Easy to visit even for first-time tourists! 3 recommended Yonezawa ramen shops

• Table of Contents
• 1. Benihanaan
• 2. Kashukuya Shiten
• 3. Yonezawa Roadside Station "Bishamon"

1. Benihanaan

Benihanaan, located in a corner of Uesugi Castle Park, is an easy place to stop by when strolling around Uesugi Shrine, a representative tourist spot in the Chuo of Yonezawa . You can easily enjoy Yonezawa 's food culture, including Yonezawa ramen, grilled Yonezawa beef skewers, and salt-pickled sushi (pressed sushi made with salted salmon).

The signature dish is the light-tasting "Yonezawa Ramen (soy sauce)". The soup is based on dried sardines and chicken bones, with the addition of vegetables to add sweetness and a soft flavor. No artificial seasonings are used, and the restaurant values ​​a simple flavor that stays true to the basics. The deliciousness of this ramen is what makes it "Yonezawa Ramen," and is recommended for both those who are familiar with Yonezawa ramen and those trying it for the first time.

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"Yonezawa Ramen (soy sauce)" (780 yen *As of December 2024)

Benihanaan's desire to let customers enjoy Yonezawa cuisine in a casual atmosphere is reflected in the design of the restaurant. When the weather is nice, there are tables outside, creating an open atmosphere that makes it easy for customers with dogs to stop by for a quick break. There are also menu boards in English and Chinese, making it easy for overseas customers to order. With the mottos of "feel free to drop in" and "everyone can enter with peace of mind," the restaurant's warm hospitality is a draw for tourists and locals alike.

The menu changes with the seasons, with Yamagata's specialty chilled ramen available in summer and Yonezawa beef udon (soba) in winter, so it's recommended to return during different seasons.

At Benihanaan, where tradition and warmth blend together, you can fully experience the flavors and spirit of Yonezawa.

Store Information

・Business hours:
(April to November) 9:30-17:00 (meals 11:00-16:30)
(December to March) 9:30-16:30 (meals 11:00-16:00)
・Closing days: None
・Address: Within the grounds of "Uesugi Castle History Park", 1-1-22 Marunouchi, Yonezawa City Yamagata Prefecture, 〒992-0052
・Access: Approximately 6 minutes by car from Yonezawa Station
・Telephone: 0238-23-6310
・Payment method: Cash
・Language support: Japanese (English and Chinese menu boards available)

2. Kashukuya Shiten

Located a 12-minute walk from Uesugi Shrine, Kashukuya Shiten is a popular restaurant that serves a wide range of dishes, including ramen, soba, and rice bowls.

The spacious restaurant has both table seating and tatami seating.

This time, we will introduce the classic "Yonezawa Ramen." The original Yonezawa ramen is characterized by a light soy sauce soup made with chicken bones and dried sardines, but the soup at the Kashukuya Shiten is a little different. Taking advantage of the characteristics of the restaurant, which also serves soba and rice bowls, the soup is a little sweeter, reminiscent of Japanese cuisine. There are many regular customers who come frequently in search of this one-of-a-kind taste.

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"Yonezawa Ramen" (750 yen *As of December 2024)

Another plus is that it comes with two large slices of pork! The pork is soft without any excess fat, and the more you chew it, the tastier it becomes. It's no wonder that the pork noodles are popular in addition to Yonezawa ramen.

The noodles are soft and curly, and go well with the sweet soup.

The current owner, the third generation, has a background of training at a Japanese restaurant. He continues to preserve the flavors of his predecessor, who has been loved for many years, while gradually updating them, to protect this historic restaurant. Be sure to try the many Japanese dishes loved by locals, including Yonezawa ramen, katsudon, and tempura soba.

Store Information

・Business hours: 11:15~14:30 / 17:30~19:30
・Closed on Tuesdays
・Address: 3-5-22 Josai, Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture , 992-0054
・Access: About 8 minutes by car from Yonezawa Station
・Telephone: 0238-23-1446
・Payment method: Cash, PayPay
・Language support: Japanese only

3. Yonezawa Roadside Station "Bishamon"

You can also try traditional Yonezawa ramen at the Yonezawa Yonezawa Roadside Yonezawa .

Roadside stations are facilities built along the road as resting spots for drivers and as places to disseminate local information. There are more than 1,200 roadside stations throughout Japan, but "Yonezawa Roadside Yonezawa" is a particularly popular roadside station that has repeatedly placed in the top positions in the National Roadside Station Grand Prix.

One of the reasons for its popularity is the variety of gourmet food that can be enjoyed within the facility. This time, we will introduce "Yonezawa Ramen" served at "Bishamon" in the food court.

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"Yonezawa Ramen" (750 yen *As of December 2024)

It has a traditional, gentle flavor with only a little oil, but the flavor of the flying fish used in the sauce is still strong. The noodles are thin and curly, typical of Yonezawa ramen, and are kneaded by hand and aged to bring out the flavor of the noodles themselves.

In addition to Bishamon, the food court also has Kenshin-tei, which serves Yonezawa beef delicacies, and Juwari-an, a soba restaurant. All stores use a food ticket system, so please purchase a food ticket in advance from the ticket machine and hand it over to each store.

You can purchase meal tickets for all stores from the ticket vending machines installed next to each store. In addition to cash, you can also use credit cards, electronic money, and QR payments.

LCD ticket vending machine

At Roadside Station Yonezawa , you can casually enjoy high-quality Yonezawa ramen in the food court. They also have the popular "spicy miso ramen," so you can enjoy two of the region's most famous ramen. Be sure to try the diverse Yonezawa cuisine at Roadside Station Yonezawa .

In addition to ramen, Roadside Station Yonezawa also sells many other local specialties. If you are in Yonezawa, this is a spot you should definitely check out.

Store Information

・Business hours: 10:00~18:00 (last orders 17:30 on weekdays/18:00 on holidays)
・Closing days: None
・Address: 1039-1 Yamagata Prefecture, Yonezawa City Prefecture, 〒992-0117
・Access: About 10 minutes by car from Yonezawa Station
・Telephone: 0238-28-1152
Payment methods: cash, credit card (VISA, Master, JCB), electronic money (QuicPay, nanaco, transportation IC, WAON, Rakuten Edy), QR payment (Alipay, dPayment, LINE Pay, Merpay, au PAY)
・Language support: Japanese only

The stores introduced in this article are easily accessible from Yonezawa's tourist spots, and have a warm atmosphere that makes them easy to enter even for first-time visitors. Once you experience the profound flavor of Yonezawa ramen and the hospitality of the stores, you'll definitely want to visit Yonezawa again. Why not visit the ramen stores in Yonezawa to find your favorite bowl?

The restaurants introduced here are easily accessible from Yonezawa's tourist spots, and have a warm atmosphere that even first-time visitors can feel comfortable in. Once you experience the deep flavor of Yonezawa ramen and the hospitality of the restaurants, you'll definitely want to visit Yonezawa again.

Be sure to visit the ramen shops in Yonezawa to find your favorite bowl!