Yokohama City

Whether all you only know about ramen is instant, cup-o-noodles, or are a true aficionado who can tell the difference between shoyu and tonkotsu based ramen by smell, perhaps you’ll agree: Ramen is so good, it should be in a museum. Well, you’re in luck — there is a ramen museum! At the Shin-Yokohama Raumen Museum (not a typo; that’s how it is spelled), not only is the steamy, hearty goodness that is ramen soup memorialized and commemorated, but the entire culture that created it is equally celebrated. In the museum’s case, Ramen, or Rau-men is considered to be a Chinese dish. This is why is it is often called  “chuuka soba,” meaning “Chinese noodles.” Like so many things in Japan, it’s a new spin on an old, imported idea to create something essentially Japanese. It consists of Chinese-style wheat noodles served in broth-based meat, fish, or even miso, then often further flavored with soy sauce or miso or even butter, and uses toppings such as sliced pork and dried seaweed, ginger, green onions, and so on. There are so many varieties that people can argue over the details. There are so many shops that you can find one almost anywhere…