When it comes to local ramen in Kumamoto, Kumamoto ramen is famous, but in fact there is more to it than that.

This time, we will introduce "Tamana Ramen," which is said to be the roots of Kumamoto ramen. Also pay attention to the attractive toppings that attract the hearts of customers who come to eat. Please take a look.

What is Tamana Ramen?

Tamana ramen, which originated in Tamana city, Kumamoto prefecture, is a dish that features rich pork bone soup, medium-thin straight noodles, and is topped with burnt garlic chips.

It is topped with melt-in-your-mouth pork slices, crunchy wood ear mushrooms, flavorful seaweed, and spring onions. The mellow pork bone soup is complemented by the delicious flavor of oil, and although it may seem like a rich ramen at first glance, it has a light aftertaste and is easy to eat. The pork bone soup clings well to the medium-thin straight noodles, making it so delicious that you'll find yourself eating it all in one go.

Another feature is that when you add the garlic chips that are the symbol of Tamana ramen, the flavor becomes richer and more aromatic. Currently, it is served at over 10 restaurants in the city.

The origin and history of Tamana Ramen

Tamana ramen is said to have originated from the Chinese noodle shop "Sankyu" which opened near the current Tamana Station.

Originally a thriving ramen stall in Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture, opened in Tamana, where its rich pork bone soup, which was rare at the time, gained a reputation and the restaurant became so popular that people would line up to get in. One of the reasons ramen became popular in Tamana is related to the development of the nori seaweed farming industry in the Ariake Sea.

It was believed that fishermen ate ramen to warm themselves up after work, and that topping it with garlic would give them energy. As proof of this, many Tamana ramen restaurants top their ramen with nori seaweed.

However, the original shop, "Sankyu", closed its business in Tamana City in 1956 and moved to Saga. At that time, three craftsmen learned how to make Tamana ramen and were so impressed by its deliciousness that they each opened their own shops, which led to Tamana ramen being loved for a long time to this day.

How to make Tamana ramen

The most distinctive feature of Tamana ramen is the burnt garlic topping.

Depending on the restaurant, dried raw garlic is either deep-fried in oil or roasted in a frying pan. Burnt garlic is not a topping from the beginning, but is customarily unique to Tamana ramen, where customers can add it on the spot according to their preference.

Another key to the flavor is the mild pork bone soup. It uses naturally extracted fat and soup without using any excess back fat, resulting in a light and gentle flavor. Some restaurants even use special water to make the soup.

How to eat Tamana ramen deliciously

Tamana ramen, with its savory garlic chips and the aroma of roasted garlic that whets the appetite, is so delicious you'll want to drink up the soup as well.

You can start by tasting the soup without the garlic chips. You can also enjoy the combination with the medium-thin noodles, which are easy to swallow. As you go towards the end of the meal, the garlic chips and pork bone soup will blend together, giving the soup more body and depth, creating an addictive flavor.

Tamana ramen's tonkotsu soup has its own unique flavor depending on the restaurant, such as seafood stock or chicken stock. Therefore, it's fun to try different flavors. Please try it with plenty of garlic chips as a topping.

Recommended sightseeing spots in Tamana City

Tamana City, located in the northwestern part of Kumamoto Prefecture, is an area rich in natural blessings such as rice, vegetables, and fruit, and is also famous as a hot spring resort. From here, we will introduce tourist spots full of things to see.

Tamana Onsen: A hot spring with a history of 1,300 years

Tamana Onsen boasts a history of 1,300 years since it first opened.

Located in the north of the city, it was formerly known as "Ryūganji Onsen." The smooth, colorless, transparent water has no unpleasant taste, so you can relax and enjoy a long soak. Tamana Onsen is also known for its long-lasting water, and is popular with tourists as a "beauty skin bath."

At "Ryuganji Park Shirasagi Footbath" in the center of the hot spring town, you can soak your feet for free, and at night, the area is lit up, making it a relaxing and soothing spot. We also recommend taking a stroll through the townscape filled with hot spring atmosphere.

"Urakawa Waterfront Green Park" where traces of history remain

At Takaseurakawa, a 15-minute walk from Tamana Station, you can see the historic buildings of Tamana, a city that once flourished as a merchant town and port city.

Takase Mekagami Bridge, a prefectural cultural asset, is a precious stone bridge that preserves the historical atmosphere, with its beautiful curves of the curved route and two arches creating a magnificent sight. If you look closely, you can see that there are ruts on the bridge to prevent carts, which were often used at the time, from slipping off the tracks.

In June, the approximately 6,300 irises planted in the garden can be enjoyed, attracting many tourists.

"Kusamakura Onsen Tensui" which was also the setting for the novel

Tensui-cho Koten is a place where the great writer Natsume Soseki walked and was the setting for the novel "Kusa Makura." Kusamakura Onsen Tensui is located on a hilltop surrounded by mandarin orange orchards.

In addition to the hot spring facilities, there are also restaurants, barbecues, and a campsite, making it a popular comprehensive leisure facility. The open-air baths offer great views of the Ariake Sea and Mount Unzen-Fugen. The spring quality is alkaline simple spring water, which is also recommended for those suffering from neuralgia, muscle pain, and joint pain.

Access to Tamana City

From here, we will introduce how to access Tamana City.

Tamana City has well-developed transportation facilities such as the JR Kagoshima Main Line, Kyushu Expressway, and Ariake Ferry, and recently the Kyushu Shinkansen opened and JR Shin-Tamana Station was constructed. Access from Kyushu and the Kansai area is excellent, and day trips are also possible.

It takes about 40 minutes by Shinkansen from Hakata to Shin-Tamana Station, about 1 hour and 20 minutes from Kagoshima, and about 3.5 hours from Osaka. Why not make it a short trip?

Location of Tamana City, Kumamoto Prefecture

summary

This time we introduced Kumamoto's local gourmet food, "Tamana Ramen."

It is no exaggeration to say that Tamana Ramen is the foundation of Kyushu ramen. The mellow and light pork bone soup is appealing. Try adding garlic to taste!

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