A Nationwide Mania: The Very Best Ramen in Japan
Among the many noodle specialties in Japanese cuisine, ramen does take the crown as by far the most popular one. Ramen isn’t just plain noodle soup however, there is a massive variety of different types: soy sauce, miso, salt, or tonkotsu (pork bone) stock – to name the standard soups you’ll easily come across. Ramen with a thick broth, tsukemen style, which means dipping the noodles in the soup, or the more modern varieties that have become popular in recent years, such as Iekei Ramen, using a lot of pork, or Chicken Paitan Ramen, a creamy style of soup. The variety in the world of ramen is astonishing. Since it can be quite hard to navigate this vast, soupy world, we brought together the best of the best ramen specialties, from Sapporo in the north to Hakata in the south while not neglecting ramen capitals such as Osaka, Tokyo, and Kyoto. For real ramen lovers, no distance is too great to miss out on delicacies created by the masters of the noodle craft.
1.More than Miso: Understanding Sapporo’s Ramen Specialties
The first area in the Kingdom of Ramen is the cold north and Sapporo, its capital. A lot of people associate “Sapporo Ramen” with “Miso Ramen”, thinking that they’re basically the same. But according to Takeshi Yamamoto, a Japanese TV personality who conquered all of Japan’s 47 prefectures in regards to their ramen specialties and has been crowned Japan’s King of Ramen for six times, Sapporo is, of course, famous for miso-style ramen but the city has a broad variety of noodle soup specialties to offer! Among them are mouthwatering dishes such as Chicken Paitan Ramen, soup with a white, light broth, or Niboshi Soba, made with dried sardines and buckwheat noodles – don’t hesitate to taste your way through Sapporo’s ramen varieties!
Amewa Yasashiku
2-1-7 Kikusuimotomachi 4 Jo, Shiroishi-ku, Sapporo 003-0824, Hokkaido
Mendokoro Maruha BEYOND
3-7-8 Nakanoshima Ichijo, Toyohira-Ku, Sapporo 062-0921, Hokkaido
Q
2-1-3 Kita 1 Jo Nishi, Chuo-ku Rindo Bldg. B1F, Sapporo 060-0001, Hokkaido
Ramen Shinwa
8-5-12 Tsukisamu Higashi Gojo, Toyohira-Ku, Sapporo 062-0055, Hokkaido
Chinese Soba California
1F, Bibakikusui, 4-4-6, Kikusui 3-jo, Shiroishi-ku Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido
175 DENO Tantanmen
6-20 Minami 1 Jo Nishi, Chuo-ku | KY Bldg. 1F, Sapporo 060-0061, Hokkaido
2.The Ramen Kingdom of Japan: Yamagata Prefecture
Interestingly enough, both the number of ramen shops per person, as well as the consumed amount of ramen per person rank Yamagata Prefecture the highest in all of Japan, as of 2015. It’s no surprise that the prefecture features many shops that boast long lines of customers who seek to savor Yamagata’s specialties. The most famous of those is probably Hiyashi Ramen, or cold ramen, so if you get the chance to visit Yamagata, Japan’s Ramen Kingdom, do not miss out on the opportunity to savor the local specialties and compare the many ramen shops to find your favorite one.
Ryokan Kotohiraso Chinese Soba dokoro
381-46 Sanze Ko Ryokan Kompiraso, Tsuruoka 999-7463
Sakaeya Honten
2-3-21 Honcho, Yamagata, Yamagata Prefecture
Teuchi Suisha Kisoba
1-3-26 Kamata Honcho, Tendo 994-0025, Yamagata
Akayu Ramen Ryu Shanghai
6-18 Niirone, Nanyo, Yamagata Prefecture
Kenchan Ramen
Friendly Nakano 116-33 Taihoji Aza Nakano | Friendly Nakano, Tsuruoka 997-0117, Yamagata
Ramen Do・Ni・Bo
1-20-23 Namiharacho, Yamagata 990-2413, Yamagata Prefecture
Rekka
2-2-14 Shonai Higashicho, Toyonaka, Osaka Prefecture
3.Ramen Pioneers: Tokyo’s Noodle Avant-garde
Look no further since the newest flavors and trends surrounding Japan’s favorite noodle soup can be found within Tokyo’s 23 wards. Some of the very latest ramen trends include the fresh and tasty Ginger Ramen, new varieties of Chicken Taipan Ramen, as well as Madai Ramen made with red sea bream that is especially famous for successfully tackling the fresh fish style ramen!
Madai Ramen Mengyo
2-5-3 Kotobashi Inoue Bldg.1F, Sumida 130-0022, Tokyo Prefecture
4.A Local Ramen War in Tokyo’s Tama Area?
In the district of Tama, which includes Hachioji and Saikokufunji, a lot of extraordinarily delicious ramen shops and restaurants can be found. Shops focusing on the rich and tasty “triple soup” style, as well as those serving thick soup trying to emulate chicken potage, and even shops following the shellfish-based ramen boom are engaged in a fierce competition to become the Ramen Ruler of Tama.
Ramen Renge
Hachioji, Tokyo Koyasu -cho 3-7-13
Kaidashi Shippori Ramen Junk
1-11-1 Nishikicho Tachikawa Tokyo
Miso Chinese Soba Mutahiro
2-6-5 Nishikoigakubo Kokubunji Tokyo
5.A Trip Through Boso Peninsula, a Hot Spot for Ramen Lovers
Throughout the last year and especially since the beginning of 2016, Chiba Prefecture has experienced a sheer rush of new ramen shops being opened one after another. The abundance of shops matches the abundance of flavors that can be savored, from soy sauce and miso classics to shellfish and chicken broth – if you’re looking to discover new and fresh tastes, why not make a ramen tour through Chiba?
Tomo no moto
2-3-2 Higashi Nakayama Higashi Nakayama Ekimae Bldg. 102, Funabashi 273-0036, Chiba Prefecture
6.Kansai: A Ramen Microcosm
The Kansai area is known for its particularly delicious food and ramen plays a big role in the Kansai palate. A shop in the elegant city of Kyoto, for example, offers high-class Torichintan Ramen, the specialty of the area while Osaka is famous for its many reasonably priced but extremely delicious ramen shops focusing on Chicken Taipan. Wakayama, on the other hand, stands for clear pork bone broth ramen. Every region does have its very own charming and unique specialty to be discovered!
Ramen Touhichi
33-6 Hakonoicho, Miyakita, Kita-Ku Cerulean Heights 1F, Kyoto 604-8035, Kyoto Prefecture
Yohichi
2-40-25 Imakatata, Otsu, Shiga Prefecture
Menshokudo 88
674-6 Yuzaki Sakai Bldg. 102, Shiki-gun, Kawanishi-cho 636-0202, Nara Prefecture
Ramen Tanbo
ukawacho Takara 217-2 Sarangbang Tenant House 1F, Gobo 644-0011, Wakayama Prefecture
7.Dotteri: the unmatched pork bone broth of Fukuoka
When thinking of Fukuoka, one immediately thinks of cities like Hakata and Kurume, both incredibly famous for their delicious ramen. The city of Shime, adjacent to Fukuoka City, which is a true hidden gem for noodle soup lovers and incredibly famous among ramen fans. The type of ramen served around Shime is called Dotteri, a heavy and rich type of tonkotsu soup. When touring the ramen-centric area of Fukuoka, do pay Shime a visit and try this unique style by all means!
Tenryu Ramen
218 Nanri Shime Kasuya-gun, Fukuoka
Koryu
4-1-24 Minamizato, Kasuya-gun, Shime-machi 811-2207, Fukuoka Prefecture
Iccho Iccho
Kasuya-gun, Fukuoka Shime Beppu 2-1-16
Ichirin
Kasuya-gun, Fukuoka Shime Nanri 7-7-20
8.Chaos in Pork Bone Kingdom: Dare to Try Fukuoka’s “Definitely Not Pork Bone” Ramen
Fukuoka’s main type of ramen is pork bone broth, without a doubt, but let’s take a look at the shops that dare to swim against the tide. Shops like “Goya” or “Hataka Ikkousha” tickle your tongue with incredibly delicious tsukemen which are different from the usual tonkotsu ramen and reasonably priced. Those in Fukuoka that seek to experience something out of the ordinary will definitely love these alternatives!
Chinese Soba Goya
Fukuoka Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City Watanabedori 5-25-11
Hakata Ikkousha Daimyo Honke
Fukuoka Prefecture , Chuo-ku, Fukuoka Daimyo 1-8-4
Menya Kanetora
Fukuoka Chuo-ku, Fukuoka Akasaka 1-1-18
