Located near Aso Shrine, the unassuming Ramen no Kurokawa is said to attract more international travelers than Japanese customers. This piqued my interest, so I decided to check it out right away.

It Was a Toy Shop Until 10 Years Ago

The sign outside reads “Toy Shop Kurokawa”, and the place was indeed a toy store up until a decade ago. The mother and son who ran the toy shop decided to switch gears and open a ramen restaurant instead.

The restaurant has only seven seats at the counter, all of which are counter seating.

It seems that the rumors are true: the customers consist mainly of international visitors rather than locals. (All the visitors were tourists from Korea when I visited.) It was a Wednesday, and since many nearby restaurants are closed on Wednesdays, this spot becomes an especially popular choice for foreign tourists.

Although I thought there would be a menu in English, it turns out it’s only in Japanese. The menu is quite straightforward: tonkotsu ramen, various toppings, rice, and “Kaedama (Refill).”

This is tonkotsu ramen (700 yen).

Adding an egg as a topping means you get to have a perfectly gooey, flavorful egg with your ramen.

The ramen features medium-thin straight noodles. The tonkotsu broth is mild, with no overpowering pork smell or strong soy sauce bite—just a light, easy-to-eat bowl of ramen. The chashu (braised pork) is tender and melts in your mouth.

Garlic chips, pepper, red ginger, and gochujang can be added to enhance the flavor of your ramen. Gochujang is a favorite among Koreans and pairs perfectly with ramen thanks to its spicy kick.

Drinks are self-serve, so you grab them yourself from the fridge.

The location of the restaurant

This ramen restarant is located right near Aso Shrine.

There is space for three cars to park in the lot located across the street from the restaurant.

Wrap Up

“Ramen no Kurokawa” was a cozy restaurant, where the owner and customers communicated through gestures and placed their orders in Japanese. On that day, it was bustling with many Korean visitors, but is also frequented by customers from Taiwan, China, and Germany. The owner’s casual “Where are you from?” sparks conversations, creating a warm atmosphere where everyone can feel at home, regardless of their nationality.