かすい

When I travel for work, I don’t subject my colleagues to my ramen adventures. I tend to go out late, slurp multiple bowls, and try my best to be low-key. Those I work with, for the most part, take a bit of arm-pulling to even leave the cheap business hotels we stay in. Check in, watch a 500 yen pay-per-view movie, and sleep. I think it is a huge waste, travelling to the far reaches of Japan on weekends, then sitting in a sterile hotel room, but I can also see it as a way to recharge after the week in Tokyo.

Well, I dragged them out in Asahikawa. Not for ramen, but to a friend of a friend’s izakaya, located in the heart of Asahikawa’s red-light district. Nestled in with 40 other shops, from snack bars to quite restaurants, Tokiyasu was awesome and I’m glad I forced the social evening.

And though I ate my fill of raw Hokkaido salmon, seasoned deep-fried chicken, and corn tempura, I said goodnight to the crew and went for a bowl.

My biggest problem with non-Tokyo Japan, especially somewhere like Asahikawa, is that the ramen shops close early. Eight or nine at night. In a country that views ramen as the perfect post-drinking food, I just don’t understand.

But there are always a few. Kasui is open late, three or four in the morning late.

And it ain’t bad. Typical Asahikawa style; heavy, porky broth with a lot of heavy, dark soy sauce. Great for preventing a hangover the next day, just make sure you drink a lot of water with that soup.

And though it isn’t Hachiya, Kasui gets the job done.

北海道旭川市3条通7 ソシアルビル 1F
Hokkaido, Asahikawa-shi, 3-7
Closest station: Asahikawa

Open 11:30-15:00, 17:30-3:00am
Weekends until 4:00am

Ramen Adventures

Ramen Shop Reviews from Japan and Abroad

かすい (Kasui in Asahikawa, Hokkaido)

山頭火 (Santoka in Asahikawa, Hokkaido)

レストランラフィネス (Restaurant La FinS in Shimbashi)

無極 (Mukyoku in Nogata)

かすい (Kasui in Asahikawa, Hokkaido)

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山頭火 (Santoka in Asahikawa, Hokkaido)

レストラン ラ フィネス (Restaurant La FinS in Shimbashi)

無極 (Mukyoku in Nogata)

レストランラフィネス (Restaurant La FinS in Shimbashi)