Living in Tokyo
Ramen Street at Tokyo Station
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Ramen is a Chinese style noodle that has been firmly integrated and developed as a popular food in Japan. We can say that Ramen is one of the most popular foods in Japan and comparable to Sushi. So, it will be a real treat to sample authentic style Ramen while you are staying in Japan.
In Tokyo, there are areas called Ramen Gekisenku which translates into competitive areas for Ramen shops. In Ramen Gekisenku, several famous Ramen shops are located very close to each other. These shops are rivals to each other and so they try and offer the best Ramen in the area, to compete and basically to survive financially too.
If you want to eat really good Ramen, go to the Ramen Gekisenku area. There are several areas called Ramen Gekisenku in Tokyo, for example, at Ikebukuro and Waseda (Takadano baba). But we think that the Ramen Gekisenku called "Ramen Street" at Tokyo Station is the most convenient location for a tourist, than trying travel to the outer areas of Tokyo by JR trains, especially if you are not so familiar with the train system.
The Tokyo Station is centrally located in Tokyo and is similar to Union Station in Toronto or Grand Central Station in New York.
In the basement of Tokyo Station (Yaesu exit area), there is a Ramen Gekisenku and has 7 famous Ramen shops located.
Please note these shops are so crowded during lunch time (11:30am - 1:30pm) and you will usually see long line-up's in front of the shops. So, it is better to avoid lunch hour, especially if you don't speak Japanese.
If you don't understand the Menus which are in Japanese, you can order by saying
"The most popular Ramen of this shop please", but, of course, in Japanese! :-) Kono mise no Ichiban Ninki no Ramen wo, kudasai.
OR
"I will have this Ramen", (pointing to the Ramen that a customer next to you is eating) Kore to Onaji Ramen wo Kudasai
The price of one order of Ramen is from 650 Yen to 1000 Yen ($6 to $8 US).
So, it is not so expensive compared to Sushi. If you feel hungry while waiting for the Shinkansen (Bullet Train), why not drop by a Ramen shop?
Enjoy Ramen!
