At a glance
- For your first visit, choose just one: Ichiran Shinjuku Chuo Higashiguchi or Fuunji in Shinjuku. Don’t make a long trip between meals to compare the two.
- For Ichiran, check the official ordering instructions and allergy information. For Fuunji, check the day’s menu and operating notices before you go. Follow the instructions posted outside each restaurant for tickets, queues, and whether people may join the line.
- Tonkotsu (豚骨) ramen has a broth made by simmering pork bones. Tsukemen (つけ麺) is served with noodles on the side, which you dip into a separate, rich broth. Shoyu (醤油, soy sauce), shio (塩, salt), and miso (味噌) describe the seasoning, so they are not categories on the same level as tonkotsu. Check the restaurant’s actual menu and prices before choosing. If you can’t verify the ingredients or have dietary restrictions, choose another dish.
- Start with one regular bowl. Decide whether to add extra noodles or toppings after you eat.
Day by day
Suggested itinerary
See each day's route, highlights, background and stay together in one place.
Choose your main dish, ramen or tsukemen, and decide which ingredients to avoid. Check the actual menu and hours at either Ichiran or Fuunji.
Read the queue and ticket machine instructions at the entrance first. Order one regular bowl, then answer questions about spice level or noodle firmness as the restaurant asks.
Decide after eating whether you want extra noodles or toppings. If you have another plan, allow for the queue and travel time as you head to a nearby station.
Places and meals
A ramen option where you can check the individual booth seating and order form.
Google MapsA place in Shinjuku where you can check the tsukemen menu.
Google MapsHow to fit it in
Arrive before it gets busy, buy a ticket by following the instructions at the entrance, and wait to be shown to a seat. If you have an allergy, check the official ingredient list and ask a staff member before ordering. Don’t order anything you can’t verify. Some restaurants close between lunch and dinner, so check official channels for opening hours and last order before you go.
Reality check
Choose a restaurant along your day’s route instead of riding the subway across several stations for one famous bowl of ramen. If there’s a long queue, follow the restaurant’s signs and staff directions so you don’t block foot traffic.
Once seated, a meal usually takes about 30–45 minutes, but the queue at a popular restaurant can add more time. If you have a reservation afterward, wait no more than 30 minutes; if it takes longer, switch to another restaurant at the same station. If you can’t understand the ticket machine or verify meat ingredients, consider another noodle dish at a restaurant with a multilingual menu.
Use the price of one regular bowl of ramen (ラーメン) or tsukemen (つけ麺) on the menu or ticket machine as your baseline. Extra noodles (替玉) and toppings cost extra. Some small restaurants accept cash only, so bring small bills. Avoid repeatedly trying bills at the front of the line to see if the machine accepts larger denominations.
Broth and toppings may contain pork, fish, eggs, or wheat. If you have an allergy, check with staff instead of relying on photos on the ticket machine. When carrying very hot broth across a narrow counter, keep your bag and sleeves away from the bowl. If you can’t verify the ingredients, it’s safest not to eat it.
If plans change
If an ingredient is sold out or the line is longer than expected, look for another noodle restaurant in the same area with a clear menu. Choose a backup based on disclosed prices and broth ingredients, and confirm that it’s open now rather than relying on a popularity ranking.
If the line feels like too much or you can’t verify the menu, move to a nearby restaurant with seating and a multilingual menu.
Small tip
A long line does not guarantee a great meal. Each restaurant has its own queue location and rules against joining the line partway through.
Final check before departure
- Choose just one restaurant in Shinjuku and check the operator’s page for opening information.
- If you need to avoid certain ingredients, choose only dishes whose relevant ingredient information you can verify using the official allergy chart.
- Leave time to read the instructions at the entrance, and join the line only after everyone in your group has arrived.
Official information checked on 2026-07-29. A long line does not guarantee a great meal. Each restaurant has its own queue location and rules against joining the line partway through. Before you go, check the restaurant’s latest hours, sold-out notices, and whether it accepts cash or cards.
Information checked: 2026-07-29