When you think of Kyushu ramen, many people probably think of cloudy tonkotsu soup. Although it's in the same Kyushu region, Kagoshima ramen is completely different. The city has created its own unique ramen culture, and is loved by locals.

It's not that well known, but some people say they become addicted to it after trying it just once. If you're a ramen lover, this is a dish you should definitely check out.

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

Characteristics of Kagoshima Ramen

Kagoshima ramen is the only Kyushu ramen that has not been influenced by Kurume ramen, which is a straight noodle dish with a cloudy tonkotsu soup.

Kagoshima ramen is based on tonkotsu, but the soup is not cloudy and has a light taste thanks to the addition of umami from chicken bones and vegetables.

The noodles are mostly medium-thick or thin like rice vermicelli. Most restaurants do not use kansui. Noodles that do not use kansui are easy to tell because they are whitish and have no color. Whatever type of noodles are used, they are always soft. The soft noodles have a light taste, making this ramen easy on the stomach.

The ingredients of Kagoshima ramen are simple, such as bean sprouts, green onions, and roasted pork. It is recommended for those who don't like rich ramen or for those who are trying tonkotsu ramen for the first time. Kagoshima ramen is easy to eat, so it is popular with everyone from children to the elderly.

The History of Kagoshima Ramen

Kagoshima ramen originated around 1947. At the time, the founder of "Noboruya," who was a nurse in Yokohama, learned how to make soup from a Chinese patient. She adapted the soup to her own taste, and Kagoshima ramen was born.

It is said that the founder of "Noboruya" disliked kansui, so it was not used in Kagoshima ramen.

By the way, just as famous as "Noboruya" is "Komurasaki", which was founded 24 years ago. Like "Noboruya", it uses thin noodles like rice vermicelli and does not use kansui.

Kagoshima ramen is characterized by soft noodles that do not use kansui and a light tonkotsu-based flavor. However, there is no clear definition of Kagoshima ramen. If it is served in Kagoshima, it is called Kagoshima ramen.

While tonkotsu is the mainstream, a wide variety of Kagoshima ramen, including miso, soy sauce, and salt, are being created one after another. It's also interesting that each shop has its own original version. Since the taste varies from shop to shop, it's fun to try different varieties and compare them.

Hospitality at Kagoshima Ramen Shops

In Kagoshima, when you order ramen, tea and pickled radish are served. Depending on the restaurant, it may be pickled radish or pickled radish, but this is said to be a unique form of hospitality in Kagoshima. Some restaurants are particular about not only their ramen, but also their pickles.

It is not known when this culture started, but it is said to have existed since after the war. Originally, Kagoshima had the custom of serving pickles instead of sweets as a snack with tea. There is also a theory that the thriving radish production in Kagoshima may be one of the reasons.

In some restaurants, pickled radish is served on a small plate and you can take as much as you like. Of course, it's free as a token of hospitality.

Some people can't wait for the ramen and end up eating too many pickles, which makes them full, and some people mistakenly put daikon pickles in their ramen, so please be careful. Relax with some tea and daikon pickles while you wait for your Kagoshima ramen to be ready.

If you come to Kagoshima, you should stop by Sakurajima

Sakurajima shows different faces depending on the season, time, and viewing location. World-famous as an active volcano that is still active, Sakurajima is a popular tourist spot in Kagoshima.

Sakurajima, which floats in Kinko Bay, is the symbol of Kagoshima. It is 1,117m high (Kita-dake and Ontake), has an area of about 80km² and a circumference of about 52km. As it is made up of two volcanoes, Kita-dake and Minami-dake, it appears long and narrow from the city of Kagoshima.

Sakurajima, which was formed about 26,000 years ago, has experienced repeated eruptions. However, people have been living on the island since the Jomon period.

The reason why people continue to live on Sakurajima despite suffering from volcanic disasters such as large eruptions and mudslides is because of the blessings the volcano brings them: delicious foods such as Sakurajima daikon and Sakurajima small mandarins, hot springs that help relieve the fatigue of daily life, and the beautiful scenery of the mountains and villages.

The sight of Sakurajima, which continues to emit smoke, is captivating to many people. It attracts tourists not only from Japan but also from overseas. At the lava fields and observation points, you can enjoy scenery far removed from your everyday life.

How to get to Kagoshima

If you want to eat Kagoshima ramen, please come and visit us. There are various ways to access Kagoshima. Most people use JR or airplane.

Here is the travel time required from major cities across Japan to Kagoshima. Travel time may vary depending on the season and weather.

[Access by JR]

・From Shin-Osaka: approx. 3 hours 50 minutes ・From Okayama: approx. 3 hours ・From Hiroshima: approx. 2 hours 20 minutes ・From Hakata: approx. 1 hour 15 minutes ・From Kumamoto: approx. 50 minutes

[Access by plane]

・About 2 hours from Haneda Airport・About 1 hour 20 minutes from Chubu Centrair International Airport・About 1 hour 10 minutes from Itami Airport・About 45 minutes from Fukuoka Airport・About 1 hour 20 minutes from Okinawa Airport

Besides JR trains and planes, you can also travel by express bus or ferry. We also recommend taking a leisurely drive to Kagoshima.

Location of Kagoshima Prefecture

summary

Even though it's Kagoshima ramen, the taste varies depending on the restaurant. It's generally light and the noodles are soft, so you can finish it in no time. Kagoshima ramen isn't heavy, so it's recommended to try it at a few restaurants and compare the flavors.

If you visit Kagoshima, be sure to try Kagoshima ramen.

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