Ichiran
Ichiran is a ramen restaurant in Minami-ku, Fukuoka, specializing in tonkotsu ramen, a noodle soup made from pork bone broth. The location is a single-story wooden building with a simple structure that sets it apart from other Ichiran locations, and it features small partitioned counter booths where guests can focus on their meal.
The first Ichiran store opened in 1960 in Fukuoka when Sadayuki Nakahara founded the chain. The Nanokawa location, the current flagship store in Minami-ku, opened in 1993 and marked a turning point in the brand's expansion while preserving the original simple wooden building design.
Ichiran represents Fukuoka's ramen heritage, where this noodle soup is deeply rooted in local identity. The space shows how people in Japan use food to pause and focus, with each small booth designed for quiet reflection rather than social gathering.
Visitors purchase their order at a ticket machine and then sit in a small booth where they can eat their ramen with full focus. The system allows you to specify up to four requests on a form, such as extra scallions or a spicier sauce.
The restroom at this location is known for its unusually large supply of toilet paper rolls, with about twelve rolls, while some other locations have even more. This practical and somewhat playful detail is part of the restaurant's charming character.
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