Hakodate is known for its salt ramen. Along with Sapporo's miso and Asahikawa's soy sauce, it is one of the three major ramen in Hokkaido. The culture of salt ramen is so deeply rooted that when you order ramen in Hakodate, salt ramen is served.

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

Characteristics of Hakodate Ramen

Hakodate ramen is characterized by its clear soup. It is made by simmering pork bones, chicken bones, kelp, and aromatic vegetables. It is light but has a deep flavor, so you will find yourself drinking it all down to the last drop.

The noodles are thin and straight, allowing the flavor to blend in easily. They have a smooth texture and go down easy, making them a perfect match for the light soup.

The toppings are simple, such as roasted pork, bamboo shoots, green onions, and green vegetables, which enhance the flavor of the soup. Dried gluten may also be included.

The gluten soaked in the delicious flavor of the soup melts in your mouth with a pleasant texture. Hakodate ramen is loved by many people for its refined flavor and casual taste.

The History of Hakodate Ramen

Hakodate, which opened its port in the late Edo period, began to attract Chinese people known as overseas Chinese. There were many overseas Chinese from Jiangnan who came to buy kelp and other products. The people of Hakodate at the time called overseas Chinese "Canton-san" and had close ties with them.

It is said that the origin of shio ramen came from "Tanmen," a dish of noodles in a clear "Chintan" soup based on Cantonese pork bones and chicken bones that was brought to Hakodate by overseas Chinese who visited the city.

An advertisement from the Hakodate Shimbun newspaper from 1884 states that a restaurant called Yowaken started serving Nanking soba noodles for 15 sen (about 2,000 yen today). The owner was Jin Nanyo, a Chinese from Cantonese, who is thought to have originally worked as a cook at the British Consulate in Hakodate. At the time, ingredients such as ginkgo nuts and shredded egg were sometimes used, and it seems that it was widely known as a luxury item.

This Nanjing soba from Yowaken is said to be the oldest salt ramen in Hakodate. Although no documents such as recipes had been found, in 2008, a project was started to reproduce this Nanjing soba, and Nanjing soba was completed based on documents of ingredients that were in circulation during the Meiji period.

For local people, "ramen" means salt ramen, and it is only fairly recently that it has come to be called "Hakodate ramen."

As Hakodate ramen was introduced throughout the country, it became known as salty. Furthermore, Hakodate ramen, which was originally a popular tourist destination, has come to be loved on a national scale.

Tourist information for Hakodate City, Hokkaido

Hakodate in Hokkaido has a variety of tourist attractions. This time, we will introduce three popular tourist spots in Hakodate city.

Goryokaku Tower

This is the second modern Goryokaku Tower. The first was a 60m-tall tower built in December 1964 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the construction of Goryokaku. It was beloved for many years, but was demolished due to deterioration and the 107m-tall Goryokaku Tower was built in April 2006.

Goryokaku Tower, which is based on the motif of Goryokaku and a star shape, is a popular tourist spot where you can enjoy the scenery of the four seasons. From the observation deck, you can see Mt. Hakodate, the Tsugaru Strait, and the Yokotsu mountain range. The observation deck also has an exhibition space where you can learn about the history of Goryokaku.

Kanamori Red Brick Warehouse

The history of the Kanamori Red Brick Warehouse began when Watanabe Kumashiro, the founder of the Kanamori Warehouse, opened the Kanamori Western Goods Store in 1869. After that, he started various businesses and began the warehousing business in 1887. The current Kanamori Red Brick Warehouse was built in 1988.

Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse is a commercial facility with a shopping mall, beer hall, restaurants, and more. You can enjoy souvenirs and gourmet food that are unique to Hakodate. The retro and quaint Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse is also a popular photo spot.

Mount Hakodate

Mount Hakodate, 334 meters above sea level and 9 km in circumference, is also called Gagyuzan (Lying Cow Mountain) because it looks like a cow lying down. From the Meiji period until 1945, it was used as a fortress and was off-limits to the public.

Mount Hakodate is one of the three most beautiful night views in Japan, and is visited by many tourists regardless of the season. The night view from an altitude of 334m is beautiful and fantastic. You can reach the summit of Mount Hakodate by bus or ropeway. The ropeway gondola can carry 125 people, and it takes about 3 minutes to reach the summit.

How to get to Hakodate, Hokkaido

Hakodate, an attractive destination for both gourmet food and sightseeing, can be accessed in a variety of ways, including by bullet train, plane, and ferry.

If you are coming from the three biggest cities in Japan, Tokyo, Osaka, or Nagoya, we recommend flying. There are direct flights, so you can arrive in about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Hakodate Airport is close to the city center, about 20 minutes away by shuttle bus.

If you are going by ferry, there are two routes: "Aomori to Hakodate (about 4 hours)" and "Oma to Hakodate (about 1 hour 30 minutes)". Alternatively, you can go by highway bus.

We also recommend taking a leisurely drive to Sendai. If you go by car, it will be easy to get around after you arrive in Hakodate. Please try to find the best way to get there.

Location of Hakodate City, Hokkaido

summary

Hakodate's shio ramen is characterized by its clear soup, thin, straight noodles, and simple ingredients.

While preserving the traditions of Hakodate ramen, which has been loved for a long time, each restaurant continues to pursue new flavors with their own unique ingenuity.

If you visit Hokkaido, be sure to try Hakodate ramen.

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