How to Eat Ramen in Japan

JGO! editorial team — WEBMARKS Inc. (Fujisawa, Kanagawa)

Ramen shops in Japan are usually casual places: choose a bowl, follow the shop’s ordering system and enjoy the noodles. Slurping is acceptable, but it isn’t required, and you can leave broth in the bowl.

Here’s how to choose and order ramen, enjoy it at your own pace, and plan visits to Ichiran Shinsaibashi and the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum.

Choose a bowl

The Japan National Tourism Organization’s ramen guide describes four common styles:

• Shoyu: seasoned with soy sauce.
• Shio: seasoned with salt.
• Miso: seasoned with fermented soybean paste.
• Tonkotsu: made with a creamy pork-bone broth.

If you enjoy a rich pork broth, tonkotsu is a good place to start. For a different flavour, try shoyu, shio or miso. Regional styles and individual shops vary, so read the menu description as well as the name.

The seasoning name alone doesn’t tell you every ingredient in the broth or toppings. If you avoid meat, fish or a particular allergen, ask about the whole bowl before ordering.

Before you order: follow the shop’s system

Some ramen restaurants use a ticket machine; others take orders directly from customers. Look for instructions near the entrance and follow the queue if there is one.

At a ticket machine, select the ramen and any extras you want, pay using an accepted method, and take your ticket and any change. Hand the ticket to staff when directed. If you can’t identify a button or need to check an ingredient, ask before buying.

At Ichiran, you also fill in a preference sheet for choices such as flavour strength and noodle firmness. At the counter, press the call button and give staff your sheet and meal tickets. The Ichiran system guide explains the process; other shops may do things differently.

If you’re unsure what to choose, start with the bowl that appeals to you and ask staff about any unfamiliar option that affects the ingredients or price.

How to eat the noodles and broth

Lift a manageable amount of noodles with your chopsticks. You can use a spoon for the broth and alternate between noodles and toppings as you like.

Slurping is not considered rude. You can also lift the bowl to drink some soup, but there is no need to finish it. Eat in the way that feels comfortable to you.

Ichiran explains in its ordering guide that thin noodles expand as they sit in soup. Start eating when the bowl arrives if you want to enjoy their fresh texture. Ichiran also suggests beginning with a few mouthfuls before gradually mixing in the red sauce.

For shared sides, move your portion onto your own plate before eating, as suggested in JNTO’s dining etiquette guide. When you’ve finished, follow any instructions for dishes or tickets and make your seat available, especially if people are waiting.

Ordering extra noodles at Ichiran

Kaedama is an extra serving of noodles for the broth in your original bowl, rather than a second bowl of soup. Ichiran recommends leaving at least half the soup if you plan to order a refill.

1. Order your extra noodles and keep enough broth while eating your first serving.
2. When you’re ready for the refill, place the kaedama plate on the sensor at your booth to alert staff.
3. If you want a different noodle firmness, tell staff when ordering. Otherwise, Ichiran uses the preference from your original order sheet.
4. Add the extra noodles to your remaining broth.

Ichiran explains the sensor in its system guide and the firmness choice in its FAQ. Other restaurants may handle refills differently.

Ichiran Shinsaibashi: prices, access and hours

Ichiran’s Shinsaibashi branch page lists these prices for this location:

A ramen plus regular extra noodles comes to ¥1,390; with half extra noodles, the listed items come to ¥1,330. Add any other toppings or applicable late-night charge to your budget.

The branch lists a late-night charge for 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Ask staff for the charge when ordering during that period.

Ichiran’s general FAQ lists a ¥130 charge for spice above level 10, while the Shinsaibashi page lists ¥140 for levels 11–20. Check the branch menu or ask staff if the displayed charge differs.

Getting there and planning your visit

The branch is at 1-3-29 Shinsaibashi-suji, Chuo-ku, Osaka, on the first floor of Miyaplaza Shinsaibashi. Ichiran lists it as a three-minute walk from Shinsaibashi Station exit 4-B.

Its listed hours are 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. the following day, with last orders at 5:45 a.m. Crowding can affect last orders or entry, so allow time before closing and check the branch page before travelling. The ticket machine accepts cash, listed credit cards and several mobile and transit-IC payment methods.

The shop has counter seating, but no tables or private rooms. Ichiran’s FAQ says it does not accept ordinary seat reservations. Shinsaibashi also lists a FastPass option: a purchased ticket provides access to a priority-entry lane, not a reserved seat. Check the branch page for the current offer.

Eating with children or dietary restrictions

For allergies or dietary restrictions, tell staff what you need to avoid and ask about the noodles, broth, toppings and seasonings before buying a ticket. Ichiran’s classic tonkotsu broth is made from pork bones, and its FAQ links to allergy information.

At Ichiran Shinsaibashi, children’s utensils are available, but the branch has counter seats rather than tables. If seating arrangements matter to your family, check the branch details before setting out.

A family visit to the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum

The museum is an option if you want to try smaller bowls from different shops. Its FAQ says every ramen shop offers mini ramen, generally about three-fifths of a regular portion, though sizes vary by shop. Each guest of junior-high-school age or older is asked to order one bowl when eating at a shop.

Strollers can enter the ramen shops, although the visitor guidance says their use may be restricted when it is crowded. Children’s tableware is available on request; ask staff about children’s chairs, as the visitor guidance notes that they are not available at every shop. Ramen-shop seats cannot be reserved.

Access: The museum is a five-minute walk from JR Shin-Yokohama Station, or a one-minute walk from exit 10 of Shin-Yokohama Station on the Sotetsu, Tokyu and municipal subway lines. See the museum’s access guide for directions.

Admission and hours: Same-day admission is ¥450 for adults, ¥100 for elementary and junior-high-school students, and ¥100 for high-school students with identification. Preschool children enter free. Budget separately for ramen.

The usual hours are 11:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. on weekdays and 10:30 a.m.–9:00 p.m. on weekends and public holidays, with ramen last orders 30 minutes before closing. Check the museum’s opening-hours calendar for your date.

The museum suggests allowing approximately 1½–2 hours on weekdays or 2–3 hours on holidays. If visiting as a group, gather before joining a line, and visit each ramen shop separately rather than ordering from several at once.

Common questions

Do I have to slurp ramen?

No. Slurping is acceptable, but you can eat the noodles in the way that feels comfortable to you.

Do I have to drink all the broth?

No. You may leave soup in the bowl. If you plan to order kaedama at Ichiran, keep at least half of it for the extra noodles.

Can I reserve a seat at Ichiran?

Ichiran’s FAQ says it does not take ordinary seat reservations. The Shinsaibashi FastPass is a priority-entry service, not a seat reservation.

Can I find a smaller bowl for a child?

All ramen shops at the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum offer mini ramen. For another restaurant, check its menu or ask staff about portion sizes and seating.

Can I eat ramen with an allergy or dietary restriction?

Ask the restaurant about the complete bowl before ordering, including the broth and seasonings. A name such as shoyu or miso identifies the seasoning but does not list every ingredient.

Continue exploring

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