Local Guide
4 recommended ramen in Tsuchiura/Tsukuba area

Known as the hidden ramen kingdom of Ibaraki Prefecture, the Tsuchiura/Tsukuba area in southern Ibaraki Prefecture has recently been attracting attention as one of the prefecture's most competitive ramen areas. In the past 15 years, many new ramen stores have opened in the Tsuchiura/Tsukuba area, including some that are branch stores of famous local ramen stores and others that are well-known throughout the country. Here are some of the popular restaurants that have established such a following that not only locals but also people from other parts of the prefecture go out of their way to visit them.

A bowl of white soup made by cooking whole chicken for more than 10 hours is the key ingredient.

Chicken Shiratsuyu (Soy Sauce)
Chicken Shiratsuyu (Soy Sauce)" with concentrated chicken flavor and umami (850 yen)

Known for its chicken broth, the restaurant boasts of its Hakyu soup, made by cooking chicken bones for more than 10 hours. Chicken Hakodate (soy sauce)" is a ramen made by combining Hakodate soup with soy sauce from Shibanuma Soy Sauce, a long-established local soy sauce brewery, and soup stock made from kelp and shiitake mushrooms, as well as soy sauce sauce sauce. The mild flavor of the broth, which is free of any off-flavors, goes perfectly with the slippery texture of the flat noodles. The toppings include bright red tomatoes roasted at low temperature, crunchy potherb mustard, and homemade pork chashu (pork belly, pork loin, or chicken breast), from which you can choose two pieces.

The owner is a big fan of Kyosuke Himuro, a charismatic figure in the Japanese rock world. Live video is shown in the restaurant.

The chic restaurant interior with a black base color. There are counter seats and table seats.
The chic restaurant interior with a black base color. There are counter seats and table seats.

The restaurant opened in 2014 after the owner, who trained for about four and a half years at Tsukemen Ramen Katsuryu, a pioneer of seafood and pork tsukemen in Ibaraki Prefecture, opened his own restaurant. The restaurant is decorated in chic black, as he is a big fan of Kyosuke Himuro, the vocalist of the legendary band "BOØWY (Boy). A monitor screen inside the restaurant plays live videos of Kyosuke Himuro, and valuable items are on display, making it a fun place to spend time while waiting for your ramen. If you prefer a lighter style of ramen, the "Chinese Soba" is also popular, with its well-honed chicken flavor.

Local Guide Comment
The ramen has a more delicate flavor than it appears. The homemade chashu pork is also excellent, and we recommend the soft and healthy chicken breast.
Menya Kyosuke
  • Address 837-1 Ohata, Tsuchiura-shi, Ibaraki MAP
  • Direction Approximately 18 minutes by car from JR Tsuchiura Station
  • Business hours 11:30 - 14:30, 18:00 - 21:00
    *Close at night when all ingredients are gone.
  • Closed Monday nights, Tuesdays
  • TEL 029-896-8169
  • Parking Free of charge

Tsukemen (dipping noodles) with plenty of Kasumigaura river shrimps

The tsukemen (dipping sauce) containing the delicious taste of river shrimps (suji shrimps) is irresistible
The tsukemen (dipping sauce) containing the delicious taste of river shrimps (suji shrimps) is irresistible "Natural River Shrimp Tsukemen" 890 yen.

Kasumigaura boasts the largest catch of wild river shrimp in Japan. However, there are not many local delicacies using natural river shrimps, and it took about four years to create a ramen that would become a new local specialty, resulting in the creation of "natural/river shrimp tsukemen. By combining a chicken white soup base with river shrimp extract, which is made by boiling river shrimp and aromatic vegetables from fishermen in a pressure cooker, and local soy sauce, the flavorful aroma and richness of the river shrimp can be directly felt in the soup. Thick, firm noodles made of 100% Hokkaido wheat are intertwined with the river shrimp soup.

The store is loved by locals, and take-out sets are also popular.

The restaurant has an old-fashioned storefront with counter seats and booth seats.
The restaurant has an old-fashioned storefront with counter seats and booth seats.

Located at the foot of Suigo Bridge over Sakuragawa River, which flows into Kasumigaura, the restaurant has been in business for more than 20 years. It has been in business for more than 20 years and is loved by the locals as a restaurant with deep roots in the community. In addition to counter seats, the restaurant has many box seats separated by partitions, allowing customers to enjoy their meals without worrying about their surroundings. In addition to tsukemen, the restaurant offers a wide range of other dishes such as chicken shiranyu, chashu-men, and tanzan-mian. The take-home set of "natural river shrimp tsukemen," which includes soup and noodles, makes a perfect souvenir.

Local Guide Comment
The "natural river shrimp tsukemen" is an exquisite dish specially prepared by the owner, a former professional bass fisherman. The restaurant offers a 100 yen discount for cyclists who ride their bicycles there.
Tsuchiura Ramen
  • Address 101 Maya Building, 1-33 Hasugawara Shinmachi, Tsuchiura, Ibaraki MAP
  • Direction 11 min. walk from JR Tsuchiura Station
  • Business hours 11:00-15:00 (L.O. 14:00), 18:00-22:00 (L.O. 21:00)
  • Closed Mon.
  • TEL 029-811-6861
  • Parking Free of charge (4 cars)

Freshly made ramen noodles are available at the tasting section attached to the rice noodle factory.

Matsuya Noodle,
Matsuya Noodle," which bears the name of the restaurant, is 800 yen. Both soup and noodles are changed daily.

The noodle factory is located at the entrance to the approach to Mt. The noodles are made using only domestic wheat, water, salt, and brine, including "Yumesihou," a locally produced flour. The noodles are made using a press used to make udon noodles, and the result is a special kind of raw noodle with high water content that is both firm and slippery at the same time. While the main focus is on making rice noodles, there is a "tasting section" in a corner of the store where customers can eat in. Matsuya-men" is an orthodox bowl of noodles in a daily soup based on seafood broth, topped with chashu pork, bamboo shoots, and other toppings.

Renovated from a souvenir store built in the Taisho Era (1912-1926), the restaurant has an atmospheric atmosphere.

Behind the sales space, there is a small tasting section with only seven counter seats. The high stack of flour bags is also impressive.
Behind the sales space, there is a small tasting section with only seven counter seats. The high stack of flour bags is also impressive.

The store is a reused building built in the Taisho era (1912-1926), which was used as a souvenir store until a few decades ago. In order to preserve the atmosphere of those days, the beams and mud walls were renovated as much as possible. The shop sells a variety of souvenir sets, including fresh noodles of different thicknesses, frizzled noodles, and soups with soy sauce, salt, miso, etc. The shop also offers delivery services. The noodles are also available for delivery, so you can send them home and enjoy them to the fullest at home, or you can enjoy the difference in taste and texture from the third day onward as they mature and develop a firmer texture.

Local Guide Comment
The restaurant is also a favorite stop for climbers of Mt. The light and simple soup is perfect for "morning noodle soup. Since it is very popular, it is recommended to visit in the morning as the tasting section may be closed by midday.
Matsuya Seimenjo (Matsuya Ramen Shop)
  • Address 300 Numata, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture MAP
  • Direction Approx. 35 min. from JR Tsuchiura Station by car
  • Direction Tsukuba Hokubu Shuttle (Tsukuba Center - Tsukuba Yamaguchi)
    Tsukuba-Tsuchiura Line (Tsuchiura Station - Tsukuba-Yamaguchi), short walk from the last stop.
  • Business hours 7:00-17:00 *The tasting session will end when the soup is gone.
  • Closed Wednesday
  • TEL 029-896-5298
  • Parking Free of charge (4 cars)

The perfect balance of creamy dipping sauce and homemade extra-thick noodles

The
The "Ryusuke Tsuke Soba" is 950 yen, allowing you to enjoy the dipping soup and noodles to the fullest. The toppings are simple: chashu pork, pickled bamboo shoots, and nori (seaweed).

Since its opening in 2012, there has been a long line for this famous tsukemen restaurant. The "Ryusuke Tsuke Soba" boasts a tsukemoto (dipping sauce) made by blending seafood-based soup stock with shiratsuyu (white soup) simmered with the equivalent of about five chickens per bowl. The soup is thick and rich like a potage soup, but the addition of yuzu (a type of citrus fruit) adds a refreshing accent to the flavor. The noodles are homemade extra-thick noodles made from domestic wheat flour. The noodles have a strong wheat flavor and are well balanced with the rich soup. You can taste the chicken flavor to the very last drop with the Japanese-style soup mix offered at the end of the meal.

Many restaurants have produced this dish, and it is now well-known throughout Japan.

In addition to the eye-catching red chairs, there are also spacious tables. The open-plan interior with seating surrounding the kitchen.
In addition to the eye-catching red chairs, there are also spacious tables. The open-plan interior with seating surrounding the kitchen.

This popular restaurant was ranked No. 1 in Japan in the Chicken Hakyu category on one of Japan's largest word-of-mouth websites specializing in ramen. It is also well known throughout Japan. In addition to regular menu items such as "Tsuke-soba" and "Jun Torisoba," a limited edition menu is also available one after another, so you can enjoy a new taste every time you visit. The stylish interior is also very comfortable. The number of ramen stores produced by "Tokkyu Chicken Soba Ryusuke", including "Tsuchiura Mendokoro Ryunomai" in front of Tsuchiura Station, is increasing rapidly, and it is one store that cannot be missed as a leader in the popularity of ramen in the Tsukuba/Tsuchiura area.

Local Guide Comment
If you like spicy food, we recommend the Spicy Tsuke Soba. All the dipping sauces are thick and punchy, but once you try them, you will never forget the taste. The restaurant plans to install bicycle racks in the future, aiming to make it an easy place for cyclists to stop by.
Tokkyu Torisoba Ryusuke
  • Address 848-5 Nagakuni, Tsuchiura-shi, Ibaraki MAP
  • Direction Approximately 8 minutes from JR Tsuchiura Station by car
  • Business hours 11:30-14:30, 18:00-22:00
    Ends when all the noodles and soup are gone.
  • Closed Thursdays
  • TEL 029-823-7945
  • Parking Free of charge
The information in this article is current as of the date of the update. Please check before visiting as they are subject to change.