Kirin, the Kitakata Ramen Specialty Shop

Nearby Ryokans

What is What is Kirin, the Kitakata Ramen Specialty Shop?

If you want to taste Kitakata Ramen, a local favorite in the Aizu region of Fukushima Prefecture, be sure to stop by Kirin, a specialty Kitakata Ramen shop. Kitakata Ramen is counted among Japan’s “Big Three Ramen” alongside Sapporo and Hakata Ramen, and is famous nationwide as a soy sauce-based ramen. Its key features are curly noodles with a high water content that are carefully aged, paired with a clear and light soy sauce broth. In the local culture, it is common to enjoy “Asa-Rā” (morning ramen), catering to early-rising farmers, night-shift factory workers, and travelers arriving on early-morning trains.

The shop attracts both tourists and locals alike. In 2020, they opened a branch near Tsuruga Castle (Wakamatsu Castle) in Aizuwakamatsu, and also operate locations in Kitakata City and Fukushima City. Its convenient location near the castle makes it an ideal stop for visitors wanting to enjoy this iconic ramen during their Aizu sightseeing tour.

Exquisite Kitakata Ramen Woven from Three Types of Soy Sauce.

Kirin’s biggest appeal is undoubtedly that you can enjoy three different types of soy sauce ramen. The soups use soy sauce from the local maker, Hoshi Brewery, which imparts a rich, deep flavor and aroma honed over a long history.

Each ramen has its own unique character: the classic Golden Soy Sauce combines chicken bones, aromatic vegetables, pork bones, dried sardines, and kelp in the “Special Golden Soy Sauce Kitakata Chuka Soba with Meat.” The White Soy Sauce with Shellfish Broth, subtly infused with clams and shijimi, features in the “Shellfish Wonton White Soy Sauce Chuka Soba.” And the Dark Soy Sauce, made with a double-brewing method, delivers a robust depth of flavor in the “Special Kujo Green Onion and Back Fat Dark Soy Sauce Chuka Soba.”

For families, the shop also offers a Kids’ Ramen (¥400), making it a convenient stop for those exploring with children!

How to Enjoy / Recommended Activities

On holidays, the Kitakata branch opens at 7 a.m., making it a perfect opportunity to join the locals for a morning ramen experience. Slurping the steaming noodles will warm you from the inside out and give you energy for the day ahead. Interestingly, in Japan, making a slurping sound while eating noodles is not considered bad manners—so feel free to enjoy your ramen to the fullest.

If you visit around lunchtime, the branch near Tsuruga Castle is ideal before or after sightseeing. After taking in the castle views, a hot bowl of ramen tastes even better. However, the shop is extremely popular on weekends, and you may have to wait up to 30 minutes during peak hours, so visiting slightly earlier, later, or on a weekday is recommended.

Basic Information

Open hours・Closed days:：

・Kitakata Branch:Weekdays: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m Weekends & Holidays: 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m Open every day

・Shiro-mae Branch: Weekdays: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m Weekends & Holidays: 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m Open every day

・Fukushima Kamata Branch: 7:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m Closed every Thursday

Access

Address:
・Kitakata Branch：7254-1 Umetake, Kitakata City, Fukushima 966-0821, Japan

Access:

Kitakata Branch：About 5 minutes by car from Kitakata Station on the JR Ban’etsu West Line (located in the Kitakata city center、 Kurano-machi area). About 30 minutes by car from Aizuwakamatsu IC on the Ban’etsu Expressway.
Shiro-Mae Branch：About 10 minutes by car from Aizuwakamatsu Station on the JR Ban’etsu West Line. About 3 minutes on foot from the Kitademaru Parking Lot at Tsuruga Castle (Aizuwakamatsu Castle).
Fukushima Kamata Branch：About 15 minutes by car from Fukushima Station on the JR Tohoku Main Line. About 7 minutes on foot from Fukushima Gakuin-mae Station on the Abukuma Express Line.