Ramen soup is generally made with chicken or pork bones, but in Tottori, beef bones are the norm.

Beef bone ramen is Tottori's soul food and is loved by locals. Ramen made with beef bone broth is rare and has attracted attention nationwide.

Let's explore the characteristics and history of beef bone ramen.

Characteristics of beef bone ramen

Beef bone ramen is made with beef bone-based soup that comes in a salt or soy sauce flavor. Both have a light taste.

The beef bones are carefully simmered, allowing the flavor and collagen to dissolve into the soup. The soup has the aroma and sweetness of beef fat, allowing you to enjoy the rich flavor that only beef bones can provide. Some restaurants also blend in vegetable stock, which is recommended for those who prefer milder flavors. The clear soup has a refreshing taste with a pleasant aftertaste.

The noodles are generally medium-thick and curly. The toppings are usually simple, such as roast pork, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, and green onions. Some shops also top the ramen with kamaboko.

Some restaurants have garlic chips and pepper on the table, so you can change the flavor as you eat it. It's also popular to add rice at the end to make it like porridge.

The history of Tottori beef bone ramen

It is said that the restaurant where beef bone ramen originated is "Masumi," which was founded in 1946. It is said that the previous owner created beef bone ramen based on the taste of the Chinese soup he had eaten in Manchuria.

Beef bone ramen has been eaten since after the war, but in Tottori, ramen is generally thought of as "a dish made with beef bones in stock," and it was not thought of as something unique to the region.

First of all, why beef bones and not chicken or pork bones?

Tottori has been one of Japan's leading beef producing areas since the Edo period, and was the first prefecture in Japan to register Wagyu beef. Beef bones were easy to obtain and could produce high-quality stock, and beef bone soup became popular. Apparently, they were available for free at the time.

By the way, Tottori's famous beef, "Kedaka", is said to be the ancestor of all Japanese beef cattle in Japan. For this reason, Tottori is also known as the "hometown of Japanese beef cattle."

The beef bone ramen's reputation spread through word of mouth, and the restaurant became very popular.

In June 2009, the "Tottori Gyukotsu Ramen Omendan" was formed to support beef bone ramen. As the ramen began to receive media coverage, customers began to come from outside the prefecture and even abroad.

In March 2010, it was ranked second in the "Top 50 New Local Gourmet Foods 100 Million People Want to Know About Tonight" ranking on the Nippon Television program "SUPER SURPRISE."

Tottori Tourism Information

Tottori Prefecture, with its lush mountains and sea, is a place where you can enjoy nature throughout the four seasons. Here we will introduce three popular sightseeing spots in Tottori.

Tottori Sand Dunes

The Tottori Sand Dunes are one of the largest coastal sand dunes in Japan. They have been designated a national natural monument and one of Japan's 100 most geologically significant sites. The Tottori Sand Dunes, which change appearance depending on the weather and wind direction, are known as "miraculous beauty of form." Some people are fascinated by their beauty and visit the dunes multiple times.

Tottori Sand Dunes is not just a place to stroll around. There are plenty of activities to enjoy, such as camel rides and paragliding. There are also many facilities nearby, such as the Sand Museum and the Sand Dune Hot Spring Community Center, making it a popular tourist spot where you can enjoy the whole day.

Daisen

Mount Daisen, the highest peak in the Chugoku region, boasts an elevation of 1,709m and is a natural heritage site of Tottori Prefecture alongside the Tottori Sand Dunes. Unlike when viewed from the north and south, when viewed from the west it resembles Mount Fuji, which is why it is also known as "Hoki Fuji." This famous mountain was once chosen as one of the top three mountains, following Mount Fuji and Mount Yari, in the "Ranking of Japan's Most Famous Mountains" conducted by NHK.

It has been designated a national park due to its magnificent nature. It is also a bird sanctuary and natural forest reserve, where you can encounter a variety of flora and fauna. It is a tourist spot where you can enjoy hiking and camping from spring to autumn, and skiing in winter. The nearby Mt. Daisen Makiba Milk Village is also popular.

Tottori Flower Corridor

Tottori Flower Park is one of the largest flower parks in Japan. The main flower on display all year round is the lily. Tottori Flower Park is the only place in Japan where all 15 varieties of wild lilies native to Japan are on display.

There is also a huge glass greenhouse called the Flower Dome where you can enjoy flowers and plants regardless of the weather or season, so you can enjoy flowers at any time. In addition, there is a 1km covered observation corridor around the flower corridor, so you can stroll around the garden without an umbrella even on rainy days. It is level so it is easy to walk on, making it a tourist spot that can be enjoyed by the whole family, from children to the elderly.

How to get to Tottori

There are various ways to access Tottori. Here we will introduce the travel time required for each method. Travel time will vary depending on the season, weather, etc.

It takes about 5 hours from Tokyo by Shinkansen or express train, and about 3 hours from Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima.

If you are heading to Tottori from Tokyo, we recommend flying. It takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes from Haneda Airport to Tottori Sand Dunes Conan Airport. There are 5 flights per day.

It takes about 20 minutes by bus from Tottori Sand Dunes Conan Airport to Tottori Station and the Tottori Sand Dunes. It takes about an hour by bus to Kurayoshi Station and the Gosho Aoyama Manga Museum.

We also recommend taking a leisurely drive to Tottori.

Location of Tottori Prefecture

summary

Although beef bone ramen is made with beef bone broth, it does not have any unpleasant odor. It has a mild flavor and is easy to eat, so it is loved by people of all ages. Many people are so addicted to the deliciousness of beef bone ramen that they say, "I'll definitely eat it again when I come to Tottori."

If you visit Tottori, be sure to try the beef bone ramen.

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