Calling all food lovers in Tokyo! Ramen Kagetsu Arashi comes highly recommended. Of course, a trip to Tokyo isn’t complete without a visit to Asakusa, anyway. Unlike the super urban atmosphere that permeates so much of the city, Asakusa is made up of streets colored with a bit of traditional Japanese style. Great for sight-seeing, and even better for enjoying some delicious ramen!

Ramen Kagetsu Arashi

Asakusa, Tokyo

With Sensoji Temple (浅草寺) at its center, Asakusa's streets lined with historic shrines and long-established shops radiate out in all directions. As a popular destination among travelers, there are things to see all over the neighborhood, places to try on traditional kimono, chic cafes, and enough intriguing shopping spots to keep you busy all day in this lively area.

Today we'd like to introduce you to a popular ramen eatery, practically next door from the giant Asakusa landmark of Kaminarimon Gate (雷門), called Ramen Kagetsu Arashi.

You'll find Ramen Kagetsu Arashi just 30~40m (100ft or so) from the famous Kaminarimon Gate, which is a standard part of any Asakusa itinerary.

Ramen Kagetsu Arashi is actually a popular ramen chain in Japan. They've been in business for 27 years now, and expanded to 250 different locations across Japan. The "Arashi" (嵐) in the store's name means "storm" or even "typhoon", and was chosen because Ramen Kagetsu Arashi hopes to spread delicious ramen culture like the spread of winds in a storm.

Despite the ramen shop's popularity, this location isn't overly crowded at lunch, and customers can usually sit down without much of a wait. When asked to explain this unusual phenomenon, Ramen Kagetsu Arashi's manager noted that the majority of this location's customers are foreign travelers and, interestingly, lots of people who work at other restaurants nearby. This means that their mid-day rush is spread out, and even customers who arrive at peak lunch hours can walk right in.

Ramen Kagetsu Arashi (らあめん花月嵐)
Address: 1-3-3 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo
Hours: 11:00 – 26:00
Access: Asakusa Station
Official Website (jp)
English Menu

The shop's atmosphere is comfortable and welcoming, with both counter and table seats to choose from.

Worried your Japanese isn't up to snuff? Don't be! You can order everything first thing using their ticket vending machine, and you don't need to read a word of Japanese to do it. Change to screen's language to English (or Chinese, Korean, etc) and make your order without a moment of confusion.

Of course you can pay for everything in cash, but you can also take advantage of your Japanese IC transit card and pay for everything with just a tap against the reader! (They don't accept credit cards, however.)

After making your order with the handy vending machine, staff are there to quickly start preparing your meal, and they can even help you in your language of choice! Although the shop staff varies day to day, among them are members who speak English and Chinese.

Recommendations Straight from the Manager!

① Ramen Kagetsu Arashi’s #1 Most Popular Menu Item

Arashi Genkotsu Ramen (嵐げんこつらあめん)
The most popular dish on the shop's menu, their Arashi Genkotsu Ramen is a Tokyo-style tonkotsu (豚骨) broth ramen. This ramen boasts some unique qualities that you won't find elsewhere. First off, you can choose from three flavors to compliment the genkotsu ramen: shoyu (醤油, soy sauce), shio (塩, salt), or miso (味噌).

When you order a standard tonkotsu ramen elsewhere, garlic gets added to the finished soup. At Ramen Kagetsu Arashi, however, they add the garlic in early, so that it's simmered in the broth and imparts a deep, mellow flavor full of umami. The soup has a pleasingly gentle garlic fragrance, but it's not an overly-strong lingering smell, all of which makes it quite popular!

They've got a kid's meal, too! This little set comes with a bowl of ramen that's half the size but still has all that great flavor, alongside an "umaibo" (うまい棒), a popular crunchy Japanese snack. Together with the set drink, it's a platter sure to bring smiles to kids' faces! (Exact meal contents may vary.)

② Specialty Ramen Dishes

Golden Miso Ramen

Mixed to that perfect golden ratio from three different varieties of miso, this miso ramen uses Kogane (黄金, or "golden") miso, a combination of red and white miso. The ramen's plentiful, chewy "futomen" (太麺, thick noodles) give the dish a substantiality that leaves you feeling full and satisfied. Plus, since the chashu pork that tops the bowl is sliced up before serving, it's easy to dig right in.

Barikara (Super Spicy) Ramen

Take the restaurant's popular Arashi Genkotsu Ramen, add a specialty super-hot and super-tasty spice mix, and what do you get? It's Ramen Kagetsu Arashi's Super Spicy Ramen made with hosomen (細麺, thin noodles), and heat-lovers just can't get enough. The secret to this ramen's spicy kick is actually the addition of habaneros!

Buta Soba Tsukemen

Dip these tsukemen into a double soup base broth, made with both pork and fish. You'll notice the richness of the pork accented by the lighter fish flavor in this dish you can only find here. It's a chance to try an all-new ramen variety.

Tsukemen means, literally, noodles dipped in their accompanying soup. So that's just what you should do! Take the bare strands and mix them around in the broth before slurping them up.

③ Non-Ramen Recommendations

Highballs & Accompanying Snacks

For guests who come into the shop looking for a relaxed drink, Ramen Kagetsu Arashi also offers alcohol and snacks to go with it. Don't go thinking bars or Japanese izakaya are the only places for a good drink! We were pretty shocked at the size of the highballs here. Their glasses, twice the size you might expect, leave quite an impression.

For those who like a refreshing beverage at the end of a long day of sightseeing, why not stop by the convenient Ramen Kagetsu Arashi to quench your thirst?

Teppan Fried Rice

Fried rice is a standard menu item at Japanese ramen shops. Here, however, they don't offer just any old fried rice. The ingredients for Teppan Fried Rice come to the table in a sizzling hot pan, where you mix them to perfection on your own. One pan-full makes a perfect side dish for 2 or 3 people when eaten with noodles of your choice, so they recommend you share it between everyone!

They even use butter instead of plain oil, adding rich flavor to the dish.

The Unique Appeal of Ramen Kagetsu Arashi

Point ① Enjoy The Spectrum of Flavor Available Using the Many Condiments!

This ramen shop has a pretty wide variety of additions you can use to change up the flavor of your ramen, but the following four are all free condiments that we think are worth a try.

❶ Black Pepper: A basic seasoning that goes with any kind of ramen!
❷ The Secret Sauce: This specialty condiment is made with a secret formula. You can ask for the recipe, but they won't tell! ✨

❸ Fresh-Crushed Garlic: If you want a blast of extra garlic flavor, grab one of their garlic presses and add your own crushed garlic to taste.

❹ Super-Spicy Garlic Chives & Bean Sprouts: This topping is actually quite rare, but it adds a distinct and delicious new flavor to your ramen!

Point ② Taste Noodles Made to Maximize the Soup’s Flavor

Ramen Kagetsu Arashi has two kinds of noodles, thick and thin, and uses them in different ramen varieties to emphasize the flavors. The thicker noodles are added to richer broths like the miso ramen or the tsukemen, whereas the Arashi Genkotsu Ramen uses thin noodles. Since the soup sticks to each individual noodle, they have the two different types to help diners get the most out of each of the unique ramen flavor combinations. The restaurant's hospitable attitude is even reflected in their noodles!

With So Many Great Options, Find the Ramen that Suites Your Palate!

The restaurant's specialty, Arashi Genkotsu Ramen.

The exquisitely blended Golden Miso Ramen.

Or maybe the Barikara (Super-Spicy) Ramen, with spice that really packs a punch! Whether one of these ramens calls to you, or you're leaning towards something like the delicately flavored pork and fish tsukemen, thanks to the piping hot rice dishes and a plentiful selection of sides, you and all your travel companions will be sure to have a great meal at Ramen Kagetsu Arashi.

Flavor You’ll Never Forget!

Give this rich and flavorful ramen a try, and you'll soon be back for more! And since they regularly collaborate with other famous ramen shops and offer regional varieties, the intriguing new options and flavors will draw you in again and again, whenever you're in Japan! So stop by next time you're in Asakusa – you might just find a new favorite in a bowl of their special Arashi Genkotsu Ramen!

 
Ramen Kagetsu Arashi (らあめん花月嵐)
Address: 1-3-3 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo
Hours: 11:00 – 26:00
Access: Asakusa Station
Official Website (jp)
English Menu