Kitahara is a famous soba spot near Nara Park. We got there 1130 and only one group in front of us, yet we still waited for 15 mins to get seated. There was a 2-person table available (the restaurant only had 3 4-person tatami tables and 3 2-person tables) but the group before us was 4-person so they wouldn't seat us until that group was seated. An efficient system to us but well, Japanese people are known for sticking with their rigid rules.