Your Guide to Kitakata Ramen: Visit the Best Restaurants and Noodle Museums in Fukushima

Get to know Kitakata ramen

Kitakata ramen is among Japan's top three ramen varieties, featuring flat, thick noodles in a soy sauce-based broth. Each restaurant adds unique characteristics to the dish, but they all share the high-quality water from the local Tsugamine River.

Kitakata ramen's mild taste makes it a popular breakfast option, known as asa-ra in the region—give it a try when you’re visiting the area.

Must-visit Kitakata ramen restaurants

The Kitakata Ramen-Kai is a ramen organization comprising around 40 shops in the area that preserve local traditions. Check the citywide ramen map (in Japanese only) to find all participating ramen joints. Below, you can get to know five of the city’s most renowned ramen restaurants.

Savor hand-pulled noodles at Bannai Shokudo

Bannai Shokudo is one of Kitakata's top three ramen restaurants, known for its clear tonkotsu (pork bone) broth, simmered to perfection for a rich flavor, and its lean, melt-in-your-mouth chashu (braised pork belly) slices.

The hand-pulled noodles, locally known as hirauchi-jukusei-taka-suimen, are firm yet slippery, perfect for slurping—a gesture showing the chef how tasty the noodles are.

Bannai Shokudo
Address: 7230 Hosoda, Kitakata, Fukushima Prefecture
Access: 15-min walk from JR Kitakata Station (Ban'etsu West Line)
Official website: http://shop.bannaisyokudou.jp/ (in Japanese only)

Sip on clam broth at Shiokawaya

Shiokawaya is renowned for its shio (salt-flavored) ramen, a rarity among Kitakata ramen. The broth, featuring a light blend of shijimi clams and salt, sets it apart with a mild taste.

Toppings include chashu and asparagus, which complements the refreshing taste of the broth.

Shiokawaya offers six ramen varieties, with dinner options extending to pork shabu-shabu (hotpot dish of thinly sliced meat and vegetables), and sukiyaki (sweet and salty hotpot dish with meat and vegetables.)

Shiokawaya
Address: 1-4544 Kitakata, Fukushima Prefecture
Access: 20-min walk from JR Kitakata Station (Ban'etsu West Line)
Official website: http://mediateshiokawa.jp/index.html (in Japanese only)

Taste the original Kitakata ramen at Genraiken

Kitakata ramen originated at Genraiken, established in 1927 as a food stall by the Chinese immigrant Ban Kinsei.

Preserving the authentic recipe and flavor, their classic ramen maintains the traditional appearance of chuka soba (Chinese-style egg noodles.)

Enjoy the original Kitakata ramen with its soy sauce and seafood-based broth and medium-thick noodles that offer a satisfying and chewy texture.

Genraiken
Address: 7745 Ippongi-ue, Kitakata, Fukushima Prefecture
Access: 6-min walk from JR Kitakata Station (Ban'etsu West Line)

Slurp miso ramen at Maruya

Since 1954, Maruya has adhered to a simple and traditional broth recipe. Alongside the classic soy sauce-based ramen of Kitakata, they specialize in miso ramen using blended fermented soybean paste.

Topped with delectable pork chashu, it complements the chewy noodles and flavorful soup.

Maruya
Address: 2628 Aza Teraminami, Kitakata-shi, Fukushima Prefecture
Access: 25-min walk from JR Kitakata Station (Ban'etsu West Line)

Learn about the history of Kitakata ramen

When visiting Fukushima’s Aizu region, you can learn more about the history of Kitakata ramen at two museums. Don’t forget to pick up authentic and tasty Kitakata Ramen souvenirs, as well.

Join a ramen factory tour at Aizu Kitakata Ramen-kan

At the Aizu Kitakata Ramen-kan, you can visit a small ramen factory and watch how noodles are made.

You can even sample the freshly-made ramen, and shop for a variety of over 40 ramen souvenirs. Tours are only available on weekdays, and you’ll have to make a reservation in advance.

Aizu Kitakata Ramen-kan
Address: 1 Umetake, Kitakata, Fukushima Prefecture
Access: 16-min walk from JR Kitakata Station (Ban'etsu West Line)
Official website: https://kawakyo.co.jp/shop-honkan/ (in Japanese only)

Try ramen flavored soft-serve ice cream at the Kitakata Ramen Museum & Shrine

The Kitakata Ramen Museum’s distinctive entrance features a wooden torii gate with its crossbeam shaped as a massive pair of chopsticks.

Inside, you’ll find the Ramen Shrine, which sees a ramen bowl as the object of worship. The sacred site is believed to bring good luck in relationships.

The museum store offers the popular Kitakata Ramen soft-serve ice cream, which is shaped like ramen noodles and flavored with soy sauce, and topped with a naruto rice cake, black pepper, and dried green onions.

Kitakata Ramen Museum & Shrine
Address: 2-4662 Kitakata-shi, Fukushima Prefecture
Access: 10-min walk from JR Kitakata Station (Ban'etsu West Line)
Official website: https://www.tif.ne.jp/jp/spot.html?spot=6438 (in Japanese only)

Opt for the JR East Pass (Tohoku Area) and enjoy unlimited rides on all JR East lines and shinkansen, including access to JR Kitakata Station.

Discover the best of Kitakata ramen

If you're traveling to Fukushima’s Aizu region, be sure to stop by one of the restaurants above, and savor a bowl of light and refreshing ramen. Don't forget to bring back a few packets of ramen as souvenirs to enjoy at home.

Explore more of Japan by using one of the many different transportation passes.

*The information in this article, such as prices and business hours, was accurate at the time of publication but is subject to change. Please refer to the official website(s) for the latest information.

*Regarding products that contain processed meat, like cup noodles, please check your country’s legal regulations before making a purchase, as some nations prohibit the import of such items.

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