Hokkaido is home to a variety of great restaurants! What you need to know about Hokkaido Ramen
Ramen is a dish that we would suddenly crave at any time of the year. On the vast island of Hokkaido, each region has its own unique ramen. There are many famous restaurants that have honed their skills by competing with each other, and you can taste the finest ramen. Get to know the various types of ramen in Hokkaido and find your own favorite flavor.
- * Please note that the text shown on this page includes machine translations.
Enjoy the differences of each place!
There are many famous ramen restaurants throughout Japan. Hokkaido, in particular, offers many different types of ramen. Hokkaido ramen has been registered as a heritage of Hokkaido, and has become an indispensable part of life for local residents. Hokkaido is known as the ""ramen kingdom.""
Most restaurants offer three flavors of ramen: miso, shio (salt), and shoyu (soy sauce). This is a unique characteristic that is rare even in Japan. Another feature of Hokkaido is the large number of noodle makers due to its flourishing wheat production. One way to enjoy ramen is to taste the different noodles made by the various noodle mills. In Hokkaido, when a new ramen shop opens, it is customary for the noodle makers to present the new shop with a curtain that has its name on it.
Hokkaido ramen can be enjoyed in an endless variety of combinations such as ""three flavors,"" ""noodle makers' noodles,"" and ""local flavors.""
In regions such as Otaru and Asahikawa, there are also soba noodle shops that serve ramen and offer a different ramen experience from that of specialty stores. Please enjoy the ramen unique to each region of the large island of Hokkaido to the fullest.
Ramen noodles with "fu" (wheat gluten) as an ingredient
In Hokkaido and parts of the Tohoku region, there are ramen noodles that contain "fu" (wheat gluten) as an ingredient. "Fu" is a mixture of gluten and glutinous rice flour. When you put the "fu," which has absorbed a lot of soup and become fluffy, in your mouth, the flavor of the soup fills your mouth. A restaurant with "fu" in its soup probably has great confidence in its soup, so watch out for it!
Sapporo Miso Ramen, the most well-known ramen
Sapporo miso ramen is one of the three most popular types of ramen in Hokkaido. Among the many types of Hokkaido ramen, it is the most well-known ramen in Japan. It uses medium-thick, wavy noodles that are firm and have a high moisture content. The soup is a thick type made from pork and chicken bones. Toppings include a variety of nutritious stir-fried vegetables.
Sapporo ramen is said to have originated as salt-flavored Chinese noodles at a Chinese restaurant established about 100 years ago. Later, one restaurant developed a miso-flavored ramen, which triggered a miso ramen boom and is now considered one of the three major ramens of Hokkaido.
Miso butter corn ramen, packed with Hokkaido's specialties, is also popular among tourists. The soup, with its melted butter, is mellow and the sweetness of the corn melds together to create an exquisite dish. The bean sprouts topping seems to be more popular among Sapporo residents.
Hakodate shio (salt) ramen, Hakodate's soul food
Hakodate shio (salt) ramen is one of the three major types of ramen in Hokkaido. The salt base is so well established that the word ""ramen"" in Hakodate means shio ramen. The noodles are thin and straight, and the ingredients are simple. The clear soup is so full of flavor that you can't help but finish it. The price is relatively reasonable.
Although Sapporo is better known for its ramen, the history and roots of ramen are actually believed to have originated in Hakodate; a newspaper advertisement from 1884 mentions ""Nankin-soba,"" so it is possible that the oldest ramen in Japan was eaten in Hakodate. Hakodate salt ramen has one of the longest histories in Japan.
You can also enjoy side dishes!
In Hakodate, there is a dish called "zariji".
In Hokkaido, fried chicken is called "zangi." "Zariji" is pork tempura prepared in "zangi" style. It is a local delicacy often served as a side dish at Chinese restaurants and ramen stores. It shares the same cooking method as "zangi," in which the meat is marinated in sauce and seasoned. Although fewer restaurants serve "zangi" than in the past, if you find it, be sure to order it.
Asahikawa soy sauce ramen that reflects the ingenuity of a cold region
Asahikawa shoyu (soy sauce) ramen is one of the three most popular types of ramen in Hokkaido. There are many ramen shops in Asahikawa, and it is loved by locals and tourists alike. It is the original version of the ""double broth"" style that blends pork bones and seafood, and is flavored with soy sauce with a lot of lard floating in it. The lard covering the surface of the soup is intended to keep the soup from cooling down even on cold days. This is a characteristic of Asahikawa, where temperatures drop below freezing in the winter.
The toppings are simple: green onions, bamboo shoots, and chashu pork. Vegetable ramen served with lots of vegetables, as in Sapporo, is also a favorite. The noodles are medium-thin and curly with a low water content. Although these noodles stretch easily, they absorb the soup easily, and the noodles and soup intertwine with each other for a more delicious experience.
There are many types of local ramen!
There are many types of local ramen on the large island of Hokkaido. Local ramen is made with local specialties and influenced by local customs, and is not often available outside of Hokkaido. We hope you will visit and enjoy them.
- Kushiro Ramen
- It is the most popular ramen following the three major types of ramen. It has a light soy sauce-based flavor that you will never get tired of eating, and features extra-fine, wavy noodles with high moisture content. It is said that the extra-fine noodles were used to speedily serve the busy fishermen of Kushiro. Since it is a light meal, it is recommended to eat it after drinking.
- Muroran Curry Ramen
- This curry ramen is mainly eaten in Tomakomai and Muroran. It is made with thick, curly noodles in a unique sweet and spicy curry broth. It is often served with wakame seaweed as well as chashu pork and vegetables. The curry broth is entwined with the chunky noodles. It is surprisingly light. The cooking method differs from restaurant to restaurant, so you can enjoy eating it while walking around.
- Rishiri Ramen
- This double soup is a blend of a Japanese-style broth made with a generous amount of Rishiri kelp and a broth made from animal-based ingredients. The flavor of the kelp is intertwined with the firm, medium-thick rice noodles, enhancing their deliciousness. It may look bland, but the kelp broth gives it a rich flavor. The addition of shredded kelp (tororo kombu) is also popular.
- Kamikawa Ramen
- Kamikawa Town holds the title of having the most delicous ramen in Japan. Miso and salt broths are common, and the soup is usually made from pork bones alone. Some of the characteristics shared with Asahikawa ramen can be seen, such as the addition of lard to the soup and the medium-thin, curly noodles. The noodles and soup are made using pure spring water from the Daisetsuzan Mountains, and the restaurant also boasts sophisticated techniques. These ramen noodles have a simple flavor that continues to be loved by the locals.
- Gatatan Ramen
- This ramen contains Ashibetsu's famous Chinese dish, "gatatan." "Gatatan" is a thickened dish with more than 10 different ingredients, including bamboo shoots, pork, and quail eggs. Originally, it was only a soup, but when noodles were added, a local ramen dish was born. The lightly salted, thickened soup is hot and warming.
- "Hell" ramen
- This ramen is a well-established representative of Noboribetsu's gourmet cuisine. This spicy miso ramen is inspired by the image of the red devil. The motif of this ramen is the image of Enma (King of Hell) from Noboribetsu Jigokudani, a famous sightseeing spot, and you can choose the level of spiciness to suit your taste. A resstaurant called "Aji no Daio" is famous for this dish.
Find your favorite ramen in the ramen-only food court!
If you want to try a variety of ramen but don't have time to travel far or don't know which restaurant to go to, we recommend you visit a spot where multiple ramen stores are all in one place. You can easily find ramen from famous restaurants. If you have enough room in your stomach, it is fun to compare different kinds of ramen.
- Ganso Ramen Yokocho Sapporo
- It is a historic place, famous as the birthplace of Sapporo Miso Ramen. The area is lined with locally famous stores. Although it is located in the central area of Sapporo, once you step into the shop, you will be surrounded by an old-fashioned atmosphere. It is a spot that continues to be loved by tourists and locals alike.
- Ganso Ramen Yokocho Sapporo Official Website
- Hokkaido Ramen Dojo
- Located in a corner of New Chitose Airport, it has excellent accessibility. There is a lineup of excellent restaurants from all over Hokkaido. Food is served promptly, making it a great place to eat quickly while waiting for your flight. Those who did not get to eat ramen even once during their trip, as well as those who want to try it again before returning home, can easily stop by.
- Hokkaido Ramen Dojo Official Website
- Shin Ramen Yokocho
- It is located in Susukino, a downtown area in the center of Sapporo. About five ramen stores are lined up on the first floor of a multi-tenant building. Each restaurant has its own personality and has honed its skills. The location is convenient after a night of drinking in Susukino or when you want to warm up a little.
- Asahikawa Ramen Village
- Famous Asahikawa ramen restaurants are gathered here. You can enjoy Asahikawa ramen easily. It is conveniently located on the way to Asahiyama Zoo and Asahikawa Airport. The "Ramen Village Shrine" is located inside the facility and is a popular photo spot.
- Asahikawa Ramen Village (Japanese site)
Eat ramen and experience the history and culture of the region
In recent years, the ramen industry has seen a great deal of creativity and ingenuity, with each store competing with the others for individuality. Ramen that defies the stereotypes of ""Sapporo = miso"" and ""Asahikawa = soy sauce"" is being created one after another. There are a wide variety of genres, such as shrimp soup made from amaebi (sweet shrimp) stock and soup with a hint of ""numbing"" sansho (Japanese pepper). There is no end to the ramen restaurant tour. There is also Sapporo soy sauce ramen, Asahikawa miso ramen, and many other types of ramen that you can try.
In addition, each region of Hokkaido has ramen with its own history and characteristics. By visiting a region and eating ramen, you can feel the history and culture of that area. Please extend your visit to each place.
Ranking of popular articles
- Hokkaido Spring Travel Guide
- https://www.visit-hokkaido.jp/en/feature/travelguide_spring
- Hokkaido Summer Travel Guide
- https://www.visit-hokkaido.jp/en/feature/travelguide_summer
- Practical Information
- https://www.visit-hokkaido.jp/en/feature/practical_information/
- Where & What To Eat in Hokkaido: 6 Must-Try Local Foods
- https://www.visit-hokkaido.jp/en/feature/where-what-to-eat-in-hokkaido-must-try-local-foods
- Let's play to the fullest! Recommended Spots in Hokkaido for Fun with Kids
- https://www.visit-hokkaido.jp/en/feature/child