When it comes to Japanese cuisine, ramen, udon, and soba are just a few examples of the many noodle dishes commonly served all over the country, and each has unique variations depending on the region. But when you think of noodles in Japan, which region comes to mind first?

Japanese travel site Jalan conducted a survey among more than 1,000 Japanese adults in their 20s to 50s (with plenty of noodle-eating experience) to find out which parts of Japan are best known for their noodles. The question was simple, asked of Japanese residents from all over the country: which region do you think of when it came to “noodles”? The survey allowed up to three answers (selected from Japan’s 47 prefectures), but there were some decisive answers, easily revealing Japan’s top five noodle regions.

5th Place: Tokyo

As the capital of Japan, Tokyo has just about every kind of Japanese noodle you could think of and more, but the city’s image as a ramen hotspot is what truly shined through in the survey’s comments. From the wide selection of ramen shops lined up one next to another in Tokyo Station, to the tiny hole-in-the-wall noodle shops open until the wee hours of the morning, it’s not hard to see how deeply rooted ramen is in the culture and the history of the city. These days you can try classic ramen that tastes the same as it has since the noodle dish arrived in Tokyo from China a little over a century ago, or you can look for some pretty weird options like shaved ice ramen, chocolate ramen, or blue salt ramen. They probably all taste great anyway.

4th Place: Nagano Prefecture

Nagano clearly stood out thanks to its soba noodles, often called “Shinshu soba” in honor of the region’s historic name. There’s no denying that Shinshu soba is what comes to mind for many in Japan when they think of soba: mellow broth and hearty flavorful noodles, made from the region’s endless fields of buckwheat. Thanks to the seasonal changes found throughout Nagano, buckwheat thrives, and the varieties are diverse. Nagano isn’t the only prefecture in Japan that makes delicious soba, but there’s no doubt that local varieties like Togakushi soba and Takato soba helped firm up its reputation!

3rd Place: Hokkaido

Ramen may have only arrived in Japan in the past century and a half, but it’s already such a part of culture that three out of five of Japan’s top noodle regions have earned their reputations thanks to ramen. Hokkaido is an interesting choice, since if you asked any average Japanese person what kind of food they think of when it comes to Japan’s northernmost prefecture, you’re just as likely to get answers like “fresh seafood,” “dairy,” or even “red meat.” But Hokkaido is truly a foodie’s paradise, and survey comments backed up their choice with excited mentions of miso ramen, Sapporo ramen, and Hakodate ramen. Using Hokkaido’s bountiful fresh ingredients to create rich and luxurious bowls of ramen only makes sense, and the large island is now packed with different local varieties.

2nd Place: Fukuoka Prefecture

Fukuoka is another ramen spot, thanks to the local variety of Hakata ramen gaining such wide-spread popularity that it can now be found just about anywhere in Japan. The unctuous tonkotsu broth, made creamy with pork bones, and paired with thin, firm noodles, has even found popularity overseas thanks largely to the spread of the popular Hakata ramen chain Ichiran. It’s no surprise that survey comments were full of Hakata ramen mentions, but some answers also mentioned Hakata udon, an especially soft variety of the thick wheat noodles, often eaten after a long night out.

1st Place…

Kagawa Prefecture!

While Kagawa is still largely unknown to most people outside of Japan, within the country it’s overwhelmingly associated with “udon,” sometimes even called “The Udon Prefecture.” For voters who love udon, Kagawa was the obvious choice, due to the reputation earned from its popular regional variety. Known as Sanuki udon (another reference to a historic regional moniker), Kagawa’s udon is beloved thanks to its light broth and firm noodles, served hot or cold, with toppings or plain and simple. Visitors in Kagawa sometimes go on udon tours, to try as many different shops as possible, and there are even local workshops where you can try making udon with your own two hands. While the love for ramen and soba noodles was likely spread between a number of different prefectures, it’s clear that udon lovers were able to unite for this survey, pushing Kagawa to the top as the kingdom of udon – and Japan’s top noodle region!

Noodles are a beloved part of the local cuisine all over Japan, and just about every region has a favorite preparation, but after hearing the voices of over 1,000 everyday noodle lovers in Japan, it looks like we’ve finally discovered the country’s best noodle destinations. If you love noodles and you’re planning a trip to Japan, you’ve got your work cut out for you!

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