Tagata is a popular soba restaurant located near Tokai Park in Aoi Ward, Shizuoka City, known for its meticulously crafted soba dishes. The owner, Osamu Tagata, sources indigenous soba from various regions across Japan, allowing diners to enjoy the unique fragrance and taste of each region’s variety. The restaurant provides a calming atmosphere with counter and table seating, making it suitable for both solo diners and groups. The menu features a variety of soba, including 100% buckwheat soba (juwari soba) and 80% buckwheat soba (ni-hachi soba). Particularly, the indigenous soba varieties offer a rich, nutty aroma and a full-bodied sweetness, allowing guests to savor the true essence of soba. The menu includes both cold and hot soba dishes, with seasonal specialties available. For example, the chilled fresh shirasu soba, topped with Shizuoka’s famous raw shirasu (baby sardines), is a standout dish. There are also other items on the menu such as tempura and vegetable tempura soba, adding variety to the offerings. Osamu Tagata also serves as the president of the Shizuoka Indigenous Crops Liaison Promotion Association and the representative of the Shizuoka Indigenous Soba Branding Promotion Association, reflecting his commitment to local ingredients. He uses Shizuoka-grown nori (seaweed) and indigenous crops from the Ikawa area, emphasizing the importance of local sourcing. The "Recommended Lunch Soba Set," available only at lunchtime, includes a variety of dishes such as a small appetizer, tempura, juwari soba, and the day’s recommended soba, offering a comprehensive soba experience and a chance to compare different flavors. Tagata is not just a place to enjoy soba but also a valuable space for preserving indigenous varieties and promoting local food culture, making it a unique destination for experiencing Shizuoka’s culinary heritage.