和歌山市 I’ve been to Wakayama a few times. I work there on occasion, and the city is a gateway to the Kii Peninsula, an amazing place for motorcycle touring. My ramen adventures, though, have been lacking. I visited the famous Ide Shoten before, as well as the shop that is constantly in the top 3…
Ramen Riders in Tottori Prefecture What is Ramen Riders? Well, I started a project this year to visit all 47 prefectures in Japan by motorcycle, eat some of the best ramen, and document it with videos for my YouTube channel. Simple enough, and I’ve done 14 or 15 prefectures since May. I just haven’t actually…
京都 Shops along the Kamogawa river set up decks during the summer, serving up moderately priced set menus in the hot evenings. The ancient capital of Japan boasts its fair share of wonderful things. The World Heritage temples and shrines. The famous festivals. And the food. The food in Kyoto is part of the experience.…
高山市 Up in the far reaches of Gifu prefecture, nestled in the Northern Alps, is Hida-Takayama, more commonly just called Takayama. It means tall mountain (高山), which applies to a few places here and there in Japan. Luckily, this Takayama is #1 in terms of tourism, and it is a must-hit for people with a…
長崎 Nagasaki City is just about the westernmost big city in Japan. The location is prime for trade, historically at least, and the area developed with a huge Chinese and Dutch influence. During the sakoku period (鎖国) a small part of Nagasaki was open to foreign trade. Stepping foot on Japanese soil anywhere else meant a swift…
岩手の盛岡 Welcome to Morioka, far north in Iwate prefecture. Morioka, a rather uncommon tourist destination, is known for not one, but three different noodle dishes. わんこそば – Wanko soba 盛岡冷麺 – Morioka Reimen 盛岡じゃじゃ麺 – Morioka Jyajyamen Reimen is a Korean noodle dish, served cold, that usually follows a hearty meal of Korean barbecue. The…
喜多方 A few hundred kilometers north of Tokyo, on the west side of Fukushima, is Kitakata. A rather sleepy place, it is nonetheless one of the most famous spots for ramen in Japan. The location, a fertile valley fed by countless natural springs, is a haven for rice production. And what better food for a…