Ekimenya Founding Festival: bigger bowls in three rounds
Three menus, three date windows, plus a random sticker from Phase 2.
Ekimenya (えきめんや), a station soba chain run by Keikyu Royal Foods in the Keikyu Kaihatsu group, is holding its Founding Festival (えきめんや創業祭) from Wednesday 7 October to Tuesday 3 November 2026 (3 November is a public holiday). The theme is simple: leave full and satisfied. Each of the three phases brings a different bowl, and the prices below are tax included as announced on 5 October 2026.
If you only want the short version: go in the first week for the big kakiage, in mid-October for double-meat udon and cheaper curry udon, and in the last stretch for a squid fry box meal that last appeared three years ago.
Dates and menus at a glance
The festival runs at 10 Ekimenya shops. The Yokosuka-chuo shop has a partly different menu, so check the exceptions section if that is your local.
| Phase | Dates (2026) | Menu and price (tax incl.) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 Oct (Wed) to 13 Oct (Tue) | Kakiage soba, 1.5× kakiage: hot ¥550, cold ¥590 Zaru soba, 1.5× noodles: ¥470 |
| 2 | 14 Oct (Wed) to 23 Oct (Fri) | Ginger pork udon, 2× meat: hot ¥720, cold with grated daikon ¥760 Curry udon: ¥550 |
| 3 | 24 Oct (Sat) to 3 Nov (Tue, holiday) | Ika Fry Okaka Mentou: ¥700 |
Phase 1: soba to fill you up (7 to 13 Oct)
Kakiage soba (かき揚げそば) with a 1.5× kakiage
The mixed vegetable fritter on top is 1.5 times its usual size. Even so, the hot bowl drops from the usual ¥580 to ¥550. The number was picked on purpose: 5-5-0 can be read as go-go in Japanese, a nod to the Ekimenya e GO! GO! tagline.
- Hot ¥550 / cold ¥590 (tax included)
- You can switch to udon
- The regular-size kakiage soba is not sold during this phase
Zaru soba (ざるそば) with 1.5× noodles
Cold soba on a bamboo tray, with half as much again in noodles at the normal price of ¥470 (tax included). Udon is available instead if you prefer.
Phase 2: meat and udon (14 to 23 Oct)
Niku udon (肉うどん) with twice the meat
The meat topping gets a limited-time makeover with a clear ginger flavour, and there is double the usual amount. Hot is ¥720, the cold version with grated daikon is ¥760 (tax included).
- The regular niku udon is not sold while the ginger version is on
- The mini pork rice bowl (ミニ豚丼) also uses the ginger meat during this time
- You can switch to soba
Curry udon (カレーうどん) for ¥550
One of the most popular udon dishes on the Ekimenya menu, usually ¥600, sells for ¥550 (tax included) in this phase, the same go-go price as the kakiage soba. Soba is available instead.
Phase 3: the comeback bowl (24 Oct to 3 Nov)
Ika Fry Okaka Mentou (イカフライおかか麺当)
This one was on sale three years ago, was a hit, and is back for the final phase. It combines a squid fry and a chikuwa tempura with okaka (seasoned bonito flakes). The price is ¥700 (tax included), and you choose soba or udon.
One small warning: the baran, the decorative plastic divider in the box, is not edible.
The random Soba Oyaji sticker
The Soba Oyaji Kira Kira sticker (そば親父キラキラシール), a shiny sticker that was popular last year, comes back as a bonus. Buy one of the Phase 2 or Phase 3 featured items and you get one sticker.
- 3 designs in total, sealed so you cannot see which one you got
- You cannot choose the design
- Handed out from Phase 2 (not in Phase 1)
- In both phases, it ends once the planned stock runs out
Shop exceptions: Yokohama Porta and Yokosuka-chuo
Two shops do not follow the standard lineup. The Yokohama Porta shop charges a little more for several items:
| Item | Standard price | Yokohama Porta |
|---|---|---|
| Kakiage soba (hot) | ¥550 | ¥580 |
| Kakiage soba (cold) | ¥590 | ¥620 |
| Zaru soba 1.5× | ¥470 | ¥500 |
| Curry udon | ¥550 | ¥580 |
At the Yokosuka-chuo shop:
- The big kakiage soba is not sold. The regular-size kakiage soba stays on the menu at the regular price
- The double-meat ginger udon arrives in Phase 3 instead of Phase 2
- The Ika Fry Okaka Mentou is not sold
Tips before you go
- Plan by week, not by shop. Each bowl is only on during its phase, so the kakiage fans have just 7 to 13 October.
- Noodle swaps are allowed. Kakiage soba and zaru soba can become udon, the meat and curry udon can become soba, and the squid fry bowl lets you pick.
- Check your shop. Yokohama Porta and Yokosuka-chuo differ in price or lineup, as shown above.
- Details can change. Prices and conditions here are from the official announcement. Check the official press release for the latest.
Looking for more cheap meals this month? The One Karubi app quiz that earns points toward a free lunch and the 7-Eleven ¥100 and ¥150 onigiri sale are both worth a look. For a sweeter limited menu, see the Starbucks Japan × Pokémon drinks and prices. And if you are out on local trains this autumn, the Aki no Norihodai Pass for 3 days of JR local travel pairs nicely with a station soba stop.
FAQ
- Q. When is the Ekimenya Founding Festival?
- It runs from 7 October to 3 November 2026 in three phases: 7 to 13 October, 14 to 23 October, and 24 October to 3 November.
- Q. Which shops take part?
- 10 Ekimenya shops. The Yokosuka-chuo shop has a partly different menu, and the Yokohama Porta shop has slightly higher prices for some items.
- Q. How do I get the Soba Oyaji sticker?
- Buy a Phase 2 or Phase 3 featured item and you get one sticker from 3 random designs. It starts in Phase 2 and ends when the planned stock runs out.
- Q. Can I swap soba for udon?
- Yes. Kakiage soba and zaru soba can be changed to udon, the meat udon and curry udon can be changed to soba, and the Ika Fry Okaka Mentou lets you choose either.
- Q. Is the regular-size kakiage soba still sold?
- Not during the festival, except at the Yokosuka-chuo shop, which keeps the regular size at the regular price instead of the big version.
Source: Keikyu Kaihatsu press release on PR TIMES (5 October 2026). Prices are tax included and as announced at the time of writing; check the official information before you go.