"Every bowl of Shirakawa ramen holds a history of 100 years"
-Kiana Motoyanagi
Shirakawa ramen originated in Shirakawa City, located in Fukushima Prefecture. It is one of Japan’s most well-known regional ramen styles and has a history that goes back over 100 years.
The roots of Shirakawa ramen can be traced to the Taisho era. Around 1921, a ramen shop called Kamegen was opened by Genmatsu Kibuse, who had trained in Yokohama. He introduced hand-pulled noodles and a soy sauce–based broth to Shirakawa, laying the foundation of Shirakawa ramen.
Later, during the Showa era, another important figure helped shape the identity of Shirakawa ramen. Toraji Takei, often called “Tora-san,” opened Tora Shokudo in 1969. His shop became extremely popular and is still considered the most representative restaurant of Shirakawa ramen today. Many ramen chefs trained under him and later opened their own shops, helping spread the style throughout the region.
Handmade Curly Noodles - Medium-thick curly noodles with firm texture. The uneven, hand-cut style helps the noodle hold the soup well.
Soy Sauce-Based Chicken Broth - A clear light soy sauce soup made from chicken, offering a smooth taste but still rich with umami.
Charcoal-Grilled Chashu - It has a smoky, rich flavor filled with the aroma of charcoal.
Classic Traditional Toppings - Toppings include naruto (fishcake), bamboo shoots, green onions, and spinach.
Craftsmanship - Traditional hand-made techniques are valued, especially in noodle-making.
Vlog exploring different shops of Shirakawa ramen
(English)
The making of Shirakawa ramen
(Japanese only)
Japanese TV explaning about Shirakawa ramen
(Japanese only)
"Before this project, I was very familiar with Shirakawa ramen because I live nearby and eat it often, but I never really knew about its long history. I was surprised to learn that Shirakawa ramen has been enjoyed for about 100 years and continues to be loved by many people today. The rich broth is flavorful without being too heavy, and the hand-made noodles have a unique texture that perfectly absorbs the soup. The toppings are delicious, and my favorite is definitely the chashu. Learning about the history and craftsmanship behind Shirakawa ramen made me appreciate it even more. I hope everyone gets the chance to try it at least once in their lifetime."
Photo by: the author
Where To Eat
(Shirakawa Tourism Guide, n.d.)
Kafuutei "Fire Breeze" - So popular costumers line up early before the broth sells out for the day!
44-16 Onigoe, Shirakawa, Fukushima 961-0885
( Ramen Blog, 2022)
Teuchi Chuka Soba Mori - Famous for its firm, hand-pulled noodles!
Miwadai-243-3 Shirasaka, Shirakawa, Fukushima 961-0835
(Shirakawa Tourism Guide, n.d.)
Marumen Seimenjo. (n.d.). 白河ラーメン完全ガイド [Complete guide to Shirakawa ramen]. https://www.raumen.co.jp/rapedia/study_japan/study_raumen_shirakawa.html
Ramen Data Bank. (n.d.). 白河ラーメンの特徴 [Characteristics of Shirakawa ramen].https://shop.onlyone-marumen.com/%E7%99%BD%E6%B2%B3%E3%83%A9%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A1%E3%83%B3%E5%AE%8C%E5%85%A8%E3%82%AC%E3%82%A4%E3%83%89/
Shirakawa Tourism Guide. (n.d.). 白河ラーメン [Shirakawa ramen].https://shirakawa315.com/ramen/