Ramen Kai’s roasted char siu is undeniably fantastic. The soup is of pork-stock-and-seafood type, and the flavors balance out very nicely. The maze (mixed) soba and the tsukemen are also great. About a three-minute walk from Minamisenju Station Tsukuba Express West Exit, the shop is on the Kotsu Dori shopping street.

You’ll find the following inscribed on the curtains of Kougetsuken: “Established 1952. We take pride in our in-house egg noodles. Minamisenju-born downtown ramen.” Though it looks clean and new—probably due to a remodeling—the ramen has truly maintained the flavor of the Showa Period (1926–1989). The standard price is only ¥500, while the Char Siu Ramen and Cantonese Ramen go for about ¥650–700. Located along Minamisenju Nakadori.