Houka stands just outside the south exit of Higashi-Koganei Station on the JR Chuo Line, behind a red sign you can spot from the ticket gate. It opened in 1971 as a neighbourhood Chinese restaurant and still serves the full range — ramen, stir-fries, rice bowls. But what most people come for is takara-soba, a brothless bowl of abura-soba (noodles dressed in seasoned oil and tare rather than served in soup) that has become the local specialty of Higashi-Koganei.
What kind of place this is
The owner, Tsutomu Ogure, struck out on his own at 19 and opened the shop himself, and takara-soba is entirely his own recipe. According to the shop's official history page, he had the idea at the very start, only began developing it in earnest ten years later, then spent another five years finishing it — roughly fifteen years from opening to the bowl reaching the menu.
The shop describes the flavour as a "trinity" of three elements: a house-made oil, a house-made soy tare, and chicken-bone broth. The oil is clear and uses no animal fat, and the soy tare traces back to the himokawa udon (a flat, wide udon) his mother used to make. The stated aim is a bowl that uses plenty of oil without sitting heavy.
What to order
Start with takara-soba at ¥900 (the official menu is dated May 1, 2025). The noodles are straight and medium-thick, boiled for about three to four minutes by the shop's own account. Chopped long onion and kaiware (daikon sprouts) go on top — the official site states that abura-soba topped with kaiware originated at Houka, an idea it credits to the owner.
If you want more, chashu takara-soba is ¥1,100 and kimchi takara-soba ¥1,000; a large portion of noodles adds ¥150. To make it a full meal, the takara-soba with half fried rice set is ¥1,100, and gyoza are ¥500. Being a Chinese restaurant, there are stir-fries and rice bowls as well.
Practical notes
Hours are 11:30–15:00 and 17:30–21:00 on weekdays, and straight through from 11:30–21:00 on weekends and holidays, closed Mondays — that is what both the official homepage and the Koganei Chamber of Commerce list. The official access page, however, says "irregular holidays" and gives a midday break every day, so if you are making a special trip, check the shop's Instagram (@k_houka) for the current notice first.
The walk from the south ticket gate takes about a minute, making it an easy stop on a Chuo Line trip. There is also a branch near Tobitakyu Station on the Keio Line in Chofu. The official site only lists payment methods for its mail-order shop, so bring cash for the restaurant.