引ひっ越こしそば

noun

moving-in soba; soba given to new neighbors

A custom where someone who has just moved gives soba noodles to their new neighbors as a greeting. The phrase comes from おそばに参りました (I have come to be near you), a pun on そば (soba noodles) and そば (near).

See also: そば

• 引ひっ越こしそばを持もって、隣となりの家いえにあいさつに行いった。

  I took some moving-in soba and went to greet the house next door.

• 最さい近きんは引ひっ越こしそばの習しゅう慣かんも減へってきた。

  The custom of giving moving-in soba has been declining lately.