A unique ramen culture has taken root in the area around Hachioji in Tokyo. Hachioji ramen, which is loved by locals, is topped with chopped onions instead of green onions. It has been featured in various media outlets and is a popular local B-class gourmet dish that attracts many people from outside the prefecture to try it.

Let's explore the characteristics and history of Hachioji ramen.

Characteristics of Hachioji Ramen

Hachioji ramen is characterized by its topping of chopped raw onions. In addition to chopped onions, other toppings include roast pork, bamboo shoots, and seaweed. Hachioji ramen is made with medium-thin noodles and a soy sauce-based soup made with pork bones and chicken carcasses. The basic style is to have lard floating on the surface of the soup.

As you can see from the characteristics, there are three definitions of Hachioji ramen.

・The sauce must be soy sauce-based

・The surface is covered with lard

・Chopped onions are used

The soup of Hachioji ramen looks thick with fat floating on top, but it has a light taste. The spiciness of the onion is toned down by the fat that covers the surface of the soup and the soy sauce-based soup.

The crunchy chopped onions soak into the soup well and give it a sweet flavor. At most restaurants, you can ask for extra onions.

The History of Hachioji Ramen

Hachioji ramen was born around 1955. In 1959, a delicatessen store in front of Kitano Station had to move to Koyasu-cho due to land readjustment. The owner thought it would be difficult to continue the delicatessen store away from the station, so he started a ramen specialty store.

At the time, ramen shops were usually Chinese restaurants that did delivery. The owner of the shop wanted to make a living by selling ramen in his shop alone, rather than by delivery, so he came up with the idea of serving a unique ramen.

Then, during a trip to Hokkaido, I came across ramen that contained chopped onions. However, the ramen I had in Hokkaido still had the pungent taste of the onions, and I felt it would be difficult to sell it as it was.

Wanting to create a soup that was less spicy without compromising the texture of the onions, they arrived at lard after much trial and error. Lard was an excellent ingredient that reduced the spiciness of the onions and brought out their sweetness. The resulting ramen became popular and spread to other ramen shops.

The origin of the name Hachioji Ramen

At the time, the name "Hachioji Ramen" did not exist, and ramen shops had it listed as "Chuka Soba" on their menus. Therefore, it was commonly accepted that "ramen has onions in it."

Shortly after, Hiroyuki Tachikawa, who worked at Hachioji City Hall, named it "Hachioji Ramen". Hiroyuki Tachikawa, who was born in Yokohama, named it "Hachioji Ramen" because he thought that a unique ramen with onions could help revitalize the town. And so, in 2003, the Hachimenkai was founded.

By the way, Hachioji ramen supervised by Hachimenkai has also been commercialized, so be sure to check it out. It reproduces the three defining features of Hachioji ramen: a soy sauce-based sauce, lard covering the surface, and chopped onions.

The thick soy sauce soup, made from pork bones and chicken carcasses, is covered with lard and topped with chopped raw onions. The crunchy texture of the onions and the sweetness of the onions melting in the soup are a perfect match, making this a bowl you'll want to eat again and again. It also makes you want to try the authentic Hachioji ramen.

Tourist information and access for Hachioji City, Tokyo

Hachioji City, where you can eat Hachioji ramen, is located close to the center of Tokyo, yet is filled with greenery and has many attractive tourist spots.

A popular tourist spot in Hachioji City is Mount Takao, which is 599 meters above sea level. You can get a panoramic view of the cityscape from the observation deck. It was awarded three Michelin stars in 2007.

Mount Takao is located where the plains change into mountainous areas, and there is a train that runs right up to the trailhead, so it is easy to access. Many people visit for hiking, and it takes about 1.5 to 2 hours to reach the summit. You can easily climb up to the mountainside by cable car or lift, so it is fun to do with children.

Hachioji City, where you can enjoy both gourmet food and sightseeing, has good access to the city center. Hachioji City, located in the southwest of Tokyo, is the only core city in Tokyo. It takes about 40 minutes by train from JR Hachioji Station to JR Shinjuku Station.

We also recommend taking a leisurely drive there by car. Try finding the best way to get there.

Location of Hachioji City, Tokyo

summary

Hachioji ramen, characterized by its chopped onions, is soul food loved by people of all ages and genders. Made with pork bone and chicken stock, soy sauce-based soup and medium-thin noodles, Hachioji ramen has a familiar taste that anyone can enjoy. The chopped onions also bring out the sweetness.

There are three definitions of Hachioji ramen, but the way it is made and the taste vary depending on the shop, so you can enjoy comparing them. Some shops add grated onion to the chopped onion to create a blend.

If you visit Tokyo, be sure to try Hachioji ramen.

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