Cold noodles such as hiyashi chuka, somen, zaru soba, and chilled udon are very popular during the summer in Japan. However, cold noodles are rare elsewhere in the world. China and Italy don’t have much cold ramen or pasta. Why aren’t there any other cultures that look to cool the body by eating cold food? We investigate the differences in food culture between Japan and overseas regarding cold noodles, a standard dish during the summer in Japan.