Want to become a true master!? Five must-visit ramen streets for ramen lovers in Japan

Reporter Huang Shiyuan / Special Report

Ramen can be considered Japan’s representative dish, with incredibly popular and delicious options found all over the country. There are also food streets that gather tasty ramen spots, such as Tokyo Station Ramen Street, Kyoto Station Ramen Street, Ramen Republic near Sapporo Station, Ganso Ramen Yokocho in Sapporo’s Susukino, and Fukuoka’s Ramen Museum. If you love ramen, don’t miss these places when you visit Japan.

1. Tokyo Station Ramen Street
Located at “Tokyo Ramen Street” in the Yaesu Underground Exit of Tokyo Station, it gathers many famous ramen shops, including Rokurinsha TOKYO, Shio Specialist Hirugao, Ramen Mutsumi-ya, Crab Specialist Keisuke Hokkai-no-Sho, Tokyo Station Ikaruga, Menjo Honda, Junk-garage, and Menya Nanairo/Tokyo Miso Ramen Edogoma.

Location: B1F, Yaesu South Exit, Tokyo Station (B1F, Tokyo Station Ichiban-gai, South Side)
Business hours: 11:00–22:30 ※Hours vary by shop

▲ Black ramen from Toyama’s Iroha. (Photo by Huang Shiyuan)

2. Kyoto Ramen Street
From Sapporo to Hakata, Kyoto Ramen Street brings together 8 popular ramen shops with different regional flavors from across Japan. These include Sapporo Sumire, Fukushima Kitakata Sakae Shokudo, Tokyo Taishoken, Toyama’s Iroha, Osaka Kamigata Zanmai-ya, Kyoto Matsutani, Tokushima LaO Muromachi, and others.

Address: 10F, Isetan Department Store, Kyoto Station
Business hours: 11:00–22:00

3. Sapporo Ramen Republic
Located on the 10th floor of ESTA department store in front of Sapporo Station, this spot is filled with a nostalgic atmosphere and houses well-known ramen shops from Hokkaido, including Shirohana Yamagata, Sapporo Misoya, Hakodate Kitchen Ajisai, Yoshimura Shoten, Shodai, La0 Ryushoten, Ryutei Kanpo, and more.

Address: 10F, ESTA, 2-2-5 Kita 5-Jo Nishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo
Phone: 011-209-5031
Business hours: 11:00–22:00

4. Sapporo Ganso Ramen Yokocho
Located in the Susukino district of Sapporo, Hokkaido, Ganso Ramen Yokocho gathers multiple specialty shops for “Sapporo ramen,” known for its thick and curly noodles. There are 16 ramen shops here, including Ganso Sakebushi Ramen, Ajiichi, Ajinoya, Kamiten, Osaka Kamigata Zanmai-ya, Kyoto Matsutani, Tokushima LaO Muromachi, and others.

Address: 1F, 4th Green Bldg., 3-3-5 Minami 5-Jo, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Phone: 011-663-7575
Business hours: 11:00–03:00 (next day)

▲ For those who love thick noodles and bold, salty flavors, Daichi Sapporo Ramen will satisfy your taste buds best. (Photo by Reporter Tsai Wenjun)

5. Fukuoka Ramen Stadium
“Ramen Stadium” is located on the 5th floor of the famous shopping mall, Canal City Hakata in Fukuoka. The entrance features a ramen street stall for visitors to take photos, showcasing Fukuoka’s unique yatai (street food stall) culture. The stadium is designed with a Showa-era yatai ambiance, with a fixed number of 8 shops, but the lineup changes from time to time. To date, 80 ramen shops from all over Japan have operated here. Current shops include Shodai Shu-chan, Ramen Kurume Honda Shoten, Sapporo Ramen, Nakamuraya, Kanemasa, Kumamoto Tonkotsu Ramen, Kagoshima Ramen Fukko Shokudo, Nakasu Abura Ramen Houten, Kumamoto Buta Tanmen Ramen, and more.

Address: 5F, Canal City Hakata, 1-2-2 Sumiyoshi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture
Business hours: 10:00–21:00 (Food stalls 11:00–23:00)