"Onomichi Ramen" is popular in the southeastern part of Hiroshima Prefecture. With a well-balanced and gentle flavor, Onomichi Ramen is also popular with people from outside the prefecture.

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

Characteristics of Onomichi Ramen

The key to the flavor of Onomichi ramen is the soup made from small fish caught in the Seto Inland Sea and minced pork back fat.

The soup is based on a clear stock made from chicken bones, a stock made from small fish from the Seto Inland Sea, and soy sauce. It contains minced pork back fat, giving it a rich, refreshing taste. The soup is said to be good for your health, as it contains calcium from the small fish and good cholesterol from the pork back fat.

The small fish used in this dish are the flavorful dried anchovies from the Seto Inland Sea. Small fish (mainly anchovies) are boiled in salt water and then dried. In western Japan they are called "iriko" and in eastern Japan they are called "niboshi." Dried anchovies from the Seto Inland Sea are popular because they remain soft even after being thoroughly dried, and they create a soup with a unique aroma and a refined sweetness.

Although pork back fat is used, the texture and flavor are completely different from the "back fat chacha" style ramen of the Kanto region, in which pork back fat is strained through a sieve and sprinkled on top of the noodles.

The Onomichi ramen soup contains large chunks of minced pork back fat. Depending on the restaurant, the minced pork may be deep-fried or flavored with spring onions. By adding minced pork back fat, a local B-class gourmet dish called "Onomichi Ramen" was born, which is different from soy sauce ramen.

The noodles are mainly medium-thin flat noodles with a chewy texture, and are topped with green onions, roasted pork slices, bamboo shoots, etc.

However, there is no specific definition for Onomichi ramen, so the taste varies depending on the restaurant. Some restaurants use straight noodles, while others top it with kakiage.

The History of Onomichi Ramen

Around 1928, Mr. Zhang from Fujian Province, China, was selling his products at an outdoor stall while playing a charumera. The "Chuka Soba" that appeared in Onomichi is said to be the beginning of "Onomichi Ramen."

At that time, Onomichi ramen had a cloudy white soup made from beef and pork bones. Onomichi was a shipbuilding town, and people from the continent worked in the shipbuilding industry. Due to a shortage of materials during the war, production of ramen stopped for a time. However, around 1947, Shu Ah-shun opened a ramen stand (later called "Shukaen").

Later, Chinese noodle shops run by Japanese people also opened. "Tsutafuji," which was founded by a sailor, is also a popular Onomichi ramen shop. It is said that the current Onomichi ramen was born from the styles of "Shukaen" and "Tsutafuji," and the Chinese noodle style from before the war.

The style of the ramen, which consists of flat noodles, soup made from chicken bones and small fish from the Seto Inland Sea, and minced back fat, was established around 1955-65. "Shukaen" closed, but the founder's wife and daughter took over the restaurant's flavor and opened "Shu."

Also, instead of calling it "Onomichi Ramen," most restaurants in the area call it "Chuka Soba" or "Ramen." It is said that the name "Onomichi Ramen" came about when Amo Chinmi in Fukuyama City released "Onomichi Ramen." This product was a hit, and Onomichi Ramen became known nationwide.

Hiroshima tourist information

When you visit Hiroshima, why not enjoy sightseeing in Onomichi City, where you can eat Onomichi ramen? Facing the Seto Inland Sea, Onomichi City offers a historic, retro townscape and the atmosphere unique to a port town.

Setouchi Shimanami Kaido

The Setouchi Shimanami Kaido is a scenic road stretching approximately 60km in length that connects Onomichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture, and Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture. It is famous as a "holy land for cyclists" because it is not only for cars, but also has a bicycle and pedestrian path and a motorcycle path that run parallel to it. There are many ways to enjoy the road, such as watching the beautiful sunset from Setoda Sunset Beach and visiting Oyamazumi Shrine.

Senkoji Park

Senkoji Park is a popular tourist spot overlooking the town of Onomichi and the islands of the Seto Inland Sea. Senkoji Park, which has been selected as one of the "100 Best Cherry Blossom Spots," welcomes you with seasonal flowers such as cherry blossoms, azaleas, and wisterias.

In addition, the night view from the observation deck at the top has been selected as one of the "Top 100 Night Views." It has also been certified as a sacred place for lovers, making it a popular date spot.

Cat's Narrow Path

The "Narrow Cat Alley" is a narrow alley about 200 meters long that runs from the east side of Umi Shrine to the three-story pagoda of Tenneiji Temple. It became known as the "Narrow Cat Alley" after the "Fukuishi Neko", a stone with a cat's face painted on it, was placed there around 1998.

The "Lucky Stone Cats" are placed all around the town, mainly along the Cat Alley, and there are more than 1,000 of them. Some of them have magical powers, such as bringing about love or restoring health, and the area is also popular as a power spot.

How to get to Hiroshima

There are various ways to get to Hiroshima. Here are some recommended ways to get there. Travel time may vary depending on the season, weather, etc.

If you are heading to Hiroshima from Tokyo, we recommend flying. It takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes to fly from Haneda Airport to Hiroshima Airport. It takes about 2 hours to fly from Sapporo, Sendai, or Okinawa to Hiroshima Airport. It takes about 50 minutes by rental car from Hiroshima Airport to Onomichi City.

It takes about 1 hour to get from Hakata Station or Shin-Kobe Station to Hiroshima Station. It takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes from Shin-Osaka Station or Kyoto Station. It takes about 2 hours from Nagoya Station. It takes about 1 hour to get from Hiroshima Station to Onomichi Station.

We also recommend taking a leisurely drive to Hiroshima. Find the best way to get there.

Location of Onomichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture

summary

"Onomichi Ramen" is characterized by its soup made from small fish from the Seto Inland Sea and minced pork back fat. Since there is no specific definition, the appearance and taste may differ depending on the store. One of the fun things to do is compare the different stores and find the differences.

If you visit Hiroshima, be sure to try Onomichi ramen.

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