Kyoto is famous for its beautiful temples and traditional townscapes, but it is also a gourmet spot with many renowned ramen shops. Particularly around Kyoto Station, there are numerous ramen shops you can visit during your sightseeing or business trips.
Kyoto ramen are generally classified into three types: “pork bone soy sauce,” “chicken-based with back fat,” and “thick chicken broth,” each with its unique local flavor and style.
In this article, we will introduce the characteristics of Kyoto ramen and recommend ramen shops around Kyoto Station. Please enjoy Kyoto ramen and Japanese food culture.
1. Characteristics of Kyoto Ramen
Ramen is one of Japan’s most famous gourmet dishes. In Japan, different regions offer ramen with unique characteristics, gaining high popularity among both Japanese and foreign tourists.
Kyoto is one of the fierce battlegrounds for ramen, and its unique flavors are loved by many people. Knowing the characteristics of the flavors in advance will enhance your dining experience in Kyoto.
Here, we introduce the characteristics of Kyoto ramen.
1-1.Kyoto is known as a fierce ramen battleground
Kyoto is known as an ancient capital of Japan, and is renowned for its various historical buildings and sites, making it one of Japan’s premier historical cities.
While Kyoto cuisine is famous for its kaiseki meals, it is also a battleground for ramen.
Kyoto boasts a large number of ramen shops, allowing you to enjoy various types of ramen.
1-2.Kyoto ramen can be broadly divided into three types
Kyoto ramen can be broadly classified into three types based on the type of soup: “pork bone soy sauce,” “chicken-based with back fat,” and “thick chicken broth.” Here are the characteristics of each type:
| Pork Bone Soy Sauce |
|---|
| This ramen combines a pork bone broth base with thick soy sauce. The richness of the pork bone broth prevents the taste from being too bland, allowing you to enjoy a light yet satisfying bowl. |
| Chicken-Based with Back Fat |
|---|
| This ramen combines a chicken broth with pork back fat. It is the most famous style of Kyoto ramen, popular for its combination of light broth and rich back fat. |
| Thick Chicken Broth |
|---|
| This ramen features a thick chicken broth mixed with vegetables, creating a thick and rich soup. The high viscosity of the broth allows you to enjoy a rich and satisfying bowl. |
2. Recommended Ramen Shops Around Kyoto Station
There are many shops around Kyoto station where you can enjoy Kyoto ramen, with each shop having its own characteristics and attractions. It’s a good idea to research in advance and visit the ones you’re interested in.
Here, we highlight recommended ramen shops around Kyoto Station.
2-1.Menkya Kyoto Mibu Main Store
| Store Name | Menkya Kyoto Mibu Main Store |
|---|---|
| Business Hours | Mon-Sun, Holidays: 11:00 AM – 2:00 AM (Last Order: 1:30 AM) |
| Closed | Open all year round (closed from January 1 to January 4) |
| Address | 32 Mibuaiwai-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture |
| Access | 7-minute walk from Shijo Omiya Station |
| Phone Number | 075-888-0022 |
| Budget | Under 999 yen |
出典：Tabelog “Menkya Kyoto Mibu Main Store”
Menkya is a pork bone soy sauce ramen shop. It is recommended for those who want to experience high-quality ramen using Kyoto ingredients.
Menkya’s concept is “ramen you can enjoy every day,” valuing flavors that you won’t get tired of. Their “roast pork ramen,” which uses luxurious Kyoto roast pork, allows you to fully enjoy the flavor of pork. Spicy ramen is also popular here.
After your meal, you can enjoy free “Uji matcha” from a tea shop with a history of 120 years. It’s a delightful service to enjoy Kyoto’s famous matcha along with ramen.
2-2.Shinpuku saikan Tenjingawa Store
| Store Name | Shinpuku saikan Tenjingawa Store |
|---|---|
| Business Hours | Mon, Tue, Thu-Sun: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM (Last Order: 9:30 PM) |
| Closed | Wednesday |
| Address | 33 Minamihiro-cho, Umezu, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture |
| Access | 14-minute walk from Randen Tenjingawa Station |
| Phone Number | 075-864-9728 |
| Budget | 1,000 – 1,999 yen |
Shinpuku Saikan is a long-established ramen shop with over 70 years of history in Kyoto. It is highly rated by both tourists and locals.
Their popular “Chinese noodles” features a deep, black broth made from a blend of chicken and pork soup with several types of soy sauce.It preserves the traditional taste of Japanese soy sauce ramen with a fragrant and rich flavor.
In addition to ramen, gyoza and soy sauce-flavored fried rice are also popular.
The interior of the shop retains a nostalgic atmosphere, allowing you to experience the history of Kyoto ramen.
2-3.Seabura no Kami Mibu Main Store
| Store Name | Seabura no Kami Mibu Main Store |
|---|---|
| Business Hours | 11:00 AM – 3:30 PM (Last Order: 3:00 PM), 6:00 PM – 10:30 PM (Last Order: 10:00 PM) |
| Closed | January 1 (New Year’s Day) |
| Address | 25-4 Mibuaiwai-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture |
| Access | 7-minute walk from Omiya Station |
| Phone Number | 050-5600-9078 |
| Budget | 1,000 – 1,999 yen. |
Seabura no Kami is one of the few ramen shops in Kyoto that offers ramen made with dried sardines. It’s perfect for those who are fans of seafood flavors.
Their signature dish is “back fat sardine noodle,” which combines a sardine-based broth with pork back fat.The pork back fat adds a rich flavor, and the combination with the light sardine broth makes for a satisfying meal without feeling too greasy.
They also offer many seasonal limited ramen dishes, ensuring you never get bored with their menu.
Additionally, Seabura no Kami offers a variety of side dishes like fried chicken to complement your ramen, making it a great way to enjoy a complete dining experience.
2-4. Chukasoba Mastani Kitashirakawa Main Store
| Store Name | 中華そば ますたに 北白川本店 |
|---|---|
| Business Hours | Tue-Sun: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Closed | Third Tuesday |
| Address | 26 Kubota-cho, Kitashirakawa, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture |
| Access | 21-minute walk from Mototanaka Station (bus recommended) |
| Phone Number | 075-781-5762 |
| Budget | Under 999 yen |
Chukasoba Mastani is a Kyoto ramen shop established in 1948, loved by many local customers for over 70 years.
They offer ramen with a flavorful broth made from chicken and pork stock combined with thick soy sauce.The soup is rich and creamy with plenty of pork back fat, offering a mellow and hearty flavor.
The straight, thin noodles perfectly complement the rich broth.
This nostalgic flavor is beloved by locals, and the hearty and filling ramen is popular among those looking for a satisfying meal.
2-5. Menya Gokkei
| Store Name | Menya Gokkei |
|---|---|
| Business Hours | Tue-Sun: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Closed | Monday |
| Address | 29-7 Nishihegarawaracho, Ichijoji, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture |
| Access | 1-minute walk from Ichijoji Station |
| Phone Number | 075-711-3133 |
| Budget | 1,000 – 1,999 yen. |
Menya Gokkei is a popular ramen shop in the fiercely competitive Ichijoji area, known for its high-quality ramen.
As the name suggests, Menya Gokkei specializes in thick chicken broth ramen. The thick, rich broth contains the deep flavor of chicken without feeling heavy or overpowering.
The firm and chewy noodles create a harmonious combination with the savory broth.
Due to its popularity, there might be lines, so arriving 30 minutes before opening can help shorten your wait time.
2-6. Ramen Touhichi
| Store Name | Ramen Touhichi |
|---|---|
| Business Hours | Mon, Wed-Sun: 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM |
| Closed | Tuesday |
| Address | 8-6 Ichicho Tanacho, Yamabana, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture |
| Access | 1-minute walk from Shugakuin Station |
| Phone Number | 075-721-6556 |
| Budget | 1,000 – 1,999 yen. |
Ramen Touhichi is a popular ramen shop selected for the Michelin Bib Gourmand. Unlike the trend of thick soups in Kyoto ramen, Touhichi offers a light soy sauce-based ramen in Tokyo style.
Their chicken soy sauce ramen, made from chicken broth and a unique blend of soy sauce, is popular for its simple and clean taste. They use free-range chickens from the local area for their broth.
The medium-thick flat noodles are made from high-quality wheat flour from Hokkaido, showcasing their commitment to quality.
In addition to chicken soy sauce ramen, you can also enjoy tsukemen (noodles that are eaten after being dipped in a separate bowl of soup or broth) and thick chicken broth ramen.
3.Recommended Tourist Spots Where You Can Enjoy Kyoto Ramen
For those who want to enjoy ramen while sightseeing in Kyoto, visiting well-known ramen shops is a must, but we also recommend going to tourist spots with multiple ramen shops.
Here are some recommended tourist spots in Kyoto where you can enjoy ramen:
・Kyoto Ramen Koji
Located on the 10th floor of the JR Kyoto Station building, this ramen spot features eight ramen shops. Each shop offers regional specialty ramen, allowing you to enjoy flavors from all over Japan, not just Kyoto ramen.
・Ichijoji Area (Ramen Battleground)
Known as a ramen battleground in Kyoto, this area is home to many popular ramen shops. It is also called “Ichijoji Ramen Street,” one of the largest ramen districts in Kansai. Here you can enjoy various flavors, from light ramen to rich and punchy ramen.
Both Kyoto Ramen Koji and the Ichijoji area have multiple popular shops, so it’s a good idea to compare and enjoy more than one shop.
Conclusion
There are many diverse ramen shops around Kyoto Station, allowing you to enjoy delicious ramen between sightseeing and business activities. Comparing the unique flavors and services of each shop is part of the fun in finding your favorite ramen.
Kyoto Ramen Koji and the Ichijoji area in particular are must-visit spots for ramen fans. With rich flavors and warm hospitality, Kyoto ramen will make your trip even more special.
*This article is based on information as of July 2024.
