Filipinos with ramen cravings are spoiled for choice from the wide variety of ramen chains in the country. However, nothing beats authentic Japanese ramen, all prepared through trade secrets passed down from one generation to the next.

 

 

A must-visit for any ramen fan? Sapporo’s Ramen Street. This spot began in 1951, with the first eight ramen restaurants opening their shops in the small alley simply because it’s near the busy streets, with easy access to customers. 

 

Sapporo, the birthplace of miso ramen

 

In 1961, Morito Ohmiya who owns the ramen restaurant Aji no Sanpei, invented the miso ramen. This type of ramen grew in popularity because of its comforting and homey flavour, skyrocketing the restaurant — and Sapporo’s ramen culture, in general — to popularity. As the years went by, some of Ohmiya’s apprentices branched out and opened their own restaurants on Ramen Street, creating their unique versions of the miso ramen. 

 

 

From here, the miso ramen legacy continued to grow, with Sapporo Ramen Street becoming one of the most popular go-to spots for ramen enthusiasts worldwide.

If you need more convincing, here are three reasons why Sapporo’s Ramen Street should have a spot in your itinerary.

 

1. You’ll have over 17 ramen shops to choose from

 

No matter what kind of flavour, broth, richness, noodle texture, and other ramen preferences you have, Ramen Street has a restaurant for you. With over 17 ramen shops to choose from — each with its unique cooking techniques, secret ingredients, and specialized recipes — you’ll realize that with ramen, the possibilities are endless. 

 

 

2. The shops — and the entire street — are Instagram-worthy

 

You will have to wiggle your way into Ramen Street, especially during busy hours, but the colourful strip of restaurants with distinct personalities will make the visit definitely worth it. The bright signages, lanterns, and posters with cute mascot drawings from some shops deserve a place in your Instagram grid. 

 

 

3. The staff are friendly and most ramen restaurants have a multilingual menu

 

Over the years, Sapporo’s Ramen Street has grown in popularity among tourists, and the shopkeepers there are well aware of this. This resulted in most of the shops expanding their menu language. Apart from this, the staff are amiable and accommodating, ensuring that every visitor’s Ramen Street experience doesn’t end with just the food. 

 

Sapporo Ramen Street, Ganso Sapporo Ramen Yokocho N Grande Building 1F, Minami 5-jo Nishi 3-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo City, Hokkaido Prefecture, 064-0805