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Ramen in Japan: Soup Types, Local Styles, Ticket Machines and How to Order

A bowl of creamy pork-bone ramen with sliced pork, egg and greens
A bowl of tonkotsu (pork-bone) ramen.Photo: Alasdair at en.wikipedia, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

A bowl of ramen is one of the simplest pleasures of a trip to Japan, and one of the cheapest. Every region has its own style, and many shops work a little differently from restaurants at home: you often buy a ticket from a machine first, choose how firm you want your noodles, and sit at a counter. This guide explains the main soup types, a few famous local styles from official tourism sites, and how ordering works, so you can walk into any ramen shop with confidence.

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  • Shoyu, shio, miso and tonkotsu: what's the difference?
  • Local styles: Hakata (Fukuoka), Sapporo (Hokkaido), Kitakata (Fukushima)
  • Ticket machines, noodle firmness and kaedama refills
  • Slurping: common in Japan, but completely optional

The four main types

JNTO describes the classic flavors as shio (salt), shoyu (soy sauce) and miso, plus tonkotsu, defined by its creamy pork-bone soup. The government's English magazine Highlighting Japan explains that shoyu, miso and shio are named after the seasoning base (tare), while tonkotsu is named after the broth.

Local styles worth trying

Planning where to eat? Our destination pages for Fukuoka (Fukuoka) and Hokkaido list local foods.

A meal ticket vending machine with rows of buttons showing dishes
A meal ticket machine at a noodle shop. Pay first, then hand the ticket to the staff.Photo: Steven-L-Johnson, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Ordering at a ticket machine

From the door to your bowl Ordering at a ramen shop with a ticket machine 1. Join the line outside if there is one. 2. Buy a ticket at the machine by the entrance: insert money, press the button for your bowl and toppings, take the ticket. Many machines take cash only. 3. Hand the ticket to staff; say your noodle firmness if asked. 4. Eat: slurp or not, as you like. 5. Want more noodles? Order kaedama while you still have soup, where offered. 6. Leave fairly soon after finishing if people are waiting. 1Join the line, if anyA line often means a popular shop 2Buy a ticket at the machineMoney in, press your bowl, take ticketMany machines: cash only 3Hand the ticket to staffChoose noodle firmness if asked 4Eat your waySlurp or eat quietly; both are fine 5More noodles? KaedamaKeep some soup; where offered 6Free the seat when doneEspecially if people are waiting
Based on the Consumer Hotline for Tourists, the official tourism guides of Sapporo (Hokkaido) and Tokyo (Tokyo), Ichiran's official English guide and JNTO (checked October 2026).

Japan's Consumer Hotline for Tourists explains that many ramen shops have a ticket machine near the entrance: you buy a ticket and hand it to the staff. It adds that many machines don't accept credit cards or electronic money, so it's a good idea to have cash ready. The official tourism site of Sapporo (Hokkaido) gives the same steps: buy the ticket before sitting down, then hand it to a staff member. Some shops have their own systems; Ichiran's English guide, for example, explains an order sheet where you circle your preferences.

The official tourism guide of Tokyo (Tokyo) also suggests not lingering too long after your meal, since others may be waiting.

To slurp or not to slurp?

Three ways to enjoy your noodles, all fine Slurping is optional Slurp: common in Japan and not rude. Eat quietly: completely fine. Use the spoon: lift some noodles onto the ramen spoon and eat from it. Choose whatever is comfortable for you. SLURPCommon inJapan; notrude at all QUIETLYTotallyfine, too SPOONPut noodleson the spoonand eat Pick what feels comfortable for you.
JNTO says slurping is not considered rude in Japan (checked October 2026). It is not a rule.

In Japan, many people slurp their noodles with a bit of noise, and JNTO notes that this is not considered rude at all. But you don't have to. Eating quietly is completely fine, and nobody will mind. If slurping feels awkward or the soup is too hot, you can lift a few noodles onto the ramen spoon (renge) and eat from it. Enjoy it whichever way suits you.

My visit

Coming soon: notes from our editor's own ramen trips in Japan.

Allergies? Ramen soups often contain wheat, soy and other ingredients: see food allergies in Japan.

Last reviewed: October 4, 2026. Each shop has its own system.

References

Related guides

More nationwide: Food & dining

Photo credits

  1. A bowl of creamy pork-bone ramen with sliced pork, egg and greens. Photo: Alasdair at en.wikipedia, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
  2. A meal ticket vending machine with rows of buttons showing dishes. Photo: Steven-L-Johnson, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  3. Plates of sushi in different colors moving along a conveyor belt. Photo: JIP, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (title text added)
  4. A restaurant window display of plastic food samples with price labels. Photo: Lombroso, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (title text added)
  5. An empty wooden sushi counter with seats close together. Photo: Bobby.Creations, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (title text added)
  6. A takoyaki food stall with a bright octopus banner. Photo: whalt, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (title text added)
  7. The lit entrance of a small izakaya with a white sign. Photo: Japanexperterna.se, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (title text added)

Card images combine these photos with the page title. Photos are used under their licenses (public domain, CC0, CC BY or CC BY-SA); adapted images are shared under the same license as the original.