The 6 Best Ramen Shops in Yokohama (September 2026)

By Best:in Editorial Team · Updated September 2026

As of September 2026, Yoshimuraya in Nishi Ward remains Yokohama's most cited ramen destination, credited as the 1974 birthplace of iekei-style tonkotsu-shoyu ramen. This guide ranks six Yokohama ramen destinations using review consensus from Tabelog, Yelp and Tripadvisor alongside historical sourcing. The list spans the original iekei shop, Hakata tonkotsu chains Ichiran and Ippudo, yuzu-forward AFURI, the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum's multi-region food court, and neighborhood favorite Hinode Ramen.

The 6 Best Ramen Shops in Yokohama (September 2026), ranked

1.

Yoshimuraya

4.1 / 5 out of 7855 Google Maps reviews

Yoshimura-ya is the shop that invented iekei ramen in 1974, and it still draws lines near Yokohama Station for its pork-bone broth cut with soy sauce tare and topped with a chicken-fat sheen. A regular bowl was documented at JPY 690 in 2019, among the cheapest options here. The shop relocated in 1999 and again in 2023 to accommodate demand, and it is widely cited as the genre's birthplace.

Best for: Birthplace of iekei ramen

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2.

Ichiran

3.9 / 5 out of 2446 Google Maps reviews

Ichiran brings Fukuoka's Hakata tonkotsu style to Yokohama across two branches, Sakuragicho and Nishiguchi, both cited on Yokohama ramen roundups from Tripadvisor and Yelp. Diners fill out a paper form to customize broth richness, noodle firmness and toppings before ordering through a vending machine, a system reviewers repeatedly single out. It suits solo diners who want a fast, private tonkotsu bowl.

Best for: Solo dining tonkotsu ramen

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3.

Ippudo

4 / 5 out of 673 Google Maps reviews

Ippudo, another Hakata tonkotsu chain with roots in Fukuoka, runs a branch inside Yokohama Porta and another near Minato Mirai's Tokyu Square, both appearing on Yelp's Best Ramen in Yokohama list. The chain built its reputation on thin, straight noodles in a milky tonkotsu broth and has since expanded to cities including New York and London, giving Yokohama diners an internationally benchmarked bowl close to the station.

Best for: Globally recognized Hakata tonkotsu

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4.

Afuri

4.6 / 5 out of 3006 Google Maps reviews

AFURI's Yokohama Landmark Tower branch serves a lighter, yuzu citrus-infused shio broth, a contrast to the heavier tonkotsu and iekei bowls elsewhere on this list. Ordering runs through a ticket vending machine, and one Yelp reviewer said they would return to the nearest AFURI "with no hesitation." It's a good option for diners who find iekei or Hakata tonkotsu too heavy.

Best for: Lighter yuzu shio ramen

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5.

Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum

4 / 5 out of 17110 Google Maps reviews

The Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum, open since March 6, 1994, recreates a 1958 streetscape across two basement floors and rotates in ramen shops from around Japan, including Komurasaki from Kumamoto, the only shop that has stayed since opening day. Adult admission runs JPY 450 with JPY 100 for ages 6 to 18, and most stalls offer mini portions so visitors can try several regional styles in one trip.

Best for: Sampling multiple regional ramen styles in one visit

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6.

Hinode Ramen Yokohama Sakuragicho

3.6 / 5 out of 474 Google Maps reviews

Hinode Ramen's Sakuragicho location covers more ground than the specialists above, with miso, tsukemen dipping noodles and pork-topped bowls all mentioned by name in Yelp reviews. Reviewers describe it as a family-friendly, neighborhood-style go-to rather than a destination shop, which makes it a practical pick for groups who can't agree on one ramen style.

Best for: Casual family-friendly variety

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What makes Yokohama's ramen scene different from other cities?

Yokohama's ramen identity centers on iekei ramen, a tonkotsu-shoyu style that combines pork-bone broth with a soy sauce tare, thick straight noodles, and a layer of chicken fat ladled over the top. The style was invented in 1974 by the shop Yoshimura-ya, and it remains distinct from the Hakata tonkotsu or Sapporo miso styles associated with other Japanese cities.

The city also hosts the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum, which opened on March 6, 1994 as what its operators call the world's first ramen-themed amusement park. The basement floors recreate a 1958 Japanese streetscape and house a rotating lineup of ramen shops brought in from regions such as Kyushu and Hokkaido, giving visitors a way to sample multiple regional styles without leaving Yokohama.

How was this ranking put together?

This ranking weighs five factors: historical significance and originality (20%), broth and noodle authenticity (25%), review consensus across platforms (25%), accessibility including station proximity and branch count (15%), and value for price (15%). Rankings draw on Tabelog's Kanagawa "Tabelog 100" 2025 selection for ramen, Yelp's Best Ramen in Yokohama lists (updated in both 2025 and 2026), and Tripadvisor's Best Ramen in Yokohama page, updated September 2026.

Because two of the six entries are national chains with more than one Yokohama branch, specific branch names are noted where the source lists distinguish them, such as Ichiran's Sakuragicho and Nishiguchi locations or Ippudo's Yokohama Porta and Minato Mirai locations.

What exactly is iekei ramen, and where did it start?

Iekei ramen traces back to a single shop: Yoshimura-ya, opened in 1974 near Shinsugita Station in Yokohama. The shop relocated closer to Yokohama Station in 1999 as its reputation grew, then moved again in 2023 into a larger, two-floor location a short walk from the earlier site. Apprentices who trained under its founder went on to open their own shops, typically adding "-ya" to their own family names, which spread the iekei format across Kanagawa and eventually nationwide.

The defining bowl pairs a thick pork-bone broth with a salty soy sauce tare and chicken fat, served over thick, straight noodles that customers can order in varying firmness. Toppings typically include chashu pork, nori seaweed, and spinach, with rice often ordered alongside since the broth is rich enough to pair with a starch beyond noodles.

How much does ramen cost in Yokohama, and is the Ramen Museum admission worth it?

A regular bowl at Yoshimura-ya was documented at JPY 690 in a 2019 shop listing, among the cheaper options on this list. Many other highly rated Yokohama ramen shops tracked on Tabelog fall in the JPY 1,000 to JPY 1,999 range per bowl, based on the site's Kanagawa ramen listings.

The Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum charges separately for entry and food. Museum admission is JPY 450 for visitors age 19 and over and JPY 100 for ages 6 to 18, with free entry for children under 6, according to the museum's official site. Each ramen stall inside then charges for its own bowls, and most offer a smaller "mini ramen" portion so visitors can sample more than one shop in a single visit.

How do I get to Yoshimura-ya and the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum?

  1. Reach Yoshimura-ya near Yokohama Station

    Take a JR or subway line to Yokohama Station, then head toward the Nishi Ward (west) side of the station. Yoshimura-ya sits a few minutes' walk from the west exit. Expect a line at most meal times; reviewers commenting on the queue in 2025 and 2026 noted waits rarely exceeding 30 minutes even when the line looks long.

  2. Reach the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum

    To reach the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum, ride the JR or subway to Shin-Yokohama Station, then walk about 5 to 10 minutes to the museum entrance. Head down to the basement floors for the ramen stalls; the first floor holds the gallery and gift shop, which sell take-home noodle and soup kits produced under the supervision of the featured shop managers.

How does Yokohama's iekei ramen compare with Hakata tonkotsu chains like Ichiran and Ippudo?

Ichiran and Ippudo both trace their roots to Fukuoka's Hakata tonkotsu tradition rather than to Yokohama's home-grown iekei style, but both chains operate multiple Yokohama branches: Ichiran runs locations at Sakuragicho and at the Nishiguchi (west exit) side of Yokohama Station, while Ippudo runs a branch inside Yokohama Porta and another near Minato Mirai's Tokyu Square. Both appear on Yelp's Best Ramen in Yokohama lists alongside Yokohama-native shops.

The practical difference for diners is ordering style and broth weight. Ichiran uses a vending-machine ticket system and lets customers customize broth richness, noodle firmness, and toppings on a paper order form, a system reviewers on Tripadvisor specifically call out. Iekei broth at shops like Yoshimura-ya tends to run heavier and saltier, with a visible chicken-fat layer, compared to the cleaner Hakata-style tonkotsu served at the two chains.

How is this ranking computed?

  • Historical significance and originality: 20%
  • Broth and noodle authenticity: 25%
  • Review consensus across Tabelog, Yelp and Tripadvisor: 25%
  • Accessibility (station proximity, hours, branch count): 15%
  • Value for price: 15%

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