Local Guide
4 Recommended Ramen in the Tsuchiura and Tsukuba Area

Ibaraki Prefecture is known as a hidden ramen kingdom, and the area of Tsuchiura and Tsukuba in the south of Ibaraki has been attracting attention in recent years as one of the prefecture's most competitive ramen areas. Over the past 15 years, the area has seen a succession of branching out of famous local ramen shops, as well as famous local shops with nationwide recognition. We will introduce some of these popular shops that have established such a strong fanbase that people from both inside and outside the prefecture make the trip here, not just locals.

The key to this dish is the soup made from a whole chicken simmered for over 10 hours.

"Chicken broth (soy sauce)" - 850 yen - packed with the deliciousness and flavor of chicken
"Chicken broth (soy sauce)" - 850 yen - packed with the deliciousness and flavor of chicken

Known as a famous chicken broth restaurant, they are proud of their white soup, which is made by simmering chicken bones for over 10 hours. Their "Chicken White Soy Sauce" ramen is made by adding soy sauce from the local long-established soy sauce brewery "Shibanuma Soy Sauce" and dashi made from kelp and shiitake mushrooms to the white soup, and then mixing it with a soy sauce sauce. It has a mellow flavor without any unpleasant taste, and goes perfectly with the smooth, flat noodles. Other appealing toppings include low-temperature roasted bright red tomatoes and crunchy mizuna, as well as homemade char siu, which you can choose two of from three types: pork belly, pork loin, and chicken breast.

The owner is a big fan of Kyosuke Himuro, a charismatic figure in the Japanese rock scene. Live footage is shown in the store.

The interior is chic, with a black motif. There are counter seats and table seats.
The interior is chic, with a black motif. There are counter seats and table seats.

The owner trained for about four and a half years at "Tsukemen Ramen Katsuryu," a pioneer of seafood and tonkotsu tsukemen in Ibaraki Prefecture, before going independent and opening this shop in 2014. As he is a big fan of Kyosuke Himuro, the vocalist of the legendary band "BOØWY," the store's exterior and interior are unified in a chic black color scheme. The monitor screens inside the store play live footage of Kyosuke Himuro, and rare goods are also on display, so you can have fun while waiting for your ramen. If you prefer something lighter, the "Chuka Soba," which allows you to experience the refined flavor of chicken, is also popular.

Comments Local Guide
This ramen has a more delicate flavor than it looks. The homemade char siu is also excellent, and the recommended dish is the soft and healthy chicken breast.
Noodle shop Kyosuke
  • URLhttps://twitter.com/11k_ta11?lang=ja
  • 住所837-1 Ohata, Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスApproximately 18 minutes by car from JR Tsuchiura Station
  • 営業時間11:30-14:30, 18:00-21:00
    *Evening session ends when ingredients run out
  • 定休日Monday night, Tuesday
  • TEL029-896-8169
  • 駐車場free

Tsukemen made with plenty of river shrimp from Lake Kasumigaura

"Natural River Shrimp Tsukemen" 890 yen, with an irresistible dipping sauce that captures the deliciousness of river shrimp (sujiebi)
"Natural River Shrimp Tsukemen" 890 yen, with an irresistible dipping sauce that captures the deliciousness of river shrimp (sujiebi)

Lake Kasumigaura boasts the highest catch of wild river shrimp in Japan. However, there are not many local delicacies that use wild river shrimp, so the "Natural River Shrimp Tsukemen" was born after about four years of effort to create a ramen that would become a new local specialty. The soup is made with chicken broth as the base, and is made by boiling river shrimp purchased from fishermen and aromatic vegetables in a pressure cooker to create river shrimp extract, and then combining it with local soy sauce to create a soup that allows you to directly experience the rich aroma and flavor of the flavorful river shrimp. The thick, chewy noodles, made from 100% Hokkaido wheat, are coated in the river shrimp soup.

A favorite among locals, the takeaway sets are also popular

The restaurant has a traditional look and features counter seats and booth seats.
The restaurant has a traditional look and features counter seats and booth seats.

Located at the foot of Suigobashi Bridge, which spans the Sakuragawa River that flows into Lake Kasumigaura, this restaurant has been in business for over 20 years. It is loved by locals as a restaurant with deep roots in the community. In addition to counter seats, the restaurant also has many booth seats separated by partitions, so you can enjoy your meal without worrying about the people around you. Another attraction is the wide range of menu items available, including chicken broth, char siu noodles, and tantan noodles, in addition to tsukemen. The take-out set "Natural River Shrimp Tsukemen," which includes soup and noodles, is also perfect as a souvenir.

Comments Local Guide
The owner, a former professional bass fisherman, is particular about the "natural river shrimp tsukemen" which is delicious. If you come by bicycle, you can get a 100 yen discount.
Tsuchiura Ramen
  • URLhttps://ramen-restaurant-2069.business.site/
  • 住所Maya Building 101, 1-33 Hasugawara Shinmachi, Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスApproximately 11 minutes on foot from JR Tsuchiura Station
  • 営業時間11:00-15:00 (LO14:00), 18:00-22:00 (LO21:00)
  • 定休日Monday
  • TEL029-811-6861
  • 駐車場無料（４台）

You can try freshly made ramen at the tasting room attached to the noodle factory.

The restaurant's eponymous "Matsuya Noodles" costs 800 yen. The soup and noodles change daily.
The restaurant's eponymous "Matsuya Noodles" costs 800 yen. The soup and noodles change daily.

This noodle factory is located at the foot of Mt. Tsukuba, at the entrance to the approach to Mount Tsukuba Shrine. The noodles are made using only local flour "Yumeshiho", domestic wheat, water, salt, and kansui (water soy sauce). The noodles are made using a press machine used to make udon noodles, resulting in high-hydration raw noodles that are both firm and smooth in texture. While the main focus is on the noodle factory, there is a "tasting area" in one corner of the store where you can eat in. Matsuya Noodles is a traditional bowl of noodles, with their signature noodles floating in a seafood stock-based soup that changes daily, and topped with roast pork, bamboo shoots, and other toppings.

A tasteful space renovated from a souvenir shop built in the Taisho era

At the back of the sales area is a small tasting area with only seven counter seats. The tall stacks of flour bags are also impressive.
At the back of the sales area is a small tasting area with only seven counter seats. The tall stacks of flour bags are also impressive.

The shop is a repurposed Taisho-era building that was used as a souvenir shop until a few decades ago. In order to preserve the look of the time, the building has been renovated while making use of as many of the original beams and earthen walls as possible. In the sales area, there are many souvenir sets for sale, including fresh noodles of different thicknesses, curly noodles, and soups such as soy sauce, salt, and miso. They also offer delivery, so you can have it sent to your home and enjoy it to your heart's content. After the third day, the noodles will continue to mature over the course of the day, developing a firm texture, allowing you to enjoy the different flavors and textures.

Comments Local Guide
This is a place where climbers of Mount Tsukuba also drop in. It serves light ramen that is perfect for a "morning ramen." Because it is so popular, the tasting section may finish by mid-afternoon, so we recommend visiting in the morning.
Matsuya Noodle Factory
  • URLhttps://matsuyaseimenjo.co.jp/
  • 住所300 Numata, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki PrefectureMAP
  • アクセスApproximately 35 minutes by car from JR Tsuchiura Station
  • バスアクセス・Tsukuba Northern Shuttle (Tsukuba Center - Tsukuba Yamaguchi) End point
    ・Tsukuba-Tsuchiura Line (Tsukuba Station - Tsukuba-Yamaguchi) - A short walk from the last stop
  • 営業時間7:00-17:00 *Tasting session will end when soup runs out
  • 定休日Wednesday
  • TEL029-896-5298
  • 駐車場無料（４台）

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

"Ryusuke Tsukesoba" is 950 yen, and you can enjoy the dipping sauce and noodles to the fullest. The toppings are simple, with char siu, bamboo shoots, and seaweed.
"Ryusuke Tsukesoba" is 950 yen, and you can enjoy the dipping sauce and noodles to the fullest. The toppings are simple, with char siu, bamboo shoots, and seaweed.

Since opening in 2012, this famous tsukemen restaurant has seen a steady line of customers. The restaurant's pride and joy is the dipping sauce, made from a clear soup simmered with about five chickens per bowl, blended with seafood-based stock. While it is rich and creamy like potage soup, the addition of yuzu as an accent gives it a clean mouthfeel. The noodles are homemade, extra thick, using domestic wheat flour. The strong wheat flavor stands up to the rich soup, creating a perfect balance. The Japanese-style soup cut served at the end allows you to savor the flavor of the chicken down to the last drop.

He has produced many stores and is now well-known nationwide.

In addition to the eye-catching red chairs, there are also larger tables. The interior is open and the seating is arranged around the kitchen.
In addition to the eye-catching red chairs, there are also larger tables. The interior is open and the seating is arranged around the kitchen.

This popular restaurant was ranked number one in the nation in the Tori Paitan category on Japan's largest ramen review site. It is well-known nationwide. In addition to regular menu items such as "Tsukesoba" and "Jun Tori Soba," limited-edition menu items are constantly being introduced, so you can enjoy a new taste every time you visit. The stylish interior is also extremely comfortable. The number of ramen restaurants produced by "Tokukyu Tori Soba Ryusuke," including "Tsuchiura Mensho Ryunomai" in front of Tsuchiura Station, is increasing rapidly, making this a must-visit restaurant that is driving the popularity of ramen in the Tsukuba/Tsuchiura area.

Comments Local Guide
If you like spicy food, we recommend the "spicy tsukesoba." All of the dipping sauces are rich and punchy, but once you try it, you will never forget the taste. In the future, they plan to install a bicycle rack, and they aim to make it an easy place for cyclists to stop by.
Special grade chicken soba Ryusuke
  • URLhttp://junkie1131.webcrow.jp/ryusuke/
  • 住所848-5 Nagakuni, Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスApproximately 8 minutes by car from JR Tsuchiura Station
  • 営業時間11:30-14:30, 18:00-22:00
    *Ends when noodles and soup run out
  • 定休日Thursday
  • TEL029-823-7945
  • 駐車場free
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