Is It Safe to Eat Buckwheat in My Mini?

Why, you may ask, would anyone drive 2-3 hours into the countryside for some noodles? Tradition, of course. Toshikoshi soba is a traditional Japanese dish eaten on New Year’s Eve to leave the hardships of the past year behind.

As the sun rises from the east, a convoy of Minis descends upon the carefully selected highway service area. Huddled together and rubbing hands to keep warm, serious doubts already cross our minds as to why we aren’t still in bed. In true Japanese fashion, the route is shared with near-methodical precision. As engines fire into life, the organiser performs a quick check to ensure nobody has already broken down.

While Japan is known for the stop-start traffic of its bustling metropolises, the countryside offers a vast openness that perfectly suits the Mini’s greatest attribute: its handling. Scenic winding roads weave through tranquil towns and villages, interrupted only by the bellows of stainless steel exhausts echoing through the many concrete tunnels bored deep into the mountainous Kanto plains.

Converging on a single petrol station to fill up, the caravan of Minis inevitably attracts attention from the locals. Small children often point in excitement, murmuring the word ‘chiche’ – a slang variation for something small, or tiny. A subtle tap of the watch signals it is time to leave.

Dotted along the route are several attractions, including the Ikaho Toy, Doll and Car Museum. Displaying a vast selection of toys from the Showa period, the large car collection features many eclectic Mini’s, including a ‘Monster Truck’ variant. Limited to roughly an hour of free time, it is still more than enough to explore the entire collection.

On arrival at the restaurant, the poor organiser is tasked with guiding the convoy into a comically small clearing beside the restaurant, tucked between the trees and the outside toilets. Simply parking the Mini anywhere is, of course, unacceptable. A group photo is obligatory. After much pointing, gesturing and what are most likely a few choice words, it is finally time to eat.

‘Sumimasen’ echoes throughout the restaurant as orders are placed. Within minutes, dishes begin arriving at the table. Tempura and soba, or perhaps duck and soba, appear to be the most popular choices. Soft, delicate and surprisingly light, the noodles — paired with the hot broth — quickly help everyone forget the coldness felt at the service area only a few hours earlier.

Finished with a serving of warabi mochi and soba-yu — the cloudy, starchy water left over from boiling soba noodles — it is, naturally, time for the group photo.

Much like your primary school class photo, everybody loiters around awkwardly. Small conversations begin while observing the Minis, although most people largely keep to themselves — a quietly reserved atmosphere common at these events, especially as many attendees are meeting for the first time.

Well wishes for the New Year are exchanged before the convoy breaks apart. While everybody eventually leaves for home independently, the organiser, typically a specialist Mini shop acting on behalf of their customers, remains behind to ensure the area is left clean.

Traditions in Japan are impeccably observed throughout the year by both the Japanese and the country’s small foreign communities alike. What may seem quirky at first soon becomes a way of life. Osoji — the deep cleaning of the home and workplace — and toshikoshi soba are deeply intertwined end-of-year traditions intended to purify both the surroundings and the spirit for the coming year. Though traditionally a light meal eaten before midnight on New Year’s Eve, the Mini community has transformed it into an annual event to see the year out together.

Technically speaking, you can eat buckwheat in the back of your Mini — but why would you? Besides, eating outside would be considered poor etiquette in Japan anyway.

Copyright © 2026. Classic Minis Japan