Discover Japan Through Ramen: Regional Flavors at Nippon Department Store Shokuhinkan
In our last article, we introduced the charm of Nippon Department Store Shokuhinkan in Akihabara. Now, let’s dive into the individual sections of the store, starting with one of the most popular spots: the Ramen Area.
From classic cup noodles to vegan-friendly options, this section offers a flavorful journey through Japan’s diverse ramen culture.
🍜 What Is Cup Ramen?
Cup ramen is Japan's ultimate comfort food in instant form. Just add hot water, wait about three minutes, and enjoy! Each cup contains dried noodles, soup base, and toppings like vegetables or meat. Flavors range from soy sauce and miso to pork bone (tonkotsu), seafood, and curry.
Easy to carry and prepare, cup ramen is a travel essential—perfect for a quick hotel snack. With their cute designs and variety, they also make great souvenirs. You’ll even find limited regional flavors that showcase local specialties.
🌟 Featured Local Cup Ramen
No.1 Yokohama Tonkotsu-Ya
A bold and savory "Iekei" (house-style) ramen from Yokohama. This cup features a rich soy sauce broth made from pork and chicken, thick straight noodles, and toppings like pork slices, spinach, and seaweed. You can usually adjust the flavor, fat, and noodle firmness in shops—but this cup version brings the same depth of flavor in one bite.
No.2 Sendai Spicy Miso Ramen
From northern Japan, this ramen packs a punch. Miso-based broth meets a spicy miso paste made with chili. Stir it in for the perfect balance of heat and umami. Topped with minced pork, garlic, bean sprouts, and green onions. This one is perfect for cold nights—and yes, it even comes with crunchy bean sprouts!
No.3 Hakata Tonkotsu Ramen
Originating from Fukuoka, this ramen has a creamy, cloudy pork bone broth and firm straight noodles. The deep flavor comes from slowly simmering pork bones for hours. A rich, satisfying cup.
No.4 Sapporo Rich Miso Ramen
From snowy Hokkaido, this ramen features thick curly noodles in a robust miso broth, topped with stir-fried vegetables, garlic, and even butter. It’s warming and full of flavor.
No.5 Kyoto Back Fat Soy Sauce Ramen
A Kyoto classic with a soy sauce broth topped with pork back fat (se-abura). Rich but not overwhelming, the broth blends sweet fat with salty soy for a surprisingly balanced taste. Served with medium-thick noodles.
No.6 Hakodate Salt Ramen
Also from Hokkaido, this is the lightest of the bunch. Clear soup seasoned with salt, made from chicken, pork, and kombu stock. Simple and elegant, with thin straight noodles.
🪖 Vegan Noodles
Don’t eat meat or fish? No problem! Nippon Dept also offers a great lineup of vegan noodles that are completely plant-based. That means no animal ingredients in the broth, noodles, or toppings.
・Broths made from vegetables, kelp, and shiitake mushrooms
・Noodles without eggs, made from wheat, rice, or buckwheat
・Toppings like tofu, veggies, nuts, or plant-based chashu
These noodles are packed with umami and are becoming popular among travelers and health-conscious eaters in Japan.
Top Vegan Picks:
Vegan Tantanmen
Creamy, spicy sesame broth with heat and richness
Vegan Soy Sauce Ramen
Classic shoyu flavor, fully plant-based
Vegan Hot and Sour Soup Noodles
A tangy Asian-style favorite
🍲 Ramen Flavor Guide
Miso Ramen
Rich and hearty, miso-based broth. Often topped with corn, butter, and bean sprouts. Origin: Sapporo
Soy Sauce Ramen
Light and savory with clear broth. A classic. Origin: Tokyo
Tonkotsu Ramen
Creamy pork bone soup. Bold flavor. Origin: Hakata (Fukuoka)
Salt Ramen
Lightest and clearest. Simple but full of depth. Origin: Hakodate
With over 8,000 regional food products, Nippon Department Store Shokuhinkan is a must-visit for food lovers. From wasabi and matcha treats to ramen and sweets, there’s something for everyone.
If you're in Tokyo, stop by! Just a 3-minute walk from Akihabara Station.
Plan Your Visit
📍 Nippon Department Store Shokuhinkan
CHABARA, 8-2 Kanda Neribeicho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-0022
📞 Phone: 03-3258-0051
🕒 Opening Hours:
Open daily from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Note: Hours may vary on holidays (such as Golden Week).
Getting here is easy! Just a 3-minute walk from Akihabara Station.
Drop by to discover flavors from all across Japan.
Want to discover even more local Japanese foods?
Check out our Instagram for tasty finds from all 47 prefectures!
👉 @nippon_dept_global_47