are not many individuals who have the owner's outlook on life. You can't help but wonder what the future has in store for this wonderful restaurant. It will be exciting to see what "Koyanagi" does next!