Niigata Prefecture is one of Japan's leading ramen kingdoms.

It is also famous that there are five major ramen genres that differ depending on the region. Among them, "Nagaoka Ramen" which originated in Nagaoka looks like Chinese noodles, but it is actually a dish filled with the ingenuity and gentleness that can only be found in snow country.

So, this time we will introduce you to the characteristics of the charming Nagaoka ramen.

What are the characteristics of Nagaoka ramen?

Nagaoka ramen is also known as "Nagaoka ginger soy sauce ramen," and is a dish with a soy sauce-flavored soup that exudes the rich flavor of ginger.

The soup is made with pork bones and chicken carcasses, and is finished with plenty of ginger. It is topped with hearty roasted pork slices, boiled spinach, bamboo shoots, and naruto, and features a deep-colored, dark soy sauce-based soup.

At first glance, the soy sauce soup appears dark in color, but when you drink it, it has a mild, deep flavor.

The animal-based soup made from pork bones and chicken carcasses has no unpleasant odor and a clean flavor that will have you eating your chopsticks in no time.

The pork slices, which are rich in flavor and moderate fat, are an essential part of Nagaoka ramen and go well with the medium-thin straight noodles, which are made using a special method. Please enjoy the exquisite harmony of the pork slices with the soup and noodles.

The history and origins of Nagaoka ramen

Nagaoka ramen is said to have originated from "Aoshima Shokudo," which opened in Nagaoka in the 1960s. Nagaoka gets a lot of snow in the winter, so this dish was created by the owner, who wanted people to eat ramen to warm themselves up during the cold season. He originally increased the amount of ginger used in the soup and started serving it.

Also, originally it served set meals and noodles as a diner, but at the time, most customers ordered the "Aoshima Ramen" flavored with ginger and soy sauce. Due to its popularity, it converted into a ramen shop about 50 years ago. Even now, many fans visit the shop in search of the same unchanging taste and toppings.

The deliciousness and appeal of Nagaoka ramen

Nagaoka ramen combines a rich soy sauce-based sauce with a perfect balance of aroma and flavor, and pork bone soup with plenty of ginger flavor. The crisp soy sauce flavor is balanced with the soft aroma of ginger, creating a wonderful harmony. The chewy noodles with just the right amount of firmness go perfectly with the refreshing, rich soup.

Each restaurant has its own unique way of using ginger and the thickness of the noodles, so it's fun to compare the different flavors.

New styles of ramen are also appearing in the city, such as Nagaoka ramen, which is topped with a bowl full of pork slices, and a bowl that combines traditional ginger soy sauce soup with the flavor of seafood.

Why not try Nagaoka Ginger Soy Sauce Ramen, a dish that has been loved by locals for over 50 years?

Things to do in Nagaoka

From here, we will introduce some recommended spots in Nagaoka City.

Echigo Hillside National Government Park: Enjoy seasonal flowers and refreshing leisure activities

Echigo Hillside National Government Park is a vast park with abundant nature, where you can enjoy a variety of sports and recreational activities under the clear blue skies.

The most popular attraction in the park is the "Fuwa Fuwa Dome," a large white trampoline shaped like a mountain. Children are sure to have a blast with the mysterious, fluffy sensation that makes them feel as if they are riding on a cloud.

There are also other wooden play equipment with an athletic feel, a water play area, and car play equipment, so you can move your body to your heart's content and have fun.

Depending on the season, snowdrops, tulips, roses, cosmos and other flowers bloom, making this a park where you can enjoy a leisurely stroll. Barbecues and outdoor cooking are also possible in the spacious outdoor cooking area. In winter, exhilarating leisure activities such as sledding, skiing and snowboarding on one of the largest slopes in the Hokuriku region are also popular.

Settaya, a brewing town that has continued since the Edo period

The Settaya district of Nagaoka City has had a brewing culture since ancient times, and miso, soy sauce, and sake are still brewed here today.

There are plenty of spots where you can experience things you can only get in a town of brewing, such as Koshi no Murasaki, a soy sauce maker with over 180 years of history, the Yoshinogawa Sake Museum "Jozo" where you can sample sake, and the Settaya 6th Avenue Fermentation Museum where you can taste rice balls made with miso and soy sauce produced in Settaya.

Nagaoka's famous products museum "Ponshukan"

Nagaoka City is also famous as one of Japan's leading sake-producing regions.

Sake, made using water from the region's rich natural environment and high-quality rice, is a local specialty. At Nagaoka Meihin no Yakata "Ponshukan" inside Nagaoka Station, there is a sake tasting corner where you can sample over 100 brands of sake from around the prefecture for just 500 yen.

There are also many other attractive products on display, such as local soy sauce and miso, snacks that go perfectly with sake, and sweets that make great souvenirs. It's located just a short walk from the station ticket gates, so why not stop by on your way to or from work?

Access to Nagaoka City

From here, we will introduce how to get to Nagaoka City. Nagaoka City, located in central Niigata Prefecture, is conveniently accessible by using the Joetsu Shinkansen. It takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes by Shinkansen from Tokyo. If you are coming from Nagano, go to Takasaki Station (about 40 minutes), and then it takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes to get to Nagaoka Station.

From Shin-Osaka Station, take the Tokaido Shinkansen to Tokyo Station, which takes about two and a half hours. From there, take the Joetsu Shinkansen to Nagaoka Station, which takes about one hour and 40 minutes. Please use this as a reference.

Location of Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture

summary

This time we introduced "Nagaoka Ramen," a local gourmet dish from Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture.

The aroma of ginger and the rich taste of soy sauce will whet your appetite, and the Nagaoka ramen will seep into your every fiber. It's a dish that's so delicious you'll want to eat it every day, not just on cold days.

Enjoy the traditional taste of Nagaoka with the hearty pork slices and crunchy spinach.

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