Best Ramen in Japan: Iida Shoten 飯田商店

Founded in 2010 by Shotaro Iida, this shop is located in the quiet hot-spring town of Yugawara. Iida-san’s family was originally in the dried seafood and nori business, and he actually started the shop in their old warehouse. Since then, it has become a cult phenomenon, winning the "Tokyo Ramen of the Year" (TRY) award multiple times and holding a legendary status for its "100% natural" approach to ingredients.

Best Shoyu Ramen

Let’s talk about the "fuss." To eat here, you have to survive the weekly bloodbath on Omakase.in. If you win that battle, you then face a 2-hour train ride from central Tokyo. Unless you’re already visiting the onsens in Atami, you really have to be a "ramen manic" to do this. The shop itself is a temple—minimalist, open kitchen, and a ritualistic atmosphere where they make their own silk-like noodles right in front of you.

The Food: Is it great ramen? Definitely. The Shoyu has incredible depth, a beautiful amber clarity, and a lingering aftertaste that feels expensive. The chashu is a masterclass in texture—tender, well-seasoned, and perfectly timed.

But here’s the honest truth: when you spend weeks planning a booking and hours traveling, you start to fantasise about a "mind-blowing" flavour. 9/10 times, these hype spots turn out to be "just" very good. It’s an elite bowl, but the effort to get there might actually set your expectations higher than any bowl of ramen could ever achieve.

Verdict: A technically flawless bowl of Shoyu ramen, though the massive effort to book and travel might leave you wishing for a miracle rather than "just" excellence.

Ramen
Food: 5/5 — Technically perfect Shoyu and some of the best noodles in the world.
Service: 4.5/5 — Extremely high-end, professional, and respectful.
Decor: 4.5/5 — A serene, modern "Ramen Temple" vibe.
Value: 3.5/5 — Factor in the train fare, time and the booking stress, and it’s a heavy investment.
Overall: 4.5/5 — Elite ramen, but be prepared for the "Hype Tax" on your expectations.

Estimated Cost: ¥2,000 – ¥3,500 per person (plus travel!).

Info:
2-12-14 Doi, Yugawara, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 259-0303, Japan

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