Central,Hokuriku,and Kansai Ramen Flavor Journey
The Central,Hokuriku,and Kansai regions of Japan also offer a variety of unique ramens. Wakayama Ramen,with its combination of soy sauce and pork bone broth,is famous nationwide. Toyama Black,known for its visually striking black soup,is another well-known variety. With the recent extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Tsuruga Station,local specialties like Tsuruga Ramen are expected to gain further attention.
Toyama Black Ramen (Toyama Prefecture)
“Toyama Black Ramen” was developed around 1955 for physical laborers,featuring a heavily salted soy sauce for replenishment. As the name suggests,the soup is distinctly black in color. Coarsely ground black pepper is also added,providing a spicy kick to the salty broth.
Delicious Toyama Black Ramen Restaurants
西町大喜 西町本店 Map・Operating Days・Hours
Address: Toyama Prefecture,Toyama City,Otaguchidori 1-1-7
Reputation: The originator of Toyama Black Ramen,an established ramen restaurant since 1947,known for its pitch-black rich soy sauce soup and thick straight noodles.
麺家いろは CiC店 Map・Operating Days・Hours
Address: Toyama Prefecture,Toyama City,Shintomicho 1-2-3 CiC B1F
Reputation: Near Toyama Station,the dark soy sauce soup is surprisingly mild,rice balls also popular.
めん八 Map・Operating Days・Hours
Address: Toyama Prefecture,Imizu City,Taikoyama 1-7-10
Reputation: Known for its thick,tender char siu,sweet soup.
Tsuruga Ramen (Fukui Prefecture,Tsuruga City)
“Tsuruga Ramen” features a soy sauce-based soup made from pork bones and chicken carcass. It is said to have started from a street stall in 1953.
Delicious Tsuruga Ramen Restaurants
中華そば 一力 Map・Operating Days・Hours
Address: Fukui Prefecture,Tsuruga City,Chuomachi 1-13-21
Reputation: Established famous ramen shop near Tsuruga City Hall,known for its light soy pork bone broth,thin noodles.
池田屋ごんちゃん Map・Operating Days・Hours
Address: Fukui Prefecture,Tsuruga City,Honmachi 2-11-1
Reputation: Popular street stall ramen,light pork bone soy base,self-service char siu.
Takayama Ramen (Gifu Prefecture,Takayama City)
“Takayama Ramen,” also known as Hida Ramen or Hida Takayama Ramen,features a light soy-based broth made from chicken bones. The noodles are thin and curly.
Delicious Takayama Ramen Restaurants
桔梗屋 Map・Operating Days・Hours
Address: Gifu Prefecture,Takayama City,Motomachi 3-58
Reputation: Named after the owner’s family crest,an established restaurant since Showa 28 (1953),known for its gentle-tasting Chinese noodles.
つづみそば Map・Operating Days・Hours
Address: Gifu Prefecture,Takayama City,Asahimachi 52
Reputation: Known for its carefully crafted soy-based soup and thin noodles,a popular local establishment.
まさごそば Map・Operating Days・Hours
Address: Gifu Prefecture,Takayama City,Yurakucho 31-3
Reputation: 5 minutes walk from Takayama Station,known for its rich pork bone soup and thin noodles.
Harima Ramen (Hyogo Prefecture,Nishiwaki City)
Harima Ramen’s broth is soy-based,made from pork bones,chicken carcass,and vegetables. Sweeteners like onions,apples,and rock sugar are added,reputedly because the area’s historical prevalence of textile industries and its largely female workforce preferred sweeter soups.
Delicious Harima Ramen Restaurants
紫川ラーメン Map・Operating Days・Hours
Address: Hyogo Prefecture,Kato City,Shimotakino 1-105-1
Reputation: East of Harima Central Park,a Showa-era interior,soup slightly cloudy.
畑やんラーメン Map・Operating Days・Hours
Address: Hyogo Prefecture,Taka County,Taka Town,Morimoto 805-10
Reputation: An established Harima Ramen shop,known for the sweetness of its vegetables,oden also popular.
Wakayama Ramen (Wakayama Prefecture)
Wakayama Ramen’s broth is based on soy sauce and pork bone,with proportions varying by shop. The region has a tradition of eating Wakayama Ramen with mackerel sushi,so the noodles are typically served in smaller portions.
Delicious Wakayama Ramen Restaurants
中華そば専門 丸三 Map・Operating Days・Hours
Address: Wakayama Prefecture,Wakayama City,Shioya 6-2-88
Reputation: A flagship of Wakayama Ramen “Iide style,” founded in 1953,winner on a famous TV show.
麺dining 月乃家 Map・Operating Days・Hours
Address: Wakayama Prefecture,Arida District,Aritagawa Town,Tenma 428-1
Reputation: Rich yet light pork bone soy sauce soup,thin noodles,shirasu rice also popular.
本家アロチ丸髙 Map・Operating Days・Hours
Address: Wakayama Prefecture,Wakayama City,Tomoda Town 2-50
Reputation: An old establishment of Wakayama Ramen “Garage front style,” famous for its early sushi.
A Culinary Journey Through Ramen in Chugoku and Shikoku
Onomichi Ramen, nationally renowned in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions, features a soup made with seafood caught in the Seto Inland Sea, while Tokushima Ramen uses pork bones sourced from a nearby ham factory. Additionally, the ramen from Kasaoka City in Okayama Prefecture incorporates chicken in its chashu due to the local poultry industry. These examples illustrate how regional industries significantly influence the characteristics of ramen.
Tottori Beef Bone Ramen (Tottori Prefecture)
Tottori Beef Bone Ramen is unique in Japan,being made from beef bones—a rarity in Japanese ramen. It originated in 1951 in Yonago City,where ramen using both beef and pork bones was first developed. Eventually,establishments began using solely beef bones. The flavoring of the soup varies by restaurant,with soy sauce or salt being common choices.
Tasty Tottori Beef Bone Ramen Spots
お食事処 香味徳 赤碕店 Map・Operating Days・Hours
Address: 1979 Akasaki,Kotonoura Town,Tohaku District,Tottori Prefecture
Reputation:Established in 1949,has been serving beef bone ramen since 1952,with a branch in Tokyo’s Ginza area.
牛骨らーめん たかうな Map・Operating Days・Hours
Address: 2706-147 Yatsude Mizu,Kedaka Town,Tottori City,Tottori Prefecture
Reputation: Famous for its rich beef bone soup,a local favorite.
Kasaoka Ramen (Kasaoka City, Okayama Prefecture)
Kasaoka Ramen originates from Kasaoka City in Okayama Prefecture. Due to the thriving poultry industry in Kasaoka, the ramen uses chicken instead of pork for its chashu. The soup is soy sauce-based and made from old chicken bones, resulting in a light and subtle flavor.
Tasty Kasaoka Ramen Restaurant
笠岡ラーメン 一元堂 Map・Operating Days・Hours
Address: 706-1 Shitobe, Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture, 1F
Reputation: Delicious seasoned chicken chashu / Light chicken broth soy sauce
Onomichi Ramen (Hiroshima Prefecture,Onomichi City)
Onomichi Ramen,famed across Japan,features a soup made with seafood caught in the Seto Inland Sea. The dish was first created by a Taiwanese street vendor in 1947. The soy sauce-based soup incorporates pork bones,seafood,and chicken carcass,differing by each establishment. Some places also top the soup with pork back fat and use flat,slightly curly noodles.
Delicious Onomichi Ramen Restaurants
尾道ラーメン 丸ぼし Map,Business Days,Business Hours
Address: 2-8-16 Tsuchido,Onomichi City,Hiroshima Prefecture
Reputation: Known for its soup made from small fish from the Seto Inland Sea and added soy sauce,served with flat curly noodles.
つたふじ 尾道本店 Map,Business Days,Business Hours
Address: 2-10-17 Tsuchido,Onomichi City,Hiroshima Prefecture
Reputation: Famous for its fish-based,lard-infused soy sauce soup with soft,thin noodles.
尾道ラーメン たに Map,Business Days,Business Hours
Address: 1-7 Higashi-Gosho-cho,Onomichi City,Hiroshima Prefecture
Reputation: Located about 1 minute on foot from Onomichi Station,known for its soy-based soup generously topped with back fat.
Tokushima Ramen (Tokushima Prefecture)
Tokushima Ramen from Tokushima Prefecture uses a pork bone base. The white soup is flavored with light soy sauce,the dark soup with dark soy sauce,and the yellow soup utilizes chicken carcass and vegetables. The popularity of pork bone ramen in Tokushima owes much to the presence of local ham factories making pork bones readily available. A signature feature is the sweet and spicy simmered pork belly,served with a raw egg on top.
Recommended Tokushima Ramen Restaurants
いのたに 本店 Map・Operating Days・Hours
Address: 4-25 Nishi-Daiku-cho,Tokushima City,Tokushima Prefecture
Reputation: Selected as one of the “Tokushima Ramen WEST Top 100 Stores 2023.” Known for its exquisite pork belly and raw egg topping,offering a rich and creamy taste.
徳島ラーメン 奥屋本店 Map・Operating Days・Hours
Address: 134-14 Tokuinamoto-Mura,Aizumi Town,Itano District,Tokushima Prefecture
Reputation: With three locations in Tokushima Prefecture,it’s a popular spot known for its sweetly seasoned meat and noodle refill service.
ラーメン東大 大道本店 Map・Operating Days・Hours
Address: 1-36 Daido,Tokushima City,Tokushima Prefecture
Reputation: A leading ramen restaurant in Tokushima,known as the originator of the free raw egg service,serving tender,sweetly braised meat.
Nabeyaki Ramen (Kochi Prefecture,Susaki City)
Nabeyaki Ramen is a unique creation from “Taniguchi Shokudo” in Susaki City,Kochi Prefecture. Unlike typical ramen served in a bowl,it uses an earthenware pot and features a soy-based soup made from chicken carcass and vegetables. Common ingredients include chicken,leeks,a raw egg,and chikuwa. A characteristic addition is “takuwan” (pickled daikon radish).
Enjoyable Nabeyaki Ramen Shops
まゆみの店 Map,Business Days,Business Hours
Address: 10-14 Sakae-cho,Susaki City,Kochi Prefecture
Reputation: Offers a variety of Nabeyaki Ramen flavors,including soy,curry,kimchi,and salt. Enjoy making rice porridge with the leftover soup as a finishing touch.
橋本食堂 Map,Business Days,Business Hours
Address: 4-19 Yokocho,Susaki City,Kochi Prefecture
Reputation: A popular spot for Nabeyaki Ramen,known for its one-type flavor of chicken soy soup.
A Taste Journey through Kyushu’s Ramen
Tonkotsu ramen,originating from Kyushu,stands alongside soy sauce ramen,miso ramen,and salt ramen as one of Japan’s iconic ramen dishes. Its soup,made by slowly simmering pork bones,is known for its rich and creamy flavor,making it especially popular among international travelers.
Hakata Ramen (Fukuoka Prefecture)
Hakata Ramen,a specialty of Fukuoka Prefecture,features a milky white pork bone soup that has been simmered for a long time. It is extremely well-received overseas,with its origins traced back to Kurume Ramen in Fukuoka Prefecture,which spread throughout Kyushu. The unique Kyushu style of “kaedama,” where diners can order extra noodles to put in the existing soup,is particularly distinctive.
Delicious Hakata Ramen Restaurants
博多一双博多駅東本店 Map・Operating Days・Hours
Address: Fukuoka Prefecture,Fukuoka City,Hakata Ward,Hakata Station East 3-1-6
Reputation: Popular near Hakata Station,known for its rich soup and firm “barikata” noodles.
ラーメン海鳴清川店 Map・Operating Days・Hours
Address: Fukuoka Prefecture,Fukuoka City,Chuo Ward,Kiyokawa 1-2-8 1F
Reputation: Rare seafood pork bone ramen in downtown Fukuoka,with a fragrant fish aroma.
博多ラーメン しばらく Map・Operating Days・Hours
Address: Fukuoka Prefecture,Fukuoka City,Hakata Ward,Hakata Station Front 2-12-16
Reputation: An established Hakata ramen shop with simple pork bone ramen topped with green onions,char siu,and wood ear mushrooms.
Nagahama Ramen (Fukuoka Prefecture)
Nagahama Ramen,served near the Hakata Fish Market in Nagahama,Fukuoka,dates back to 1952 when it was first conceived in a stall. It features thin noodles that cook quickly,catering to the needs of fish market workers. It resembles Hakata Ramen in taste and appearance.
Tasty Nagahama Ramen Restaurants
元祖ラーメン長浜家 Map,Business Days,Business Hours
Address: Fukuoka Prefecture,Fukuoka City,Chuo Ward,Otemon 2-7-10
Reputation: The original Nagahama ramen shop,open 24 hours,offers authentic Nagahama ramen early in the morning or late at night; customers can choose noodle hardness and soup concentration.
元祖 長浜屋 Map,Business Days,Business Hours
Address: Fukuoka Prefecture,Fukuoka City,Chuo Ward,Nagahama 2-5-25 1F
Reputation: Birthplace of Nagahama Ramen,featuring a clear,rich soup and very thin straight noodles.
長浜ナンバーワン長浜店 Map,Business Days,Business Hours
Address: Fukuoka Prefecture,Fukuoka City,Chuo Ward,Nagahama 2-5-19
Reputation: A representative popular shop of Nagahama Ramen,known for its rich pork bone soup and popular char siu rice bowl.
Kurume Ramen (Fukuoka Prefecture,Kurume City)
Kurume Ramen from Kurume City in Fukuoka Prefecture was first developed in 1937 by the “Nankin Senryo” stall with a clear pork bone soup. In 1947,the “Sanku” stall discovered a cloudy white soup from overcooked pork bones,which led to the spread of this type of ramen throughout Kyushu,making Kurume Ramen the origin of Kyushu’s pork bone ramen.
Excellent Kurume Ramen Restaurants
久留米ラーメン清陽軒 Map,Business Days,Business Hours
Address: Fukuoka Prefecture,Kurume City,Suwanomachi 1798-6
Reputation: Uses traditional “yobimodoshi soup”; handcrafted medium-fine straight noodles by artisans in the restaurant; char siu flavored with special sauce.
拉麺久留米本田商店本店 Map,Business Days,Business Hours
Address: Fukuoka Prefecture,Kurume City,Minami 3-27-29
Reputation: Unique “yobimodoshi soup” with char siu stewed in pork bone soup and seasoned with special sauce after 24 hours.
大砲ラーメン 本店 Map,Business Days,Business Hours
Address: Fukuoka Prefecture,Kurume City,Torisotocho 11-8
Reputation: Continuously adds to its “yobimodoshi soup” since its founding; topped with crispy fried lard and roasted pork belly.
Kumamoto Ramen (Kumamoto Prefecture)
Kumamoto Ramen,a distinctive ramen from Kumamoto Prefecture,incorporates chicken bones in addition to pork bones in its soup. The addition of fried garlic oil and fried garlic makes the flavor more mellow.
Popular Kumamoto Ramen Restaurants
黒亭 本店 Map,Business Days,Business Hours
Address: Kumamoto Prefecture,Kumamoto City,Nishi Ward,Nihonmatsu 2-1-23
Reputation: A representative Kumamoto Ramen shop; the soup blends pork and chicken bones; medium-thick straight noodles with black garlic oil and scorched garlic.
味千拉麺 本店 Map,Business Days,Business Hours
Address: Kumamoto Prefecture,Kumamoto City,Chuo Ward,Suizenji 6-20-24
Reputation: A popular chain with over 700 stores domestically and internationally; known for its unique brown sauce “Senmiyu” used in its tonkotsu ramen.
Kagoshima Ramen (Kagoshima Prefecture)
Kagoshima Ramen from Kagoshima Prefecture features a pork bone-based soup that is not cloudy like other Kyushu pork bone ramens. The use of local sweet soy sauce adds a unique sweetness to the soup.
Delightful Kagoshima Ramen Restaurants
こむらさき 天文館店 Map,Business Days,Business Hours
Address: Kagoshima Prefecture,Kagoshima City,Higashi Sengokucho 11-19
Reputation: Established in 1950,uses extremely thin noodles made without kansui; the soup is simmered for 48 hours.
鹿児島ラーメン豚とろ Map,Business Days,Business Hours
Address: Kagoshima Prefecture,Kagoshima City,Yamanokuchicho 9-41
Reputation: Refined taste with chicken and bonito dashi included in the sophisticated,yet odor-free,rich pork bone base soup.
