Editing Soba (section)

=== Modern ===
[[File:Soba buffet near Suidobashi Station by shibainu.jpg|thumb|Soba shop near [[Suidōbashi Station]], Tokyo]]
Soba continues to be popular in modern times. Restaurants dedicated to soba include Sunaba, Chōju-an, Ōmura-an, Shōgetsu-an, Masuda-ya, and Maruka, some of which are ''[[yagō]]'', or traditional establishments whose names have passed down over time.<ref name="mitsuzawa">[http://www.mitsuzawa.kanagawaku.com/shops/yabu/yabu_topic.html やぶ光トピックス] 三ツ沢商店街振興会公式ホームページ</ref> Some restaurants serve soba and [[udon]] together, since both are prepared and eaten in a similar manner.

[[Railway station]]s often sell soba, as it is a popular and inexpensive [[fast food]].<ref name= "Mente">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OT8OSoiYyagC&q=tachi-gui+soba%E3%80%80station&pg=PA70|title=Dining Guide to Japan: Find the Right Restaurant, Order the Right Dish, and |first=Boye Lafayette De |last=Mente|page=70|publisher= Tuttle Publishing |year=2007 |isbn=978-4-8053-0875-2}}</ref> They are frequently purchased by busy [[salaryman|salarymen]]. Soba continues to be sold at ''yatai'' food stalls.

There are regional differences in the consumption of soba. A common perception is that soba is more popular in the [[Kantō region]] (eastern Japan), while [[udon]] is more popular in the [[Kansai region]] (western Japan), though there are exceptions.<ref name="Naomichi p249" /> As such, soba is considered the traditional noodle of choice for Tokyoites.<ref name="Barakan">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vJbd43uxLiMC&q=soba+Tokyoites&pg=PA83|title=Tokyo city guide|first1=Mayumi Yoshida |last1=Barakan|first2=Judith Connor |last2=Greer|publisher=Tuttle Publishing|page=83|year=1996|isbn=978-0-8048-1964-0}}</ref> 

Soba is traditionally eaten on [[New Year's Eve]] in most areas of Japan. This soba is called ''[[toshikoshi soba]]'' ("year-crossing soba").<ref name="Homma"/><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7TZlyilJ5DgC&q=Toshikoshi-soba&pg=PA61|title=Customs of Japan|author=Tsuchiya Haruhito|publisher=Ibc Publishing|year=2008 |isbn=978-4-89684-693-5|page=61}}</ref> In the Tokyo area, there is also a tradition of giving out soba to new neighbors after a house move (''hikkoshi soba''), although this practice is now rare.<ref name="Homma"/>