Discover the Top 11 Best Ramen Shops in Japan

Here are the best ramen shops to visit if you want to taste the best ramen in Japan.

What is Japanese ramen?

Ramen is a noodle soup often associated with Japan. Although it originally came from China, it has become one of the most popular dishes in Japan and is a must-taste, along with sushi, sashimi, and other Japanese specialties.

A bowl of ramen has two primary elements: noodles and broth. Depending on the ramen shop and region you visit, you can choose from different types of broth, noodles, and toppings to add to your ramen.

Ramen broth—the key to a good bowl of ramen

The most common types of soup bases are the following:

• Shoyu (soy sauce)
• Shio (salt)
• Miso (soybean paste)
• Tonkotsu (pork bone)

You may, however, come across different variations as you travel around Japan. Some Japanese ramen has a mix of two kinds of soup bases, while other restaurants have become known for their unique broths.

Ramen noodles—another essential aspect of ramen

Authentic ramen noodles are generally made of wheat, though you may see different types depending on where you go. While they are usually long and elastic, you may also see some noodles that are thick or thin, wavy or straight. Some restaurants even allow you to choose the kind of noodles you want.

Ramen toppings—various ingredients to add to your bowl of ramen

Most restaurants serve ramen along with a few other toppings, including the following:

• Chashu (roasted or braised pork slices)
• Tamago (egg—hard-boiled, soft-boiled, raw, or marinated)
• Kamaboko (steamed fish cake)
• Negi (shredded leeks or green onions)
• Menma (preserved bamboo shoots)
• Moyashi (raw or cooked bean sprouts)
• Corn
• Seaweed
• Butter

You may also find seafood, mushrooms, and other toppings in different restaurants.

What is a ramen shop?

Wherever you go in Japan, almost every street or corner has a ramen restaurant or a ramen specialty shop called ramen-ya or ramen-ten. They are usually sit-down restaurants where you can get a table and order a bowl of ramen to enjoy. Some smaller ramen shops only feature a single counter and standing space.

How do you eat ramen?

Eating ramen is simple as it is easy to order and consume. Here are some tips for you to have the best ramen experience:

Ordering your ramen

Some ramen restaurants allow you to customize the kind of noodles you want. They give you the choice of selecting a thickness (thin, regular, or thick) and how “done” you want it (regular or firm). They may even ask if you want to add green onions or other toppings to your ramen. Some ramen shops also give you a bowl of rice for free—something unique to the culture of Japan.

Eating your ramen

Most ramen shops serve ramen in a bowl. You eat this with chopsticks provided at the table. In some places, you will get a Chinese-style spoon to help you scoop up small toppings and drink the soup. You may also opt to lift the bowl and drink the soup directly.

When you visit a ramen shop, you may observe that more men go to eat ramen. Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean that people of all genders and ages cannot enjoy this delicious staple.

Enjoying your ramen

The best way to enjoy ramen is to eat it as fast as possible because the noodles are fresh and will become soggy if you take too long.

It is also customary to eat ramen “loudly”—such as by slurping the noodles—as this is a way to cool them. Eating noisily also expresses that the food is good. You are not required to finish all the soup in the bowl, but it is a compliment to the chef if you do.

Paying for your ramen

Usually, you pay for your meal after you have finished eating. Most ramen shops in Japan don’t accept credit cards. Be sure to always have cash on hand so you can pay without a hassle.

Top ramen shops in Japan

If you love exploring different kinds of food, you’ll enjoy tasting the various types of ramen.

Hakodate Ramen Houran (鳳蘭)—popular shio (salt) ramen shop among locals

Hakodate ramen is famous for its shio ramen. Salt is added to the soup base before it is cooked, giving it a deeper, smoother flavor. One place to try it is at Hakodate Ramen Houryu where you can buy it in a set. There are also other dishes that you can try including curry and tonkatsu. Hakodate Ramen Houran is also conveniently located very near the airport. If you just arrived and are looking for something delicious to eat, this can be your first stop.

How to get to Hakodate Ramen Houran: From Hakodate Airport, take the Hakodate Bus until Omori Town. Walk about four minutes to get to the restaurant.

• Address: 5-13 Matsukazecho, Hakodate City, Hokkaido 040-0035
• Opening hours: 11 AM to 9:30 PM (closed on Tuesdays)

Menchubo Ajisai (麺厨房あじさい)—one of the most famous Hakodate shio ramen shops

If you’re sightseeing in the city center and fancy a bowl of Hakodate ramen, you can check out Menchubo Ajisai. It is an old ramen shop and a popular tourist spot near Goryokaku Park. One of their most popular dishes is the Misai Shio Ramen, made with chicken and pork bones. Straight noodles, donan-san kelp (a product of southern Hokkaido), and soft-boiled egg are popular toppings of this famous bowl.

How to get to Menchubo Ajisai: From Hakodate Airport, take the No. 7A bus. Get down at the Goryokaku Park front entrance. Walk about three minutes to get to Menchubo Ajisai.

• Address: 2F 29-22, Goryokakucho, Hakodate City, Hokkaido 040-0001
• Opening hours: 11 AM to 8:30 PM

Menzu Nagakura (麺's 菜ヶ蔵)—featuring specialty ingredients of Hokkaido

Sapporo ramen is the second of Hokkaido’s most famous ramen (along with Hakodate ramen and Asahikawa ramen). While Hakodate’s ramen features shio (salt) as the soup base, Sapporo is famous for its miso. In Menzu Nagakura, you can try the Shintoku Jidori Nōkō Miso. It was once a limited item, but because of its popularity became a permanent fixture on the menu. It features Shintoku Jidori chicken boiled to create a rich soup blended with miso-dare sauce.

How to get to Menzu Nagakura: From New Chitose Airport, ride the Rapid Airport Train to Sapporo Station. At Sapporo Station, get on the Toho Line to Motomachi Station. Get off and walk to Menzu Nagakura (approximately seven minutes walk).

• Address: 16-1-5 Kita 21johigashi, Higashi-ku, Sapporo City, Hokkaido 065-0021
• Opening hours: 11 AM to 3 PM, 5 PM to 9 PM (closed on Tuesdays), 11 AM to 8:45 PM (on Sundays and public holidays)

Hachiya Asahikawa Honten (蜂屋)—Asahikawa ramen soup with a unique flavoring

Asahikawa ramen completes Hokkaido’s famous trio of ramen. Its soup base is made of tonkotsu (pork bone) and served with wavy noodles and other toppings. You can get it in Hachiya, which makes Asahikawa ramen made of pork bone soup and fish broth. What makes Hachiya’s Asahikawa ramen unique is that it is served with scorched lard, adding flavor and depth to the soup.

How to get to Hachiya Asahikawa Honten: From New Chitose Airport, take the Rapid Airport train until Sapporo Station. Next, take the Lilac-Kamui line to Asahikawa Station. Switch to the Soya Line. Get off at Asahikawayojo Station. Walk about five minutes to get to the restaurant.

• Address: 15-8 Sanjodori, Asahikawa City, Hokkaido 070-0033
• Opening hours: 10:30 AM to 4 PM (closed on Wednesdays)

Kuromatsu (くろ松)—featuring homemade noodles in Kiyoyu soup

In Takasaki,  Gunma, is a little ramen bar where you can taste homemade noodles in Kiyoyu soup. If you order their famous white soy sauce (shiro shoyu) seasoned ramen, you’ll get a delightful presentation of pastel colors which create a beautiful bowl of ramen. The soup is delicately flavored with hints of fish and kelp.

How to get to Kuromatsu: From Narita International Airport, take the Skyliner and get off at Nippori Station. At Nippori Station, ride the Joban Line to Ueno Station. At Ueno Station, take the Hokuriku-Shinkansen and get off at Takasaki Station. Take the Gunma Bus until Motomachi-nichome Station. Get off and walk about six minutes to Kuromatsu restaurant.

• Address: 9-5 Yanagawacho, Takasaki City, Gunma 370-0815
• Opening hours: 11 AM to 3 PM (closed on Mondays)

Ikeda-ya (池田屋)—bonito-based ramen soup

You can find Ikeda-ya, a ramen specialty restaurant in Fujieda City, along with a row of other shops. While its interiors are simple, the lines are long as the restaurant is famous for its bonito-based ramen soup. Bonito is made from Skipjack tuna, giving the broth a delicious umami flavor.

How to get to Ikeda-ya: From Mt. Fuji Shizuoka Airport, get on the Mt. Fuji Shizuoka Airport Access Bus. Get off at Fujieda Station and switch to the Station South Circulation Ozu Elementary School Line. Get off at Izumicho station and walk about a minute to get to Ikeda-ya.

• Address: 43-12 Izumicho, Fujieda City, Shizuoka 426-0045
• Opening hours: 7 AM to 1 PM (closed on Sundays and holidays)

Ramen Ajisai (らぁ麺 紫陽花)—Nagoya’s best ramen shop

Often named Nagoya’s best ramen shop, Ramen Ajisai has gained popularity even beyond Nagoya City. Their ramen features clean, deep chicken broth as the foundation and various toppings, including chicken chashu, pork chashu, egg, and more. You can also order other dishes such as wanton, rice bowls, and more.

How to get to Ramen Ajisai: If you’re coming from Nagoya Airfield (formerly Nagoya Airport), take the Nagoya Airport (NKM) Shuttle Bus to Nagoya Sakae. Walk about two minutes until you reach Sakae Station and take the Meijo/Meiko Line to Rokubancho Station. Ramen Ajisai is a 15-minute walk from there.

• Address: 1F Corpo Gen, 4-20-1, Hachikencho, Nakagawa-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi 454-0054
• Opening hours: 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM, 6 PM to 8 PM (closed on Mondays)

Ramen Bo Yatetsu (ラーメン坊也哲)—famous for its simple, classic ramen

With its simple signage and storefront, Ramen Bo Yatetsu may look like one of many ramen restaurants. Nevertheless, this ramen shop is famous for its simple, classic style of ramen. If you ever decide to visit, be ready to wait for some time as there is often a long line of customers outside the shop.

How to get to Ramen Bo Yatetsu: From Kansai International Airport, take the Nankai-Kuko Line until Namba Station. Get off and walk to the Osaka-Namba Station. Take the Kintetsu-Nara Line to Wakae Iwata Station. Ramen Bo Yatetsu is a 10-minute walk from there.

• Address: 4-4-46 Nishiwada, Higashiosaka City, Osaka 578-0947
• Opening hours: 11 AM to 3 PM, 5:30 PM to 9 PM (closed on Mondays)

Bakabon (馬鹿坊)—serving noodles and authentic Szechuan-Chinese cuisine

Bakabon’s food is prepared by a chef who was trained in Szechuan, China. If you drop by the restaurant, you’ll find that they usually serve noodles around lunchtime and authentic Szechuan-Chinese dishes during dinner time. One of their most popular dishes is chicken shoyu ramen with firm noodles and different kinds of meat toppings.

How to get to Bakabon: From Kansai International Airport, ride the Haruka Line to Tennoji Station. Switch to the Tanimachi Line, and get off at Nakazakicho Station. Walk about five minutes to Bakabon.

• Address: 1-4-10 Ukita, Kita-ku, Osaka City, Osaka 530-0021
• Opening hours: 11:30 AM to 3 PM, 6 PM to 11 PM (closed on Tuesdays)

Kinryu Ramen Dotonbori (金龍ラーメン)—one of Osaka’s biggest ramen chains

It’s easy to spot Kinryu Ramen’s dragon sign even from a distance while walking through Dotonbori. The restaurant only serves two types of ramen: tonkotsu ramen and chashu ramen. Nevertheless, it is extremely popular, and you will often find long lines outside the shop.

How to get to Kinryu Ramen Dotonbori: From Kansai International Airport, take the Nankai-Limited Express to Namba Station. Get down and walk approximately 10 minutes to get to the restaurant.

• Address: 1-7-26 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Osaka 542-0077
• Opening hours: 24 hours a day

Ramen Kouga (ラーメン幸雅)—beef bone ramen with rich broth

If you find yourself in Kurayoshi City, Tottori, try Ramen Kouga. It is one of the locals' most-loved ramen shops, famous for its delicious beef bone ramen. It uses rich broth made from beef bones as its soup base, carefully boiled for over 20 hours to bring out a richness and sweetness in the flavor.

How to get to Ramen Kouga: From Tottori Airport, take the Tottori Airport Limousine Bus and get off at Kurayoshi Station. Walk for about 10 minutes to get to Ramen Kouga.

• Address: 583-2 Yamane, Kurayoshi City, Tottori 682-0023
• Opening hours: 11 AM to 8:50 PM

Enjoy the best ramen in Japan

With its delectable cuisine featuring various dishes, Japan is one of the world's most popular food destinations. From sushi to sashimi, from udon to ramen, and a lot more, there are so many different kinds of food to discover.

Explore Japan through its food culture—starting with ramen.