Goshiki Somen: A Local Food Guide for Visitors (Ehime)

Goshiki somen is a traditional somen of Matsuyama with roots in the Edo period. Besides white, the noodles are dyed in red, green, yellow, and brown using natural ingredients such as plum and matcha. Rather than relying on artificial coloring, they are tinted with the colors of the ingredients themselves. The vivid five colors lined up in a single bundle are beautiful, and it has long been cherished as a gift.

Origin and History

Its roots are said to go back to 1635, when Nagatoya Ichibei moved from Kuwana in Ise to Matsuyama in the retinue of the feudal lord Matsudaira Sadayuki and founded the business. In 1722, in the era of the eighth generation, the technique for colored noodles was devised, and the five colored somen was praised by the shogun and the imperial court of the day, becoming known across the country. The maker is now known as Goshiki Somen Co. (formerly Morikawa), carrying on a history of more than 380 years.

Highlights

The glossy, slender noodles with a smooth throat feel are not only lovely to look at but exceptional in taste. Arranged in a bowl, the colors brighten the table, making it perfect for festive occasions and welcoming guests. Red from plum and green from matcha, each color offers a faint difference in flavor, which is part of the fun.

Enjoying the Seasons

It is a summer staple served with cold dipping broth, but in the cold season it is also delicious as warm nyumen. The colors whet the appetite, so it can be enjoyed all year.

Practical Travel Notes

It can be tasted at long established local restaurants and souvenir shops in Matsuyama, and it can also be bought as dried noodles to take home. The dried noodles keep well and make a welcome souvenir from a visit to Matsuyama Castle or Dogo. A wide range is available, from gift boxes to home use bags, so you can choose to suit your purpose. Whether it is served at a given restaurant varies by shop, so if you want to enjoy it as a meal it is best to check in advance.

A Quick Tip

Start simply with cold broth. Keeping condiments light lets you enjoy the refined flavor and colors of the noodles themselves.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• The five colors: White (uncolored), yellow (chicken egg), green (matcha), red (pickled plum flesh) and brown (buckwheat flour). No artificial colorings are used.
• The maker's direct sales shop: Goshiki Somen Co., Ltd. head office direct sales shop (2283-1 Minamigata, Toon City / tel. 089-966-5511), open 9:00-16:00. Closed on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays and over the New Year period. Parking available. It is in Toon City, not Matsuyama City.
• If you want to eat it as a meal: Kyodo Ryori Goshiki (3-5-4 Sanbancho, Matsuyama City). At lunch, 11:00-14:00 (last order 13:30), a goshiki somen course is served. No regular closing day (occasional irregular closures).
• Where to buy it: Matsuyama Airport, JR Matsuyama Station, Matsuyama City Station, souvenir shops around the prefecture and more (from the official list of retailers).
• Points to note: The yellow noodles use chicken egg and the brown noodles use buckwheat flour, so please take care if you have allergies.

Note: Opening hours and prices differ from shop to shop.

(Sources: Goshiki Somen Co., Ltd. official website; Toon City Tourism and Products Association, Goshiki Somen; Kyodo Ryori Goshiki official website)

Sources of Information

This article is compiled from the tourist information of Matsuyama City and Ehime Prefecture and from information published by each shop. Prices and product details may change, so please check the official information of each shop for details.

Sightseeing Checklist

• Guide to the budget: From a few hundred yen a box, with gift assortments also available
• Where you can eat it: Souvenir shops and long-established stores in Matsuyama City, and the maker's own shop
• Recommended time of day: Available all year round. Chilled in summer, as nyumen in hot broth in winter
• Avoiding the crowds: Souvenir stocks are plentiful, so it is easy to buy
• Enjoy it together with: Matsuyama specialty sweets such as Ichiroku Tart and Poeme