The best ramen in all of Japan is right here — a must-visit "Ramen Stadium" in Fukuoka!
▲A gathering of Japan’s most delicious ramen shops. If you want to experience the differences between northern and southern ramen, you’ve got to check out the “Ramen Stadium”! (Photo / Reporter Tsai Wen-jun, the same below)
Reporter Tsai Wen-jun / Fukuoka report
Japan is home to a wide variety of specialty food museums, from okonomiyaki and mentaiko to udon-themed museums spread across the country. As a representative Japanese dish, “ramen” is no exception. If you want to try the best ramen from all over Japan in one place, then you absolutely must visit the“Ramen Stadium”!
The “Ramen Stadium” is located on the 5th floor of Canal City Hakata, a well-known shopping mall in Fukuoka. The management has set up a ramen street stall at the entrance specifically for visitors to take photos, showcasing Fukuoka’s unique yatai (street food stall) culture.
%The inspiration behind this concept is Fukuoka’s vibrant yatai culture.
Yamazaki Kohei from Fukuoka Land Co., Ltd. explained that the reason for establishing Ramen Stadium here was because Kyushu is the birthplace of tonkotsu (pork bone) ramen. To allow visitors to enjoy a wider range of Kyushu ramen flavors, Ramen Stadium was created in 2001. Initially, it naturally featured Kyushu’s proud tonkotsu ramen, but in recent years, it has gradually added representative ramen shops from other regions of Japan, allowing travelers to experience the diverse flavors of ramen from north to south in one place.
▲A total of 80 shops have been featured at Ramen Stadium over the years, and the list continues to grow...
Yamazaki Kohei noted that the entire Ramen Stadium is designed with a Showa-era yatai atmosphere. There are eight fixed shops, but they are occasionally rotated. So far, 80 ramen shops from across Japan have had a presence here, and a list of past participating shops can be seen at the entrance.
▲Each ramen ticket vending machine offers choices in four languages: Chinese, English, Japanese, and Korean, making it convenient for travelers to purchase.
Among them, the longest-standing shops in Ramen Stadium include:Hakata Tonkotsu Shodai Hide-chan,Kurume Honda Shoten, andDaisetsu Sapporo Ramen. Visitors can choose their favorite shop, buy a meal ticket from the ticket vending machine at the entrance, and then hand it to the shop. If you don’t understand Japanese, the vending machine also has options in Chinese, English, and Korean.
▲The longest-running shop in Ramen Stadium, “Shodai Hide-chan”
Hakata Tonkotsu Shodai Hide-chan
Specializing in Hakata tonkotsu ramen, Shodai Hide-chan has maintained enduring popularity and is the longest-running shop in the stadium. The shop owner stated that their broth is made with a key commitment: simmering pork bones for 15 hours.
Shodai Hide-chan’s ramen features thin noodles with a moderate firmness. Although the broth may look a bit oily, it actually tastes quite refreshing and not overly salty, making it suitable for diners who prefer lighter flavors.
▲The ramen in the photo above is the “Omakase Set” with all toppings, priced at 1,030 yen, next to it is mentaiko rice.
In addition, if you’re a ramen lover, you’ve probably often encountered this scenario at ramen shops: even when there are no customers, the chefs still yell “Irasshaimase!” (Welcome!) in Japanese while making the noodles. This practice is still maintained even when Japanese ramen brands open stores in Taiwan.
The shop owner explained that this is not only to keep the staff energized, but also to bring vitality and excitement to customers, making their visit about more than just eating ramen.
▲When you think of tonkotsu ramen, you’re sure to think of Kurume ramen!
Kurume Honda Shoten
Kurume ramen is said to be the origin of tonkotsu ramen, and its delicious secret lies in its generations-old broth recipe. “Kurume Honda Shoten” is another popular shop in the stadium, with a broth recipe that has remained unchanged for over 50 years. They replenish the used portion daily and continue simmering it, striving to preserve the original flavor as much as possible.
▲%The rich and hearty broth here packs a distinctive pork bone flavor, and like Shoki-chan First Generation, it primarily uses thin noodles. For ramen enthusiasts looking to try a broth with over half a century of heritage and a bold taste, Honda Shouten is a top pick.
Honda Shouten’s broth has a richer, more intense flavor with a clear tonkotsu (pork bone) taste. Like Shoki-chan First Generation, it mainly serves thin noodles. Ramen lovers wanting to taste a broth with over 50 years of tradition and a stronger flavor can make Honda Shouten their first choice.
▲You can also try ramen from northern Japan in the Ramen Stadium and see how the flavors differ.
Daiichi Sapporo Ramen
In recent years, Ramen Stadium has not only promoted tonkotsu ramen from various parts of Kyushu but also started introducing ramen with different textures from across Japan, including Daiichi Sapporo Ramen from Hokkaido.
▲For those who love thick noodles and bold, salty flavors, Daiichi Sapporo Ramen is sure to delight your taste buds.
Hokkaido ramen is generally known for its saltier taste, and Daiichi Sapporo Ramen is one of the best examples. Its broth is packed with saltiness and enhanced with garlic seasoning, making it an instant hit with those who prefer strong flavors. Another major difference from Hakata ramen is the use of thicker noodles, which have a satisfying chewy texture that many find incredibly enjoyable.
Ramen Stadium
Address: 5th Floor, Canal City Hakata, 1-2 Sumiyoshi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka Prefecture
Free WiFi Hotspot: Search for “Fukuoka City Wifi” to connect
Transportation: Exit 5 of Gion Subway Station, about a 7-minute walk
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