Shinjuku is one of the best neighbourhoods in Tokyo for ramen, with a huge concentration of celebrated shops ranging from hole-in-the-wall counters to nationally famous names, serving every style imaginable. Around the station and its side streets you’ll find rich, creamy tonkotsu (pork-bone) ramen, soy-based shoyu, miso, and lighter shio (salt) bowls, as well as regional and specialist styles. A standout is Fuunji, one of Tokyo’s most famous shops, renowned for its intensely flavoured ‘tsukemen’ — thick chilled noodles served separately from a rich, concentrated dipping broth made from chicken and fish (a ‘W-soup’), which you dip each mouthful into. Queues at the top shops can be long, and most use a ticket-vending machine at the door where you buy your meal before sitting. For ramen lovers, working through Shinjuku’s noodle scene is a delicious Tokyo pilgrimage.
🗓️ At a Glance
| Location | Shinjuku, Tokyo |
| Hours | Restaurant hours (queues at peak) |
| Admission | Approx. ¥900–1,300/bowl |
| Time needed | A meal |
| Best time | Year-round |
What to Try
- Rich tonkotsu, shoyu, miso and shio ramen styles.
- Fuunji’s famous chicken-and-fish tsukemen (dipping ramen).
- Acclaimed shops from hole-in-the-wall to famous names.
- Ordering via a ticket-vending machine at the door.
Combine Your Visit
- Combine with Omoide Yokocho for yakitori.
- Pair with Golden Gai for a nightcap.
- Read our Tokyo overview .
Getting There
- By train: around Shinjuku Station and its side streets.
- On foot: in the Shinjuku district.
Tips
Try tsukemen (dipping ramen) at a famous shop like Fuunji for something different — dip the thick noodles into the concentrated broth. Expect queues at top shops (go slightly off-peak), buy your meal ticket from the machine at the door before sitting, have cash ready, and slurp your noodles promptly while hot.
