UPDATE (As of 1 November 2020): Currently, Japan is not allowing tourists in. However, if you are a resident of Japan and are currently in a specific list of the seven ASEAN countries that fall within it's "travel bubble", then you are allowed to enter Japan. These countries are:
Cambodia
Laos
Malaysia
Myanmar
Taiwan
Thailand
Vietnam
Additionally, Japan has opened a "travel corridor" with Singapore for short-term business travel on September 18. Click on the links for more information, including testing procedures for COVID-19!
Hello again, my dear Ramblers. Wherever in this beautiful world that you call home, I hope that you are having a good November day. For my Ramblers on the northern half of this globe, it means that fall (or autumn) is in full swing. The weather is getting cooler and crisper as the period of daylight is decreasing. The cooler weather brings leaves that change from the dark greens of bygone summer days to various shades of reds, oranges, golds and browns. One such place famous for this chromatic explosion is the island nation of Japan, also known as "The Land of the Rising Sun". One way that the Japanese beat autumn's chill is with a steaming bowl of Ichiran tonkotsu ramen!!
Back in March, my family and I had the distinct pleasure of travelling to Japan for the first time. Although it was late winter transitioning to early spring, the weather was still quite cold most days (definitely at night!) Our time there included stays in Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya and back to Osaka. It was 14 days away from the sweltering tropicalness that is our Malaysia clime.
Now, as with any trip, extensive research was done to plan out the days and nights of our trip. This included transportation, food spots, landmarks, etc. I had come across a video online about this ramen restaurant called Ichiran where you can customize your bowl of delicious tonkotsu ramen (not the $.99 variety, but real Japanese ramen.)
"Tonkotsu" refers to the type of broth that is used in every bowl of ramen. It is made from pork bones, offering a rich taste. The noodles are made in-house with a "quality blend of flours designed to...be synergy with the soup", as stated on the Ichiran US site.
Well, after walking around Kyoto in a rainstorm one of the nights after visiting the famous Edo-style Starbucks, (part of the way without an umbrella mind you), we managed to come across their Kyoto location near the main shopping area by Kyoto Station.
HOW DO YOU ORDER DELICIOUS RAMEN?
Now, in case you haven't been to Japan before, Ichiran (as with most other ramen shops) have it where you order your food via machine located in the lobby area of the restaurant. There, you can pick the ramen that you want, how you want. Want it spicy? Want extra noodle? Want dessert? All right there with a push of a button. Gotta love that Japanese efficiency, eh?
You can even get beer, if you are so inclined. Everything from side dishes, extra noodle, etc. are all available as add-ons. What you do is place your money into the machine. It displays the balance and you go and select what you like. Each selection, you are given a small paper slip that you hold on to for later.
Of course, you are also given a paper order chit to customize your main bowl of ramen. Richness of broth, seasoning stock or "dashi", noodle hardness, if you want garlic (and how much, up to one clove), level of spiciness, green onion, sliced roasted pork or "cha shiu"; and noodle texture from extra soft to it's polar opposite, extra firm.
*Word of advice Ramblers: be careful with the spiciness level. *
You can pick up to level 10, which would pretty much melt your toilet bowl. Our chit comes pre-circled with their recommendations for each category. They recommend mild, which is "0.5" level. Of course, I ended up picking 3, after deliberating between that and "medium", level 1.
Whichever level you pick, that spiciness is brought to you by their own "spicy red sauce" which is a chili-powder based sauce with "30 different ingredients".
SEATING
Now, while waiting in the usually-long line, you may eventually notice a lighted seating chart mounted on the wall. Available seats will be indicated with a green light. You know, "green means go". And go you will..to your seat once your party is called. The staff member will lead you to another room, where unlike other ramen shops in Japan, they have individual booths as opposed to the bar and stool setting that we had our first night in Japan.
There's a reason for that and this is what sets Ichiran apart from other ramen shops. It is because they believe that by sitting at your own individual booth, you aren't distracted and can fully enjoy your delicious ramen. It was one thing I found quite interesting about Ichiran.
Now, when you sit at your booth, you will have your order chit that you filled out earlier, as well as the slips of paper of what you purchased at the machine out front. See that small rectangle there? They have a small metal tray that I will get into in a bit. That spigot to the left supplies you unlimited hot water, say for your green tea for example. Plus, chopsticks will be eagerly awaiting your use. Plus, a pen in case you change your mind about part of your order, or if you want to add to your order. (I'm sure that once that first spoonful of noodle and delicious broth hit your lips, you'll be begging for more!)
Eventually, parts of your order start appearing before your eyes, as if by magic! Actually, your server drops it to you through that curtain that you see there separating you from the working end of Ichiran. You'll even hear a "domo arigatou gozimas" as your server brings you your food.
A neat thing that I found about eating out (and pretty much everywhere else) is the politeness of the Japanese. This applies to even the cooking and wait staff. They actually thank you for ordering their food and it is their sincerest hope that you enjoyed it. Where else can you get that level of politeness? That is one aspect of Japanese society that I really enjoyed experiencing and wished it could spread to other locales.
NOW..THE MOMENT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR!!
When that bowl is placed in front of you, it is--how to describe--almost magical. All that hype you have seen and heard online, that anticipation that you (and your stomach) have experienced leading up to your Japan trip--culminates into this big bowl that now graces it's presence with your own!
Now, the first bite!!
Broth and noodle, cha shiu (Japanese-style sliced pork) and green onion, chili paste and the seaweed..all come together in a melange of flavor and excitement that mere English words can barely describe. Maybe there's a word in your native language, my worldly Ramblers.) If you're lucky as I was, you'd spring a little extra yen for their stewed pork. That adds a fatty dimension to an already-amazing ramen. I highly, repeat HIGHLY, recommend adding the stewed pork to your ramen. You'll thank me in whichever language you speaketh.
Now, my Ramblers. You have just landed at Kansai Airport. You get through immigration, grab your luggage, get your local SIM card and then go to board the train bound for Osaka. After reading this delicious post, you suddenly find yourself craving for delicious Ichiran ramen. But..where can you find it?
Address: 1 Chome-4-16 Dotonbori, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0071, Japan Hours: Open 24 hours Phone: +81 6-6210-1422
Address: Gurukasu City Building 2F, 2-4-2 Shinsaibashisuji, Chuo-ku, Osaka City, Osaka-fu Phone:542-0085 Hours: 日～木、祝 9:00-翌1:00 金、土、祝前日 9:00-翌3:00 (Sun-Thurs, Holidays: 9:00AM-1:00AM, Fri & Sat, day before holiday: 9:00AM-3:00AM)
Address: 7-18 Souemoncho Chuo-ku Osaka-shi Osaka-fu Phone: 542-0084 Hours: 24 Hours
If you want to get to one of these places via train, just enter in this address, and the address of your accommodation to Google Maps. Select the train icon to see which train lines to take. A cool thing about Google Maps is that it will also give you walking distance and times between the station and your desired Ichiran location.
For other locations in Osaka, Kyoto and other parts of Japan, follow this link. You can switch the language to English at the top of the page.
All images, unless otherwise indicated, are original works of the author. © 2019 Ramblings of Robert. All Rights Reserved.
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