One last night and one last goodbye...

One last night equals one more night at Bassanova. This time I chose to end my trip with the Tom Yum Ramen. Nontraditional but perfect for the occasion. Thanks go out to Brian for hangin' out. Spain Bar rocks!


This should hold me over for the next few months. And maybe, if you're lucky (or if I'm lucky), I'll share some with you.


But I'm really looking forward to this fresh chashu I picked up. Doesn't it look so good??


The angel was gone so I was forced to say goodbye to this funky robot instead. Bye!


この一週間はすごい楽しかった。ありがとう。絶対に忘れない。

The rest of the week went sort of like this...

I went to Hiroshima and ate this.


And this.


Then I went to Onomichi to eat this.


And this.


Then I enjoyed the view from my hotel.


And met an angel.


Then I ate Sapporo ramen in Mihara...go figure.


And some more.


Back in Tokyo, I added some noodles to my motsu nabe.


Then ate some cheese bacon yakitori.


Then sang with two beautiful girls.


Afterwards, we ate Bassanova!


Yes!!


Oh yeah!!


Another visit to the Shinyokohama Raumen Museum for Ide Shoten.


And Ramen No Eki.


And just because my brother said "Dude, how come you don't put any pictures of me on your blog?" Well, here you go.


...at least this is how I remember it. See you back in LA!

Speed-slurping in Tsuruga and robot ramen in Nagoya

Day 2 turned out to be more hectic than I planned. On my way to Hiroshima from Tokyo, I decided to stop at Tsuruga, for some real Ichiriki, and Nagoya, for some ramen robot action. The chashu wonton men at Ichiriki was great! It had two types of chashu and fresh little wontons that blasted off in a galactic sea of pepper and spice. Unfortunately, I had to speed-slurp it in 3 minutes otherwise I wouldn't have made it on time to Hiroshima. I literally sprinted like Usain Bolt to catch my bus back to Tsuruga Station. Luckily, the bus driver let me hop on while the bus was moving.


The ramen robots at Fa-Men in Nagoya were fun to watch, but the ramen they make is disappointingly sub par. The best part is when the robots converse with each other and do stand-up comedy. It's hilarious.


Anyway, I made it to Hiroshima barely in time for dinner with friends. Now if only I can figure out where in Hiroshima I am...haha.

Fresh off the plane and chillin' with Ivan...in Japan!

I made it back! Yes, I'll be in Japan for the next 8 days traveling from Tokyo to Hiroshima and stopping wherever I can to find good ramen. But before I could officially get things started, I had to make a beeline from Narita to Setagaya-ku and say hello to Ivan of Ivan Ramen. He's the guy on the left down below (I'm not sure who the other guy is). Brian from Ramen Adventures was also able to join us tonight. Well, I won't ramble on too much cuz I need more sleep than THE Bruce Dickinson needs more cowbell. (See, I told you.)


I've definitely been craving Ivan's Zembu Nose Shio Ramen since the last time I ate it. Craving fulfilled! (for now)


Brian got the Spicy Red Chile Mazemen. How good does that look?! (damn good!)


Alright, I kept it short and sweet as promised. I probably won't be able to post every night like I did on my last trip, but I'll be sure to update as often as I can. Or you can always follow me on Twitter! See you in Hiroshima!

The Dream Ramen Journey of 2009 - Recap

28 days, 21 cities, 55 bowls of ramen. Wow! Even I'm shocked. A part of me can't believe I survived. I guess a diet of REAL ramen won't kill you after all. Anyway, I've already said how amazing this trip was, so let me leave you with some thoughts about the cities I visited. The most relaxed city was Kushiro mostly because nothing was going on. The weirdest city was Tenri because everyone was wearing the same thing. The most tourist friendly city was Hakodate. The most foreigners I saw in one city (aside from Tokyo) was Hiroshima. The least tourist friendly city was Tenri. The best ramen-themed town was Kitakata. The city that everyone should visit at least once for their ramen would be Hakata. The most inspiring city was a tie between Onomichi and Wakayama (although it would have been nice to see Kagoshima without all the ash). The city I can see myself living in the most (aside from Tokyo) would be Asahikawa (Hiroshima a close second). And last but not least, the best ramen in Japan comes from...everywhere!

• Introduction
(Los Angeles)
• Day 1 - Planes, Buses, and Bassanova!
(Tokyo)
• Day 2 - Raumen Museum, Sakura, and Ie-Kei Ramen
  
(Yokohama)
• Day 3 - Saturday Stroll, Instant Ippudo, and Takadanobaba's Paichee Men
(Tokyo)
• Day 4 - Making new ramen friends and reconnecting with old ones...
(Tokyo)
• Day 5 - Lost in Ikebukuro, Cherry Blossom Rain, and a Gyoza Stadium
(Tokyo)
• Day 6 - Welcome to Kushiro!
(Kushiro)
• Day 7 - The cold clamor of Asahikawa...Lovely!
(Asahikawa)
• Day 8 - Asahikawa by day, Sapporo by night
(Asahikawa, Sapporo)
• Day 9 - Sapporo Ramen, Sapporo Beer, Sapporo Keizo?
(Sapporo)
• Day 10 - Hakodate...The City of Lights!
(Hakodate)
• Day 11 - Last call for crab. Bring on the beef!
(Hakodate, Yonezawa)
• Day 12 - Kitakata, Shirakawa, and the snoring salary man
(Kitakata, Shirakawa)
• Day 13 - Sano...another small town, another long walk
(Sano, Tokyo)
• Day 14 - Hangin' out with Uncle Tan Tan...
(Tokyo)
• Day 15 - Surfing Shibuya and Okinawa Seimen
(Tokyo)
• Day 16 - The volcanic gloom of Kagoshima
(Kagoshima)
• Day 17 - Miyazaki Ramen and the Ogre's Washboard
(Miyazaki)
• Day 18 - Driving through Kumamoto then Kurume
(Kumamoto, Kurume)
• Day 19 - Hakata Ramen...need I say more?
(Hakata)
• Day 20 - Experiencing Peace in Hiroshima
(Hiroshima)
• Day 21 - Swaying in the Cool Onomichi Breeze...
  
(Onomichi)
• Day 22 - Wakayama's Castle in the sky...
(Wakayama)
• Day 23 - The Alchemist must live in Kyoto...
(Kyoto, Tenri, Wakayama)
• Day 24 - The Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum
(Osaka, Nagoya)
• Day 25 - Back to Tokyo I go...
(Atami, Shizuoka, Tokyo)
• Day 26 - Ramen Round Table...in Japan!
(Yokohama, Tokyo)
• Day 27 - Eating ramen at the Tsukiji Fish Market...
(Tokyo)
• Day 28 - Going home...
  
(Tokyo, LA)

Whether it be ramen-related or not, feel free to contact me if you would like more information on these cities. I've saved all my maps and the routes I took to get to them and I'd be more than happy to share them with you. One word of advice: Wear a good pair of shoes! And if you really do decide to go, good luck and have fun! Soak and slurp it all in!!

To be continued...(someday)...

Day 28 - Going home...

I'm back in LA without incident. Overall, I'd say it was a very successful trip. I'm extremely thankful for everyone who helped me out...you know who you are. I definitely couldn't have done it without you! And thanks to everyone I met along the way for making this a special experience I'll never forget. Lastly, I'd like to thank all my readers for actually showing you care about some geeky nerd traveling around slurping ramen noodles. You helped me push through those hard days when I just felt like giving up. Being able to share my stories daily really helped to cope with the issues of traveling alone in a foreign country where I can barely speak the language. (No really, my Japanese skills are pretty weak.) As this dream is officially coming to an end, it has opened the door for a new one to follow. Stay tuned and you will soon see what I mean...Thanks again!

THE END...

Day 27 - Eating ramen at the Tsukiji Fish Market...

With this being my last full day, you might have thought that I would go on some crazy last minute ramen eating tour of Tokyo. Well...I thought about it and decided not to. I'll be back someday so no need to rush things. Plus, I think I've had a pretty successful trip. So instead, it was just one bowl and the last chance for great sushi. Then it was off to celebrate my niece turning two...

I'm now at a loss for words. I don't want to leave but know that I must. Next stop...Narita airport. See you in LA!

Day 26 - Ramen Round Table...in Japan!

After spending way too much money on instant ramen at the Raumen Museum earlier in the day, it was time to meet up with two prominent Tokyo ramen bloggers for dinner: Nate from Waseda Ramen and Brian from Ramen Adventures. It was a good night of slurping ramen, having a few drinks, sharing our own ramen stories, and dancing like Kusanagi in the park. Wait, maybe I did that last part by myself...haha.


I have one more full day left in Tokyo, but I've already realized my trip has come to an end. I'm not sure how I'm gonna go back to work on Friday. It's gonna be tough...

Day 25 - Back to Tokyo I go...

I can't believe I just traveled to 21 of the 28 or so ramen cities in Japan. I only wish I had another month to do it all over again. Now, it's time to unwind in Tokyo for the next few days. One thing is for sure, I'm gonna sleep in as long as I can tomorrow. I spent the day meeting old family friends in Shizuoka that I haven't seen for years and it was great to see them again. One of them asked me how many bowls of ramen I've eaten already and I couldn't give them an exact answer. I really haven't been keeping count. Have you? It's gotta be over 30 right? I don't know. I'll do the count later. Anyway, Fujisan was cloudy all day so I couldn't really get a good shot. But if you want to see some amazing pics, check out Gaijin Bash's post last weekend. Lates. I'm out!

Day 24 - The Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum

After browsing rameniac's site the other day, I decided to rearrange my plans in order to visit the Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum. Unfortunately, that would mean I wouldn't get to spend much time in Nagoya, if any at all. With the rain pouring outside, I set out to make it to both regardless of how drenched I got. And in the end, I was sitting in deep relaxation at the onsen in Atami looking back at it all...

Day 23 - The Alchemist must live in Kyoto...

As this journey nears its end, I found the perfect place to reflect upon the past three weeks. It's been amazing! Virtually unbelievable! So with only four full days left, I set out to make up for lost time. Today was crazy. I started out at Kyoto with the intent to see as much as I could in 2 hours. With so many places to choose from, I only had time to visit Kinkakuji. I had been here several years ago, but I really wanted to show all of you its breathtaking visual. I think the pictures say it all. I even met a deaf mute man that gave me a taxi ride I'll never forget. Then it was off to Tenri where everything moved slow and didn't open until night. I must have walked for at least an hour in search of the elusive Tenri Ramen. Seriously, the nearest ramen-ya to the station open for lunch was roughly 2 miles away. After a quick slurp and quick retreat from Tenri, I made the 2-hour train trek back to Wakayama. I wasn't gonna leave until I ate at Ide Shoten and man was it worth it! Finally, it was back to Osaka for the night where I decided to enjoy a 280 yen Yoshinoya Gyu-don. Don't ask me why. It just felt like the perfect ending.


Clockwise from top left: Tenka Ippin, Saika Ramen, Yoshinoya, and Ide Shoten. This is what I ate for the day. It's probably not a diet recommended by mom or your doctor, but damn was it good! Haha. And please...eat at your own risk. :)


So without further ado, I give you the daily slide show. Next up Nagoya and the hot springs of Atami...oooh yeah.

Day 22 - Wakayama's Castle in the sky...

I woke up this morning feeling like crap. My body ached, my head hurt, and my nose would not stop running. I missed my morning train out of Hiroshima and contemplated staying one more day. Nope! I wasn't gonna let a little cold ruin this trip for me...or you! So I finally left Hiroshima around noon with Shin-Osaka in my sight. And after a quick check-in at my hotel, it was off to Wakayama.


Thursday is probably one of the worst days to visit Wakayama. For some reason almost everything closes on a Thursday. As luck would have it, today was a Thursday. I've been eagerly awaiting to try the famed Ide Shoten for days now and of course it too was closed. Perhaps I should have stayed in Hiroshima.


But I did manage to find one place that was open--Marutaka Chuuka Soba. It wasn't as popular or famous as Ide Shoten but it represented the Wakayama style very well, a tonkotsu-shoyu ramen with a deep, distinct flavor. You don't know how good this ramen made me feel.


So after a satisfying meal, I decided to walk the streets of Wakayama when I turned the corner and saw this amazing castle floating in the sky. It was an unexpected sight in the middle of an urban street. The park around it was so peaceful. Walking around it proved to be a fitting end to a rather tumultous day. Have I ever thanked you for reading my blog? Thank you...

Day 21 - Swaying in the Cool Onomichi Breeze...

Onomichi is technically still considered part of Hiroshima, but it is home to an entirely different breed of ramen. As you'll see in the pictures, the soup is clear aside from the island bits of fat floating on the surface. The people are genuinely friendly and will do whatever they can to help you enjoy your stay. It's a romantic artsy town located along the Seto Inland Sea. Another day here and I might have been inspired to write a book...

I'm back in Hiroshima for the night. I thought I'd get this post out a little early so I can be free to roam the town and eat okonomiyaki. Tomorrow I'm off to Osaka, which will be my hub for the next two days. I'm hoping to branch out from there and visit Wakayama, Tenri, and Kyoto. There's not really an "Osaka Ramen" but I may just consume a bowl for the sake of it. Only 7 days left...let's not even think about it.

Day 20 - Experiencing Peace in Hiroshima

If you haven't been to Hiroshima, I recommend that you try. It's a very historical city that will grab you by the heart and show you what makes it beat. I have history here as well. My father was born in Hiroshima and was 3 years old when the bomb was dropped. Luckily, his family lived on the other side of a hill that shielded them from the blast and radiation. Everybody, at least once in their lives, needs to visit Hiroshima and its Peace Museum. I first came when I was nineteen and it changed my life forever.

As you may have seen in the slideshow, I visited three ramen-ya's today and one crazy izakaya. The first was Ichimasa, which is run by the old owners of Ebisu Market in Fountain Valley back when it was just a market. [Many thanks to the Doi family for taking me out tonight!] The other two are staples of Hiroshima Ramen. I'll give full reviews when I get back home, but Suzume was some of the best tasting shoyu-tonkotsu I've had yet...

Day 19 - Hakata Ramen...need I say more?

I bet if I took a bath and soaked my body in the tub for 12 hours, I'd end up with some pretty astonishing tonkotsu soup. Sorry about the visual, but after consuming four bowls in less than ten hours you probably know what I'm talking about. I set out to try 2 bowls max today, then I don't know what happened. There's something addictive about the ramen here. It's hypnotizing. I'm still craving it as I write this. I'm doomed, yet totally satisfied. Between the collagen and the fat, I think I'm on pace to be the prettiest heavy person alive.


When I first arrived at Hakata Station and grabbed a copy of the local ramen map, a taxi driver saw me fumbling through it and asked "Oi nani sagashitenno (What are you looking for)?" When I told him I was looking for the best ramen-ya in the area he then told me to just ride with him for the day and he'd take me to all of them. Thanks but no thanks. Sounds like fun but that would probably cost me a fortune. He then said "Ichiban ume~ no wa Ganso Nagahama da yo. Ajinomoto tappuri irete suge~ oishii." Basically, that translates to 'go to Ganso Nagahama cuz they use a lot of MSG and it's damn good!' So I went and...it was damn good! In Japan, ajinomoto is your friend. If anything, it makes you feel happier.


I had dreamt about coming to Canal City's Raumen Stadium before. So I guess you can call this a dream come true. But then again, I always dream about ramen and this whole trip has been one big dream come true. Anyway, I felt like something different but still considered Hakata. So I ordered the tsukemen from Hakata Gensuke. It definitely didn't feel like Hakata, but I guess I can now say that I've tried Hakata-style tsukemen at the Raumen Stadium 2. Sweet!


After checking into my hotel and taking a short break while watching the rain soak the street below my window, I finally decided to go get out and get wet myself. So it was back to Canal City, but this time I headed for the basement. I had heard about Ichiran and its private stalls before but never experienced it first hand. The ramen was great and the experience was one-of-a-kind. Although I did miss being able to observe the hustle-and-bustle of a ramen-ya.


I then set out to find the yatai Ichiryu in honor of a true rameniac, but it wasn't where it was supposed to be. I spent about an hour walking around Nakasu, asking just about every conbini and they all pointed me to the same direction. But I swear, it wasn't there. So after my 5th time walking by, I finally just settled with Hakata-Nagahama Ramen Yamachan. It probably wasn't the greatest ramen in the area (though it was the most crowded), but there's something about just being there that makes it special. The whole mood of sitting at a yatai at night next to a river in Hakata is unfathomable, yet very explicable. It's gonna be hard to fight this addiction.


I leave you with the rest of my pictures from my day in Hakata. As I much as I don't want to leave, I've been looking forward to tomorrow for a very long time. I hope to see you then. Oyasumi!

Day 18 - Driving through Kumamoto then Kurume

I'm staying at a friend's house in Fukuoka without an internet connection and I have been trying unsuccessfully for hours to borrow someone's wifi. I finally found one but it keeps cutting me off so I'll make this quick. I left Miyazaki this morning en route to Fukuoka and stopped at Kumamoto and Kurume along the way. I wish I could have stayed longer but I guess that's just how things turned out. Tomorrow will be fun in the sun in Hakata! At least I hope so cuz there may be rain in the forecast. Anyway, sorry I can't write more. Both bowls I ate today were very good. Enjoy the slideshow.

Day 17 - Miyazaki Ramen and the Ogre's Washboard.

Miyazaki is a mythical land with beautiful flowers, temples, islands, bridges, rivers, monuments, and food. The ramen plays second fiddle to the more popular udon, but it still stands out in my mind. Like Kagoshima, the Miyazaki accent is thick and sounds cool but is very hard for me to understand. They say the two are different, but I can't tell. Anyway, today was the longest day of my trip so far. It definitely helps when people you know have a car and can drive you all around the city. I was very lucky. So instead of continuing to babble, hopefully you'll enjoy this day in pictures.

Ramen Hibiki is probably the most popular ramen shop in Miyazaki right now. I'm not sure if it's the best, but they claim to serve authentic Miyazaki Ramen so that's good enough for me. A light tonkotsu with a dab of shoyu, the soup is smooth and will instantly change your mood. The chashu was a little tougher than I expected but the hanjuku egg made up for it. All in all, it was very good.


I initially expected to try only one ramen-ya in Miyazaki, but fate led me to Ramen Kimura and I couldn't escape the urge. The soup here was a tad lighter then Hibiki, but the chashu was incredible. I can't even describe how good it was. I never was a big fan of tonkotsu ramen, but I have a feeling this trip might change things.


And I wasn't gonna leave without trying the Miyazaki Beef! Oh man, this steak was good. I wouldn't say it was better then Yonezawa, but it was real close. They both had that melt-in-your-mouth feel, unlike any other steak I've had before.


Now it's time to head north! Kumamoto, Kurume, Hakata here I come!

Day 16 - The volcanic gloom of Kagoshima

I arrived in Kagoshima after a two-hour flight and a 45-minute bus ride to the main train station only to discover a city full of dust and ash. In recent days, Sakurajima (one of Japan's most active volcanoes) began spewing ash all over Kagoshima City, creating a gloom that masked the normally beautiful harbor. Walking around proved to be difficult without accumulating a bad taste in my mouth. I thought about staying longer, but the air did not agree with my lungs. Time to just get in a couple bowls and head out to Miyazaki.


My first bowl of Kagoshima Ramen came from a place called Wadaya. It was a traditionally light tonkotsu ramen with plenty of fresh moyashi and kikurage. It was definitely interesting to say the least. A tonkotsu flavor that doesn't quite scream Kyushu, but is very typical of Kagoshima.


My second bowl came from a place called Garufu. They had a delicious-looking Kagoshima Kurobuta Ramen that caught my eye as I walked by. With so many ramen-ya's to choose from, I had to make a quick choice. The thinly sliced kurobuta was great and gave the tonkotsu base a rich, heart-stopping flavor. I honestly felt my heart stop as the soup passed through my esophagus. Good or bad, it's gonna be a crazy week in South Japan!


I wish I can elaborate some more on this day, but you know what? I'm just way too tired. Gomen. I finally arrived in Miyazaki and went out to dinner with some family friends that live in the area. They took me to some awesome tempura restaurant called Edokko in the heart of Miyazaki city. Unfortunately, it was a small restaurant frequented amongst the locals and I didn't want to be rude with my camera. Trust me, it was amazing! Anyway, tomorrow should be fun. Miyazaki Ramen here I come!

Day 15 - Surfing Shibuya and Okinawa Seimen

While surfing the net today for a place to eat in Shibuya, I came across Hayashi on tabelog. Located only 2 minutes around the corner from the Keio Inokashira Line, this ramen-ya is only open for four hours each day. With only three items on the menu, get there early to avoid the long line.


The Yakibuta Ramen is their most popular. With several slices of moist chashu, two-halves of melodically marinated hanjuku tamago, and thick sticks of menma, I can easily see why. It represents the new generation of Tokyo Ramen that's been grazing the top of the rankings in recent years. It's not the best I've ever tried, but it's definitely worth a try. Shops like this are what makes ramen feel so special.


Okinawa Town in Daitabashi is located within minutes on foot from where I am staying in Tokyo. And since I won't have a chance to visit Okinawa on this trip, I thought this might be the next best thing. Syuri Seimen is a ramen-ya that serves Okinawa's version of ramen. With handmade noodles and two types of dashi, you're just one Okinawan sake bottle away from being transported. And oh yeah, they have Okinawan sake too!


The Souki Suba is what they are most famous for. The souki refers to the huge piece of tender pork rib crowding the bowl. For this ramen, I chose the original dashi made with Okinawan konbu, tonkotsu, tori gara, shio, and katsuo. It was somewhat heavy, yet pure.


The Okinawa Suba with the traditional okidashi soup base was a good representation of what Okinawa offers to the world of ramen. So I was told. This simple soup made with fish and konbu, was surprisingly more flavorful than the other dashi with tonkotsu. With two fat pieces of kakuni, it even felt like a complete meal.


Time for the daily slideshow. Now I gotta go pack for Kyushu!

Day 14 - Hangin' out with Uncle Tan Tan...

My niece asked my brother today, "Why does uncle eat so much ramen?" Then we all just busted out laughing. Haha! It was hilarious, but I guess you had to be there. Hopefully, today's slideshow will make you feel like you were.


I met my brother for lunch in Akasaka today because he swears that he works near the best Tan Tan Ramen shop in Tokyo. And you know what? He may be right! Intense, spicy, hot, sinus-clearing. Those are just a few ways to describe it. Chinese Restaurant Takekuma is a hidden gem waiting to be exposed! They also have a good Hot & Sour Ramen and an impressive Vegetable Tan Men.


Just down the street is Akasaka Ramen and their Pork Shabu Tsukemen Challenge. $100 for anyone that can finish it! Shall I give it a try? Maybe soon but not today...


Today was mostly about hangin' out with my nieces. They are so damn cute! Future ramen geeks better watch out!

Got another day in Tokyo tomorrow until it's off to Kyushu. Can't wait!