[Motorcycle Touring] Enjoying Ramen from Rishiri Island, the Hardest to Reach in Japan, at the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum!

I recently rode my motorcycle to the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum, a food theme park that brings together regional ramen specialties from all over Japan. Among the featured restaurants is “Rishiri Ramen Miraku,” located on Rishiri Island in Hokkaido, famously known as “Japan’s hardest-to-reach ramen shop.” Intrigued by the opportunity to try their soup made with premium Rishiri kelp, I decided to visit and experience it for myself.

In this article, I’ll not only highlight the unique charm of the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum but also share practical tips for motorcyclists, including access routes and parking information.

What is the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum?

Opened in 1994, the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum is the world’s first food amusement park dedicated to ramen. Its concept is simple: “Enjoy regional ramen from all over Japan without boarding a plane.” The museum features a curated selection of ramen shops, offering visitors a variety of flavors to explore in one convenient location.

The interior is designed to faithfully replicate the streets of 1958 (Showa 33), making it an ideal spot not only for ramen enthusiasts but also for those who want to experience a nostalgic slice of Japan’s retro Showa era. The atmosphere is charmingly vintage, evoking a sense of warmth and comfort that adds to the overall experience.

Visit Report: Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum

Access and Parking

The Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum is conveniently located just a 5-minute walk from JR Shin-Yokohama Station (Yokohama Line and Tokaido Shinkansen).

For those arriving by car or motorcycle, head toward JR Shin-Yokohama Station from the Kanjo No. 2 (Circular Route 2). At the intersection in front of the station (“Shin-Yokohama Station Entrance”), turn toward Eda and the Daisan-Keihin Expressway. Then, at the second traffic light (“Shin-Yokohama 2-Chome North”), turn left, and at the first corner (marked by a convenience store), turn right. Continue straight, and you’ll see a Freshness Burger on your left. Keep going, and you’ll arrive at the museum.

Parking instructions are provided on-site, but motorcycles are not allowed in the designated parking area, so take note.

Instead, there’s a free motorcycle parking area a little further down the road, which is a great bonus for riders.

However, be mindful not to park outside the designated white lines, as the area is used for loading and unloading vehicles. If the free parking is full, you can use one of the nearby paid motorcycle parking lots.

From Arrival to Admission

I arrived five minutes after the museum’s 11:00 AM opening. Since it was a weekday, the venue was still quiet and calm. The admission fee is very affordable, set at ¥450 for adults and just ¥100 for students. Additionally, a digital pass offering unlimited annual access is available for ¥500, making it a great option for those planning multiple visits.

Tip: Visiting right after the museum opens allows you to explore the venue at a relaxed pace and enjoy the restaurants without any wait times—highly recommended!

At the entrance, tickets can be purchased seamlessly, with electronic payment options available. Additionally, a display shows the current wait times for each ramen shop, making it easy to check the crowd levels at a glance. Shortly after opening, most restaurants had no wait time, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience.

Inside the Museum

1F: Gallery

The first floor features an exhibition area where visitors can learn about the history and culture of ramen. From its origins to unique regional varieties across Japan, this space is packed with fascinating information. I was surprised to learn that ramen’s history dates back as far as the Muromachi period, making it an unexpectedly ancient dish.

In addition to the gallery, the first floor also houses a museum shop and a hands-on ramen-making experience corner, offering plenty to explore.

B1F–B2F: The Streets of Ramen and Sunset

The basement levels transport visitors to a retro Showa-era world. Beyond ramen shops, you’ll find a quaint café and a nostalgic candy shop, creating a delightful, immersive experience.

The interior faithfully recreates the streets of 1958 (Showa 33), complete with ramen restaurants scattered amidst a sunset-painted skyline. The intricate back-alley decor adds to the charm, making visitors feel as if they’ve stepped back in time to a bygone era. It’s a nostalgic and captivating journey into Showa Japan.

Tasting the Rishiri Ramen

Rishiri Ramen Miraku

The original Rishiri Ramen Miraku is located on Rishiri Island in Hokkaido. To visit from the Tokyo metropolitan area, you’ll need to take a combination of flights and ferries, totaling about 8 hours of travel time. Adding to the challenge, the restaurant’s operating hours are only 2.5 hours a day, earning its reputation as “Japan’s most difficult ramen shop to visit.” Being able to enjoy this ramen at the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum is an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.

Ramen tickets are purchased via a touch-screen vending machine. While the museum entrance tickets allowed the use of QuicPay, the ramen ticket machine only accepted iD or transportation IC cards. Slightly confused, I paid with my Pasmo card and selected the Yaki-Shoyu Ramen (¥1,000).

Shortly after opening, the shop was already starting to fill up, and it took about 10 minutes for my ramen to be served. The dish is a labor of love: a Japanese-style soup made with plenty of Rishiri kelp is blended with pork and chicken bone broth, then finished by scorching soy sauce in a wok for each order. The meticulous preparation reflects the exceptional quality of the ramen.

When the ramen was brought to my table, the roasted aroma of soy sauce immediately wafted up, stimulating my appetite.

The rich broth, infused with the concentrated flavors of Rishiri kelp and animal-based stock, is a perfect harmony of umami and soy sauce depth. One sip of the soup, and it’s hard to stop—it’s that delicious.

The medium-thick, wavy noodles are aged to perfection, boasting a chewy texture that pairs exceptionally well with the soup. Together, they create a truly satisfying experience.

Simple toppings like chashu pork, wood ear mushrooms, bamboo shoots, green onions, and seaweed complement the soup’s robust flavor, balancing the dish as a whole.

Rishiri Ramen, with its kelp-based broth, offers a deep, umami-packed flavor with a distinctive aroma. It’s a quintessential taste of Hokkaido, and I highly recommend trying it at least once.

As I left the shop, I noticed a long line had formed outside. Coming early was definitely the right call.

Yokohama Ramen Rokkakuya 1944+

One of the unique features of the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum is that most of the shops offer half-size ramen options. With a bit of room left in my stomach, I decided to try Rokkakuya, one of the legendary “Big Three” of Iekei-style ramen. Although the original shop closed in 2017 due to financial difficulties, the taste has been revived at the museum through a restoration project led by the founder’s apprentices.

This time, I opted for the Mini Ramen (¥680), a half-size serving.

Iekei ramen is known for its chewy, medium-thick straight noodles paired with a rich pork bone soy sauce broth. The combination is perfectly balanced, with each bite delivering a satisfying burst of flavor. Despite its smaller portion, the half-size ramen still offered a generous amount, making it a simple yet high-quality dish that exceeded expectations.

After enjoying the ramen and filling up, I decided it was time to leave the museum. By this point, the museum had started to get busier. Walking through the carefully recreated Showa-era streets, I felt a nostalgic sense of comfort mixed with a unique blend of past and future—a truly immersive experience.

When I left, it was just past noon. Popular shops tend to get particularly crowded around lunchtime, so I recommend visiting at an off-peak time for a more relaxed experience.

Basic Information about Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum

Nearby Attractions

JRA Wins Yokohama

Directly across from the Ramen Museum, you’ll find the JRA off-track betting facility, Wins Yokohama. If you’re visiting on a weekend, why not enjoy some ramen first and then indulge in a bit of horse racing fun?

Conclusion

The Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum is a must-visit spot for ramen lovers, offering the chance to savor famous ramen dishes from all over Japan in a nostalgic, retro Showa-era atmosphere.

This time, I tried Rishiri Ramen Miraku and Yokohama Ramen Rokkakuke 1944+, and both were outstanding. Each bowl carried the essence and history of its respective region, leaving me fully satisfied.

In addition to the ramen, the recreation of a Showa 33 (1958) streetscape adds a charming, nostalgic vibe, making the experience enjoyable beyond just the food. The affordable admission fee also makes it a spot you’ll want to revisit again and again.

Whether you’re a ramen enthusiast or someone who simply wants to experience the Showa era’s charm, the Ramen Museum is highly recommended. Take the time to visit and enjoy a unique experience you won’t find anywhere else!