🗺️ Mizusawa Udon Street水沢うどん街道

Connected by Prefectural Route 15 between Ikaho Onsen and Maebashi, the area around the approach to Mizusawa Temple near Ikaho Onsen is known as the "Mizusawa Udon Street," a gourmet street. Mizusawa Udon has a history of about 400 years, said to have originated to satisfy the hunger of worshippers. It is characterized by its smooth texture and chewiness, with the bamboo sieve udon served with soy sauce or sesame dipping sauce being the mainstream choice. It is ranked among Japan's top three udon varieties, alongside Kagawa Prefecture's Sanuki Udon and Akita Prefecture's Inaniwa Udon. Almost all shops operate from 11 AM to 3 PM, so please take note. Mizusawa Temple was built during the Asuka period, and its main deity is the "Eleven-Faced Kannon." Locally, it is referred to as "Mizusawa Kannon." Within the temple, the "Hexagonal Double Pagoda" enshrining the Six Jizo, and the "Nio Gate" guarded by the Nio and the wind and thunder gods are also worth seeing.

Taste the exquisite smooth texture of Mizusawa udon. Most udon shops only operate during the day. It is recommended to visit the ancient temple Mizusawa-ji, built during the Asuka period, for a worship experience.