Here are the top recommendations best Fukuoka breakfast places to let you try on to start your day in Fukuoka.
Breakfast is the most important meal to kick start your day. We tried various breakfast meals in Fukuoka during our visit. Whether traditional Japanese breakfast with a local fresh ingredient, grab-and-go breakfast in a convenient store, or Western-style morning coffee breakfast set in a relaxing cafe, Fukuoka has many breakfast choices to start your day.
We’re gathered and listed down what and where we ate for breakfast during our visit to Fukuoka. Check it out!
Fukuoka Travel Tips: We recommended to stay nearby Subway Station for easy getting around and food hunting. The Hotel WBF Grande Hakata is located in the central location with walking distance from Hakata Station. Open air bath, free drink, spacious room and great value for money. Popular pick in Fukuoka.
For pancake lovers, don’t miss the Bills Fukuoka in Suijo Park for the “The Best Breakfast in the world”. Bills is a well-known casual dining restaurant known for delicious classic breakfast and pancake. There are only five Bills Restaurant in total and Fukuoka is one of them!
Fukuoka Bills located alongside Fukuoka’s rivers makes the whole dining experience all the more scenic and enjoyable. This newly established area is decorated like Aussie style cafe with lovely decoration.
Bill Fukuoka – Signature Ricotta Hotcakes
The signature Ricotta Hotcakes (pancakes) is a must-try food in Bills Fukuoka. It was so moist, fluffy but provided sustenance at the same time. It was even more spectacular by adding on the butter, syrup, and fresh bananas. Awesome!
Please take note that Fukuoka Bill is extremely popular with long wait times required especially during weekends. Many celebrities also love the breakfast from Bills. To avoid long wait times, you may consider trying their Popular Breakfast Package from Bills Fukuoka with Reservation from Klook. This reservation is valid with a specific date and time where you can redeem this World’s 1 Breakfast in Fukuoka Tenjin.
Getting there: 3 min walk from Hakozaki Line Nakasu-Kawabata Station exit 2 or 3 min walk from Tenjin station exit 12. Price: Expected about ¥3,000 – ¥4,000 per person.
Tanya Hakata – Best Place For Breakfast in Fukuoka
This shop is located in the basement level of Hakata Station, Tanya Hakata is a popular eateries restaurants for locals and even tourists. Many people will stop by Tanya Hakata for their breakfast set, which comes from the beef tongue at a valuable price.
Regular Beef Tongue Set in Tanya Hakata
The popular breakfast set comes with 4 pieces of beef tongue with rice, miso soup, and some picked vegetables. The set is about ¥500 with a free flow of rice and drinks when you dine in Tanya Hakata. Can add some extras for a little more cost for a completely satisfying meal. Such a great deal!
Getting there: B1 level of AMU Plaza at Hakata Station (Ichiban Street) Price: Roughly about ¥600 for a set of breakfast in Tanya Hakata
The best grab-and-go place for breakfast onboard the Shinkansen or local train when visiting Fukuoka. Located at the entrance of JR Hakata station, Il Forno del Mignon is a popular pasty shop with a long line always especially peak traveling hours. But don’t be afraid by the line. It is moving pretty fast as the staff was efficient and many people just grab and go within a short lead time.
Mini Croissant from Il Forno del Mignon Hakata Station
Il Forno del Mignon sells freshly hot baked mini croissants with original, chocolate, and sweet potato varieties. Just eat it hot and warm. The price is very reasonable with 100g with ¥200. It’s cheap and super delicious. We ended up buying the mini croissants as a snack whenever we pass by the shop.
Getting there: JR Hakata Station. Price: Depend on weight with ¥200 for 100g.
Traindor Hakata Station
Traindor Hakata Station
Another popular Japanese pastry shop in Hakata Station where you can smell the fresh bread baking aroma permeates through the Hakata station while going through. How could people resist the delicious smell without buying one of them to try on?
Pastry in Traindor Hakata Station
The Traindor Hakata Station has a wide selection of Japanese pastries to choose from. We love their walnut bread and the cream bun is truly delicious. Not overwhelming the buttery pastry.
Getting there: JR Hakata Station. Price: ¥300 to ¥600 for a delicious Japanese pastry.
Doutor Coffee Shop Fukuoka
Doutor Coffee Shop Fukuoka
The Doutor Coffee Shop is a very popular chain coffee shop in Japan. There are many branches with more than 1100 shops widely spread across the whole of Japan. It is frequented visit by locals and all types of generation, from young to old people.
Whenever we visit Japan, we love to spend our time for breakfast or afternoon tea break in Doutor Coffee Shop. The reason is simple. Doutor Coffee Shop serves delicious food at an inexpensive price.
Breakfast Set in Doutor Coffee Shop Fukuoka
You can get a breakfast set only for about ¥400 that includes your choice of a sandwich and coffee (or tea). The coffee is pretty good, and the sandwiches are a step above the norm. The best Fukuoka breakfast place for a light breakfast meal. Just give it a try and you’ll surely like it!
Getting there: There is many Doutor shop in Fukuoka (Hakata and Tenjin). Just visit the one convenient for you. We visited the Doutor Hakata Subway Station Hakata Exit Shop. Price: About ¥400 for a sandwich and a cup of coffee that includes your choice of a sandwich and coffee (or tea).
Inaba Udon Shop Fukuoka
Inaba Udon Shop Fukuoka
The Inaba Udon shop is one of the Udon specialties shops in Fukuoka. It is an authentic udon restaurant and strives to pass on the Hakata food culture with natural ingredients. There are a total of six Inaba Udon Shop and we visited the one located on Ichiban Street on the basement level of Hakata Station.
We walked in by accident in the morning. In fact, we just wanted to have a Japanese breakfast with hot broth in the cool weather morning but it turned out to be a fantastic meal.
Best Fukuoka Breakfast – Inaba Udon Shop
The shop is pretty spacious and locals were having their udon as breakfast. The food menu comes with pictures and prices stated. So it is not a problem to order your food here.
I order the breakfast Udon set with a bowl of Udon and rice set at ¥400. The Udon was soft and really opened my stomach. The dashi (soup stock) made from natural ingredients, which is very delicious.
A simple yet tasty meal.
Getting there: B1 level of AMU Plaza at Hakata Station (Ichiban Street) Price: ¥400 for a breakfast set at Inaba Udon Shop.
Japanese Convenience Store
Food in Japanese Convenience Store
When traveling in Japan, you should at least go to a Japanese convenience store once to grab their food, drink, and even snack. The Japanese Convenience Store such as 7-11, Lawson, Family Mart is a perfect place for a grab-and-go breakfast place.
There are various food options even for breakfast in the Japanese convenience store. It is so convenient to grab some food for visitors before boarding the train or bus. One of the best places for Fukuoka breakfast.
Breakfast in Fukuoka – Japanese Convenience Store
For Japanese style breakfast, just try the onigiri rice ball with tuna, salmon, plum, or other flavors. Next, grab a Japanese coffee, milk, green tea, or fruit juice for a complete meal. There is also various type of bento set if you want to try another breakfast option in Japanese Convenience Store. One of the simple but budget place for Fukuoka breakfast.
Price: Depending on what you grab, approximately ¥500 for a light breakfast in a Japanese convenience store.
Best Place For Fukuoka Breakfast
All in all, the above Fukuoka breakfast restaurants list is just beginning to scratch the surface of Fukuoka’s culinary delights to start your food adventure even for breakfast. We spend several days trying their best food in Fukuoka and never feel bored. So, are you ready to put Fukuoka on your Japan travel bucket list?
Lastly, this Fukuoka Food Guide is part of my Fukuoka travel blog post. Read on my Fukuoka travel blog below if you need some idea to plan on your itinerary, things to do and see, best food to eat. Happy travel to Fukuoka.
Pablo’s original cheesecake is one of Osaka must-try desserts. Be sure to try this freshly bake cheesecake that can just melt in your mouth.
Japan’s kitchen, Osaka is world-renowned for its culinary delights. There are so many mouthwatering foods such as takoyaki, okonomiyaki, ramen, and other delicious food that are offering a culinary experience when visiting Osaka. PABLO, an original cheesecake house that original from Osaka, is one of the must-try food that you hardly can’t miss once in Osaka.
In fact, I am not a dessert lover but still, I am highly recommended their freshly baked cheesecake. The excellent original cheesecake and cheese tart from Pablo is so delicious and creamy.
Definitely one of the places to include in your Osaka itinerary is to try on the Pablo Cheesecake at their flagship store in Shinsaibashi. Read on my visit to the Pablo Dotonbori Osaka for their signature cheesecake here!
Osaka Travel Tips: When looking for the best price and biggest selection of hotels in Osaka check prices for Osaka Best Hotel from Booking.com. We found they are the best option and have a great cancelation policy.
PABLO Dotonbori Osaka
Pablo Dotonbori Osaka
First starting in Osaka, Pablo now with more than 20 shops in Japan, primary in Osaka, and Tokyo. Although Pablo Cheesecake had been expanding their business with branches in foreign countries, we highly recommended trying their here. The reason is simple. The cheesecake in Pablo Japan is much more delicious than the one in a foreign country.
We visited PABLO Dotonbori, located nearby the Shinsaibashi bridge. Pablo has several stores in Osaka but the Dotonbori Pablo is the largest one with a cafe setting. It was about easy walking distance from our hotel stayed in Osaka, Cross Hotel Osaka.
Our day was an itinerary-packed with Osaka Amazing Pass and we decided to have a dessert break in the late afternoon. It was about 4 pm with a long queue when we reached the Pablo Dotonbori Osaka. We joined the line and luckily the wait time wasn’t too bad with about 15 minutes for our turn.
We were served on the second floor with a spacious seating area. The whole dining area was full of people including locals and visitors. Many people are enjoying their afternoon break with these popular delicacies of cheesecake in Pablo.
Pablo Dotobori Osaka with a wider product line up with various flavors such as green tea, melon, chocolate, and more. The original cheesecake is great to try and they even have a seasonal limited that introduced every month.
Delicious Cheesecake
Pablo original Cheesecake
We ordered the original cheesecake and green tea cheesecake with ice-cream to try on. Without a long wait, our Pablo cheesecakes were served. It looks so soft and creamy. Can’t wait to have our first try.
The cheesecake itself was quite big and can be catered to 2 to 3 people. Once cut open, the cheese would flow slowly! The cheesecakes are made fresh daily which guarantees their freshness.
My first attack was the original cheesecake that can be dipped into the vanilla ice cream. The cheesecake is so smooth, creamy, and tasty. The tart baked crust was so crispy and the cheese filling was so soft with a nice texture. It was expectedly delicious but the cheese ice cream makes it even more amazing!
Pablo Matcha Cheesecake
We also try the matcha cheesecake and it was full of matcha flavor. It was perfectly matched with the crispy crust. It was not too sweet and melts in my mouth. Highly recommended to try it!
We enjoyed our afternoon break with this delicious Pablo cheesecake in Dotonbori Osaka.
Besides the popular signature cheesecake, PABLO also serves a wider variety such as cheese-tart, biscuits, cookies, and more. Take a look if you are interested to try on.
Osaka Best Dessert
All in all, I am truly fall in love with Pablo cheesecake. My top favorite, of course, is the original one, and the matcha goes in the second. Although the price for this Osaka best dessert is not cheap but definitely one of the best cheesecakes we have tasted. Worth the money!
If the waiting line is too long, you may consider taking away options. Friendly reminder, the cheesecake will keep for about 6 hours and it will stay fresh in your fridge for up to 3 days just in case you can’t finish it. But, my advice is to always eat it after you purchase it so that the cheese will still freshly melt.
Lastly, this Osaka food blog is part of our Japan Kansai Travel Series. If you are interested, continue to read also our other blog posts on How to Plan Your 7 Days Kansai Japan itinerary.
In this Hokkaido self-drive itinerary travel guide blog, we are sharing with you what to do and see at Furano, Biei, Asahikawa, Farm Tomita, and many attractions by traveling on a rental car in summer.
We visited Hokkaido in Summer, through the trip was tiring due to long-distance travel by self-driving. But it was truly a memorable experience for our family. While this is my second visit to Hokkaido and it might seem like repeating some of the places. So I am not going to share the complete Hokkaido self-driving itinerary and only focus on my visit to Asahikawa, Furano, and Biei which I am not covering on my previous Hokkaido trip.
The amazing flower field Furano is our main highlight for this Hokkaido self-driving itinerary in summer. Additionally, I will also share how to rent a car and tips for driving in Hokkaido in another post. Continue to read on our Hokkaido self-drive travel blog here!
Hokkaido is located in Northernmost Japan’s prefecture and it is very easy to get to Hokkaido by air and railway. Frequent domestic and international landed in New Chitose Airport, the largest airport in Hokkaido. If you are flying to Hokkaido directly, it is most likely that you will land at Sapporo New Chitose Airport, it’s probably the most accessible airport to visit Hokkaido.
Wifi Connectivity: Nowadays, it is important to stay connected to check on navigations, location, and travel information. You can get a 4G Sim Card once you reach New Chitose Airport. We recommended getting a Wifi router if you are traveling in a group as it is more value for money. You can connect up to 6 devices to the router at once.
Kitaca IC Card: When traveling in Japan, it is recommended to get a rechargeable IC card that can be used in transportation, convenience stores, and even vending machines. The Kitaca IC Card is similar to IC Card from other regions, like Tokyo (SUICA), and Osaka (ICOCA) which can be used in Hokkaido too. Alternatively, you can purchase the Kitaca IC Card which is preloaded ¥1500 in advance, and get it at the station.
Planning on Hokkaido Self Drive Itinerary
Due to the vast landscape and less populated, the best way to explore the beauty and attractions of Hokkaido by self-driving. The forest, mountain, lake, and natural beauty make it the most photogenic place in Japan. The simplest way to get around in Hokkaido is by car. I had been to Hokkaido using public transport and self-driving. In my opinion, I really recommended renting a car to drive yourself, especially for those traveling with family and kids. The attractions are not close to each other and required a good planning itinerary. Added, some of the attractions are hard to reach by public transport.
Moreover, traveling in Hokkaido is not cheap. So please prepare a reasonable budget for your trip. Driving in Hokkaido for a group of four travelers can help to save on some of the transportation fees and be more flexible. But, Japanese car rental sites can be a bit confusing. You can check your rental car and prebook it via RentalCars.com. It is easy to use and compare various types of rental cars with different coverage include. Most importantly, high customer reputation and review.
During our Hokkaido summer visit, we planned to visit Furano and Biei to see the famous flower fields and scenery. The journey from Sapporo to Furano or Biei takes approximately 2 hours. A day trip from Sapporo to Furano and Biei is doable but it can be very tiring, especially for the elderly. After consideration, we decided to stay somewhere near the attractions to easily get around.
The accommodations in Furano and Biei are limited and not cheap. The budget accommodations are almost fully booked in the peak season of Summer! There is another alternative solution was to stay at Asahikawa about 30 to 60 minutes away from Furano. Asahikawa is the second-largest city in Hokkaido, very well connected with public transport, and easy to drive from Sapporo to explore Furano and Biei. Besides, there is also a lot of famous food that you can try out during your stay, making it a perfect base if you wish to live in the city area for yummy Japanese food yet want to stay closer to the Furano and Biei.
So we made Asahikawa our base for traveling to Biei and Furano due to its convenience and price.
Accommodation Tips: We stayed in JR Inn Asahikawa which is located right beside the JR Asahikawa station. It is very convenient as there are a lot of eateries and a big AEON Mall within walking distance. Most importantly, the room rate is much cheaper compare with the hotel in Furano and Biei. Besides, it is also one of the best hotels in Asahikawa if you are traveling by train.
If you want something out of town and traditional, you can drive up to Asahidake and stay in one of the onsen hotels.
Day 1: From Sapporo To Furano
We spend our night in Sapporo and picked up the rental car the day before start-up our Hokkaido self-drive itinerary. Take note that some of the rental shops only open at 8 or 9 am. So if you plan to leave early, you might need to consider picking up your car one day earlier. Just key in the Map Code or phone number that is found on google maps into your GPS, and you are ready for your Hokkaido self-driving trip!
Our first destination for our Hokkaido road trip was the flower-filled rural town of Furano. It is about a two-hour drive from Sapporo city but you might take a longer time due to the journey being packed with incredible scenery. We visited the Farm Tomita for a beautiful flowery spectacle.
Furano Travel Tips: Furano has a famous ski resort Hotel MyStays Sapporo Station and pretty popular during winter. You should stay for a couple of nights in Furano and take day trips to various attractions. Check for the best price here!
Farm Tomita
Farm Tomita Hokkaido
Located in Nakafurano, Farm Tomita (ファーム富田) is one of the popular attractions and a must-visit during summer. It is where you can witness an abundance of vivid colors with an impressive vast land of a flower blooming from June to early October every year. However, Farm Tomita gain its popularity by its vast land of stunning lavender fields. One destination I would recommend not to miss if you are in Hokkaido in Lavender season.
Our visit to Farm Tomita is not the popular Lavender season and we miss the chance to mesmerize lavender to full bloom. But still, there is still plenty of full bloom of flowers for us to take breathtaking photos. Several flower fields such as Japanese Poppies, Salvia, Begonias, and Bugle give a very colorful show.
Walking along the paths and enjoying sunshine and breeze makes us feel so refreshed and joyful. We were greeted by the rainbow flower field and we can even smell the flower in the air. We wandered around in the spectacular flower field and take endless photos with colorful flowers as a backdrop.
Hokkaido Lavender Ice Cream
Next, we spend time touring the souvenir shops that keep us entertained during our visit. A variety of lavender souvenirs can get here such as lavender oil, lavender soap, dried lavender, and more. Don’t forget to try the lavender soft-serve ice cream which is so refreshing on a hot Summer day!
Tomita Melon House
There is also a Tomita Melon House located next door to Tomita Farm. The refreshing melon was so delicious and sweet! Fresh fruit for a light meal. All in all, visiting Farm Tomita can easily take up half a day to enjoy the natural beauty.
Farm Tomita Travel Tips: Farm Tomita is easy to access by self-driving with ample parking available.
Entrance Fee: Free Map Code: 349 276 804*00
Saika no Santo
Saika no Santo
Next, we proceed to Saika no Santo from Farm Tomite. Compare with Farm Tomita, Saika no Sato is smaller and less crowded. It is located on the hill and surrounded by lush forest trees, overlooking the Furano landscape. The brightly colored flowers grown by the paths up the hill make a magnificent view. We even walk up to the hilltop to enjoy the beautiful valley view and the mountain beyond. The flower field in Saika no Santo is so gorgeous with a backdrop of mountains.
The Saiko no Santo is peaceful and serene. We spend about 1 hour here before proceeding to the next destination.
Getting to Saiko no Santo: 5 minutes drive from Farm Tomita.
Ningle Terrace
Ningle Terrace
Our next destination is Ningle Terrace, a picturesque timber cottages village with many woodshops selling local produce and handmade souvenirs. It is located beside the Shin Furano Prince Hotel, a popular ski resort with a playground for snow activity in the winter.
Once we arrived, we will off to the romantic and cozy wooden huts. Each of the cottages housed skilled craftsmen working on specialty arts and souvenirs. The area, walkway, and cottages transform the Ningle Tringle into a fairy tale scene. The natural surroundings such as Pine trees, and waterfalls give off a dreamy vibe. Can’t imagine the magical scene on a winter night when the lights lit up with snowy cap white snow.
Ningle Terrace with lights lit up
We enjoyed our lovely walk in the romantic scene and hanging around to watch the craftsmen at work. It is an enchanting little area to visit even during the day. Personally, I have enjoyed the peace of the area surrounded by trees and little wooden cottages. Too bad it was too crowded with tourists and the price is slightly expensive. We ended our visit to Ningle Terrace with a cup of coffee at one of the cabin cafes right in the middle of the woods. It was an enjoyable time to enjoy the serenity of the entire place. Worth to spend some time visiting.
Hokkaido Self Driving Tips: Recommended visiting during the evening time when fluorescent bulbs lit up and fewer people. However, take note that the road leading to Ningle Terrace can be quite dark and deserted. It is about 10 minutes by car from Furano Station.
Asahikawa Ramen Village
We end our day 1 Hokkaido self-drive itinerary with a satisfying bowl of ramen at Asahikawa Ramen Village. We actually planned to visit Furano Cheese Factory and Furano Wine Factory in our initial Hokkaido self-drive itinerary but ended skipped it to slow down our pace. You may include it if you have more time to spend.
Asahikawa Ramen Village houses of eight popular best ramen shops in Asahikawa. It is the best place to try a variety of famous Asahikawa Ramen in one easy location. Each shop with a menu located outside of the shop. But no worry, you wouldn’t go wrong with any one of them.
Our bowl of Asahikawa ramen in Asahikawa Ramen Village. It was not the first time we tasted the Asahikawa ramen. Asahikawa is known for its shoyu (soya sauce) based broth with thin hard noodles. The price is reasonable, about 800 yen. Ramen lover, don’t miss the chance!
After the flavorful ramen, we ended our first day Hokkaido Self-Drive itinerary and back to the hotel for good rest. But still, we spend some time at the AEON mall next to our hotel for some Japanese snacks and drinks.
Getting to Asahikawa Ramen Village: 10 minutes drive from our hotel JR Inn Asahikawa.
Asahikawa Ramen Village Opening Hours: From 11:00 to 20:00 Map Code: 79 410 454*44
Day 2: Asahikawa, Biei
Next, our second day of the Hokkaido road trip itinerary is Biei, a majestic rural area with an hour’s drive from Asahikawa. Again, the driving journey is full of incredible scenery and we took longer than we planned.
We visited Shikisai no Oka, Shirogane Blue Pond, and the Shirahige waterfall and spend the time mesmerizing the beautiful hilly scenery at Patchwork Road and Panorama Road.
Shikisai no Oka
Shikisai no Oka Flower Field
The Shikisai no Oka (四季彩の丘) is an amazing flower garden, stretching across seven hectares of land on Oka no machi Biei. The “rainbow field” is definitely our favorite attraction for our Hokkaido self-drive itinerary. We had a marvelous tour of the colorful, striped fields which is truly amazing. The hilly flower field can be tough for the elderly, so we decided to ride the tractor-pulled buggy which cost us 500 yen.
We had a great time taking photos of the colorful flower fields. The layered strips of color against the backdrop of the magnificent mountain range were all worth it. A feast for our eyes and an experience that we never forget.
This is why so many people flocked to Hokkaido every summer! Such a beautiful sight!
Alpaca farm in Shikisai no Oka
There’s an Alpaca farm on-site to keep the kids and adults entertained. The entrance fee is 500yen per pax and we also paid an additional 100 yen for a small basket to feed and touch the alpaca.
Shikisai no Oka Travel Tips: No entrance fee to enter the Shikisai no Oka but you may do a 200 yen donation to maintain the flower field. We were happy to donate as the workers worked hard to maintain the magnificent flower field. Besides, the parking fare will be waived if you are spending in the restaurant on the second floor.
Shirogane Blue Pond
Shirogane Blue Pond
Next, we drove along the scenic journey to Shirogane Blue Pond (青い池). For Mac users, the Shirogane Blue Pond is where you see your desktop wallpaper come to life. The color of the blue pond will be different depending on the amount of sunlight.
I visited Shirogane Blue Pond by public bus during my last visit to Hokkaido. The time spent here was limited and rushed in order to catch the bus schedule. So this round we can spend more time mesmerized by the colorful Blue Pond freely. Just follow the one-way footpath to walk around the pond. A calm and picturesque attraction in Biei.
Entrance Fee: Free Map Code: 349 569 814*88
Shirahige waterfall
Blue Water that Flows into Shirogane Blue Pond
Just a 5-minute drive from the Blue Pond is an easily accessible but scenic waterfall: Shirahige waterfall. So it is worth coupling together if you’re visiting Shirogane Blue Pond.
There is plenty of car park available nearby. We parked pretty close by and the waterfall can be viewed from the bridge with few steps away. The deep turquoise blues and mineral-rich blue waters made the sight. Besides, this is the blue water from the river that flows into the Shirogane Blue Pond. Simply beautifully. We spend about 30 minutes at the viewpoint.
Entrance Fee: Free Map Code: 796 182 575*30
Patchwork Road and Panorama Road
Driving on Panorama Road
Time to make your way to the beautiful landscape of Biei to Patchwork Road and Panorama Road. In fact, Biei is surrounded by vast expanses of the hill with Patchwork Road located in the northwest while Panorama Road is in the south of town. The never-ending rolling hill, wonderful scene, and picturesque farm make it an enjoyable driving journey.
There are a few popular spots to take a photo along the driving journey. Some of the spots are even filmed in the TV commercial such as Ken & Marry trees, Seven Star Trees, Mild Seven Hill, and more.
In fact, I visited those amazing scenery by cycling during the summer a few years back. Read more if you are planning on a physically demanding itinerary like me!
At the end of the day, we drove back to Asahikawa city and enjoy the Genghis Khan grill lamb, a must-eat when visiting Hokkaido. Jingisukan Daikokuya (成吉思汗大黒屋) probably serve the best Jingisukan in Hokkaido. We know this place three years ago and we’re still happy to go there again. It is a local restaurant with awesome local food.
We waited for about 30 minutes during our visit on weekdays to get into the restaurant. But the wait was worth it! The restaurant is full of a smoky smell but it makes me feel like entering an authentic local restaurant.
We ordered several servings of the Genghis Khan and of the marinated lamb and the vegetables. The taste was still amazing like what we had before. Truly a delicious meal.
We enjoyed dinner and will visit again if we are in Asahikawa again!
Hokkaido Self Driving Itinerary
All in all, hopefully, you can get an idea of how to plan your Hokkaido self-drive itinerary to Furano, Biei, and Asahikawa for 2-3 days. Bear in mind, don’t visit Hokkaido in a rush. Make sure you have plenty of time to enjoy the scenery. These areas are truly one of the most beautiful places we have ever had the pleasure of visiting.
Our recommended Hokkaido self-drive itinerary is only focused on Furano, Biei, and Asahikawa. But, make no mistake with it. Hokkaido is truly huge and we are only spending 2 days in these places for the flower field itinerary which is hardly accessible by public transport. If you are interested, you may read on our travel blog about other attractive places in Hokkaido.
Looking for real ramen in Japan, Ichiran ramen is a must-try for your Japan food list. We visited the Ichiran Ramen Ueno and here is our dining experience.
Ichiran ramen is a world-renowned ramen chain in Japan. It is popular for its flavorful tonkotsu ramen. The creamy rich broth, grilled pork slices, and thin firm noodles warrant a dedicated food blog post for Ichiran ramen.
Here is my food review on Ichiran Ramen at Ueno, my first ramen addicted start point.
Tokyo Hotel Tips: When looking for the best price and biggest selection of hotels in Tokyo check prices for Tokyo Best Hotel from Booking.com. We found they are the best option and have a great cancelation policy.
Ichiran Ramen Ueno
Ueno is such a wonderful part of Tokyo with a zoo, museum, shines, and also Ichiran. It is a perfect place full of cultural and culinary. We arrived at the Ichiran Ramen Ueno after one full day visiting Ueno and Asakusa.
It was about 6 pm and there were people in line queuing outside the restaurant to try the best ramen. We can see the seating condition display in Ichiran Ramen Ueno while waiting in the waiting area. Glad that the line wasn’t long and moving pretty fast. We can go to the restaurant after 15 minutes of wait time.
How To Order Ichiran Ramen
Ichiran Ramen encourages its customers to eat ramen the way they like it. The procedure to order your Ichiran ramen was simple. You can choose the texture and taste level to customize it based on your liking.
Once get it, just pick the food that you want to order on the kiosk machine. That’s is very easy to order in Ichiran ramen as there is only one type of ramen that you can order. But you opt for additional options like added with more meat, add a soft-boiled egg, additional noodles “kaedama”, and a few other items. Just press the button for the item order. Simple!
The ramen will be started at ¥890 and the machine will automatically increase the price when you added more items. Lastly, pay the money for your Ichiran ramen accordingly by cash or Suica card.
The machine will dispense your item ticket one by one. Take your ramen ticket and wait for the waiter to serve you to your seat.
Private Cubicle Seating
Private Individual Cubicle Seating
The server will guide you to your seat when there is your turn. There is a row of individual cubicle separated by wooden partitions gives the diner some private dining time.
Please note that Ichiran ramen is not ideal for large groups and hard to arrange to sit together. You might need to wait for a longer time if want to seat together. Solo traveler and small group dinners will be easier to get seats. My recommendation is to split your group up, especially if you’re going to be using the individual booths anyways!
How To Order in Ichiran Ramen
Once seated, it’s time to customized your Ichiran ramen. Grab a sheet and pencil and stated your ramen’s preference. For the first-timer for Ichiran ramen, you can choose the standard for most of the items. I personally prefer with extra spice. Their red chili sauce is their specialty.
Next, put the sheet and ordering ticket that you get from the vending machine on the edge of the table next to the window with a bamboo curtain. The server will open the window and take your ticket.
While waiting, you can self-service for complimentary tapped water and a plastic glass. But you can also order the green-tea beer at Ichiran ramen.
My Bowl of Ichiran Ramen
Ichiran Ramen Ueno
Without a long wait, our customized ramen was served. Ichiran ramen Ueno served the soft-boiled egg with the shell. So you need to peel off by yourself.
It seems like I am too greedy as I order extra pork slices, extra green onion, extra spice level, and a green tea beer. What a feast!
My first sip on the flavourful pork broth. The taste was so extraordinary, beyond delicious. The thin noodles go so well with the broth. The pork belly is so tender and juicy. While the boiled egg perfectly cooked with running egg yolk.
My Empty Bowl of Ichiran Ramen
Nobody speaks with the sounds of slurping envelopes you. Within 10 minutes, you can finish the Ichiran ramen with an empty bowl.
Although I have been tried on various types of tonkatsu ramen, I still hardly forgot the first time when I try on the Ichiran Ramen at Ueno. The thick rich broth adds to the chewy noodles, makes the ramen a complete enjoyment.
After finishing the ramen noodles, you can pay for the additional noodles “kaedama” to get a refill. Step-by-step instruction on how to order extra noodles was ready to guide you on this. However, please take note that only the noodle can be refilled but not the soup.
Overview: The Best Ramen in Ueno Tokyo
All in all, there is not much to quibble about for Ichiran ramen. It is exactly what Japanese ramen is meant to be: tasty, hot, hearty, and cheap. This may not blow away locals or regular visitors, but for a traveler, Ichiran ramen is a must-try experience.
Definitely, having a bowl of Ichiran ramen is one of the Japanese dining experience you want to have.
Getting There
Ichiran is a famous ramen chain in Tokyo, serving truly excellent ramen. It is running 24 hours per day sp that you have slurp on this goodness even at midnight.
There are many Ichiran ramen branches scattered all across Japan. The Ichiran Ramen Ueno is easy to get in especially if you are planning for an Ueno itinerary.
Ichiran, Atre Ueno Yamashitaguchi Address: 7-1-1, Ueno, Taito 110-0005 Tokyo Prefecture Opening Hours: 24 Hours! Getting there: 3 minutes walk from Ueno JR Station (next to Yamashita exit)
Are you visiting Tokyo and would like to share your best eats in Tokyo? We’d love to hear from you.
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