Hanamaru Udon Returns to the Udon Artisans’ Festival, “Sanuki Shimen Matsuri 2026”
Hanamaru Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Takamatsu, Kagawa; President Yoshihiro Maeda; part of Yoshinoya Holdings), operator of the Sanuki udon chain Hanamaru Udon, is taking part in the udon artisans’ festival “Sanuki Shimen Matsuri 2026,” led by udon shops across Kagawa Prefecture. To mark the occasion, the special menu item “Cold Lemon Kishimen” (690 yen incl. tax) — sold only in the Tokyo metropolitan area last year to great acclaim — will be available for 11 days, from Thursday, June 18 to Sunday, June 28, 2026, expanded to a total of 23 stores across Kagawa, Nagoya, Kansai, and Greater Tokyo. Each store offers around 15 servings per day in limited quantities.
What Is the “Sanuki Shimen Matsuri”? A Festival of Noodles
The “Sanuki Shimen Matsuri” is a unique movement in the udon world in which udon shop owners from Kagawa take Aichi Prefecture’s flat kishimen noodles as a base and reinvent them with “free imagination and a playful spirit.” Born from the work of Nagoya’s Hoshigaoka Seimenjo, which explores new possibilities for kishimen, the event has resonated with many udon shops, each competing with original creations — truly a “festival of noodles.”
Hanamaru Udon joined for the first time last year with 10 stores in Greater Tokyo. The dish became a major topic on social media immediately after launch, with many stores selling out day after day and customers strongly requesting its return. This year, in addition to Greater Tokyo, it will be offered across 23 stores, including Kagawa Prefecture (3 stores) — the brand’s birthplace and the home of udon, the Nagoya area, home of kishimen, and the food-loving Kansai region.
About 10 Lemon Slices Covering the Bowl: Striking Freshness and a Premium Smooth Texture
The “Cold Lemon Kishimen” features about 10 lemon slices — roughly one whole lemon — beautifully arranged until the noodles are no longer visible, delivering striking freshness in both appearance and flavor.
The noodles use the carefully crafted kishimen from Nagoya’s “Hoshigaoka Seimenjo,” a driving force behind the kishimen boom. So delicate are these noodles that even stirring or draining them too firmly can tear them, a testament to their juicy, silky character. Each bowl is therefore prepared with great care, waiting for the noodles to loosen naturally. The wide, exceptionally smooth kishimen is paired with Hanamaru’s signature refreshing dashi and a bright, tangy acidity perfect for the humid early summer.
For takeout, the noodles and broth are served in a separated container so you can enjoy the texture at home without compromise.
Product Overview
- Product: Cold Lemon Kishimen
- Price: 690 yen (incl. tax; same price for dine-in and takeout)
- Sales period: Thursday, June 18 – Sunday, June 28, 2026
- Quantity: Limited to about 15 servings per store per day
- Takeout: Available (a 50-yen container fee applies per bowl)
- Note: Not available via delivery or mobile order
Participating Stores (Hanamaru Udon, 23 in total)
- Kagawa: Tamachi, Takamatsu Chuo Inter, Tahi (Handmade & Creation)
- Tokyo: Takadanobaba, Kichijoji Minamiguchi, Shinjuku Higashiguchi Moa-gai, Tachikawa-eki Minamiguchi Southern, Hatchobori, Akihabara Showa-dori, Shibuya-eki Nishiguchi, Suidobashi Nishiguchi, Tokyo East 21
- Chiba: Urayasu Metropia
- Aichi: Nagoya Kita-ku Tagama, AEON Town Chikusa, AEON Mall Nagoya Dome-mae
- Gifu: AEON Mall Ogaki
- Mie: AEON Mall Tsu-minami
- Osaka: Osaka Esaka, Kitashinchi, Senba Shinsaibashi-suji
- Kyoto: Shijo Karasuma
- Hyogo: Kosoku Kobe-eki
“Sanuki Shimen Matsuri 2026” Overview
This early-summer annual event is centered on Sanuki udon shops in Kagawa, with each shop freely creating and serving original menus based on Nagoya’s signature kishimen. The event runs from Monday, June 1 to Tuesday, June 30, 2026. It is planned and supported by the Chu-Shikoku branch of the Japan Udon Association, with the official hashtag #さぬきしめん. Serving dates and times vary by store, so checking each store’s social media and website in advance is recommended.
Under its motto “Delicious surprises for everyone,” Hanamaru Udon continues to share the tradition and innovation of Sanuki udon through its “Oidemai! Sanuki Project,” which makes use of Kagawa-grown products. Don’t miss this refreshing, limited-time bowl this early summer.