Famous restaurants from across the country have gathered in Odaiba! Enjoy a food crawl at the newly renovated “Tokyo Ramen Kokugikan Mai”
Ramen has become what could be called Japan’s national dish. From classics like soy sauce, miso, and tonkotsu to seafood-based and creative variations, its rich diversity captivates people not only in Japan but around the world. “Tokyo Ramen Kokugikan Mai,” a spot where you can experience the diverse charms of ramen, reopened on March 12, 2026, following a renovation. With the addition of four new shops, the venue now boasts a comprehensive lineup of six shops in total. It’s a space where flavors from all over Japan come together under one roof. In this article, we’ll delve deeper into the appeal of the newly renovated “Tokyo Ramen Kokugikan Mai” by sampling the ramen at each shop.
Odaiba’s New Hotspot! A Ramen Spot Packed with Instagram-Worthy Spots
"Tokyo Ramen Kokugikan Mai" is located on the 5th floor of Aqua City Odaiba, a mixed-use commercial complex in Odaiba. It’s just a 1-minute walk from Yurikamome’s Daiba Station and a 6-minute walk from Tokyo Teleport Station on the Rinkai Line, making it extremely accessible. When you head up to the 5th floor, the first thing that catches your eye is the entrance, spectacularly illuminated by digital signage. It really builds your anticipation for what kind of ramen you’ll get to enjoy.
The approach leading to the store area is a space that embodies the “NEO Kokugikan” concept. Decorations evoking a traditional Japanese atmosphere—such as rows of paper lanterns and ukiyo-e-style signs—were featured throughout the space.
Colorful maneki-neko cats welcome you. While they are traditionally a symbol of prosperity in business, the maneki-neko here stand out for their colorful and playful designs.
Finally, we arrive at the area where six unique shops are gathered. Starting from the entrance and moving clockwise, the shops are lined up as follows: “Sapporo Miso,” “Kanazawa Rich Tonkotsu Ramen Shinsen,” “Premium Chinese Soba Fukumii,” “Ramen Kainai,” “Tantan-tei 175° DENO,” and “Menya Torinokiji.” One of the major attractions is being able to sample ramen with regional specialties right here in Odaiba.
"Sapporo Miso"—their savory grilled miso is absolutely delicious!
First up is “Sapporo Miso,” which has been operating here since before the renovation. As a specialty miso ramen restaurant originating in Hokkaido, it’s a popular spot that has garnered a large following since its debut in 2011. It embodies the quintessential Sapporo miso ramen experience, and you can truly appreciate its quality at the Odaiba location as well.
"Sapporo Miso" serves miso ramen made in the Sapporo style, where the miso is toasted in a wok, bringing out its rich, toasty aroma. The broth, made with chicken bones and aromatic vegetables, is rich yet well-balanced and clings perfectly to the aged, medium-thick curly noodles. The most popular item, the “Sapporo Rich Miso Ramen Special,” is generously loaded with classic toppings like large slices of chashu pork, a soft-boiled egg, butter, and corn, making for an exceptionally satisfying meal. We also recommend stirring in some grated ginger partway through your meal.”
I’m also curious about the Odaiba branch-exclusive items like “Ise Lobster Miso” and “Spicy Miso Ramen Special.” The side menu is also extensive, featuring appetizing options like “Egg Rice” and “Chā-Mayo Bowl”—which are perfect to enjoy with ramen—as well as the “Salmon and Salmon Roe Bowl,” which lets you fully savor the flavors of Hokkaido.
"Kanazawa Rich Tonkotsu Ramen: Shinsen"—Kanazawa’s Pride: A Rich, Hearty Bowl!
Another restaurant that has been operating here since before the renovation, “Kanazawa Rich Tonkotsu Ramen Shinsen,” is a popular establishment that originated in Kanazawa. It has captivated many fans with its rich tonkotsu ramen. This tonkotsu ramen, which has evolved in its own unique way in Kanazawa, is served in Odaiba with the same consistent quality.
The “Special Rich Tonkotsu Shoyu Ramen” catches the eye with its five slices of chashu that completely cover the bowl. The rich tonkotsu broth has a deep, full-bodied flavor yet leaves a clean finish. The noodles, made with our original “Fujin-sen” wheat, have a firm bite and blend perfectly with the broth.
Based on a rich tonkotsu broth, the menu features not only soy sauce and miso varieties but also specialty items like the “Authentic Snow Crab Tonkotsu Ramen.” The restaurant also offers daily promotions, such as free toppings or free extra noodles, so be sure to check the store information before you visit.
"Fukumi: Premium Chinese Noodles"—Savor the Rich Flavors of Carefully Selected Ingredients!
As part of the renovation, a new restaurant called “Fukumi: Premium Chinese Soba” has opened. This ramen shop aims to serve “a bowl you’ll want to eat every day” by using high-quality ingredients and meticulous preparation. It opened in Odaiba as the second location, following the store that opened at Tokyo Station in 2019.
The ramen at “Fukumi: Premium Chinese Noodles” features a broth made from premium chicken, combined with a kaeshi—a blend of carefully selected soy sauce and mirin—that creates a rich, complex flavor. The “Chuka Soba: Luxurious Platter,” topped with slow-cooked chashu, wontons, and a seasoned egg, is truly a “luxurious” bowl.
In addition to salt-based and white soy sauce ramen, as well as tsukemen, the menu features Odaiba-exclusive specialties such as “Chuka Soba: All-Chicken” and “Wagyu Ramen with Special Beef Wontons.” You can enjoy a different flavor every time you visit.
"Ramen Kainai": The Ultimate Double Broth from Fukuoka!
"Ramen Kainai" is a highly acclaimed restaurant that helped popularize the "seafood tonkotsu" genre in Fukuoka, the birthplace of tonkotsu ramen. Its distinctive character remains intact at this location, which marks the chain's first outlet in the Kanto region. Built around the concept of "an escape from the ordinary," the restaurant reportedly attracts many repeat customers every day, primarily ramen enthusiasts.
The restaurant’s signature “Seafood Tonkotsu Ramen” is distinguished by its double broth, which combines a pork bone broth made over 20 hours with a seafood broth. The flavors of the seafood and the umami of the pork bone blend together, creating a rich and deep taste. You can choose your noodle firmness from “barikata,” “kata,” “futsū,” or “yawa,” and you can even get a “kaedama” (extra serving of noodles)—all hallmarks of an authentic ramen experience. Other popular items include the Italian-style “Ramen Genova” topped with basil sauce and the “Spicy Seafood Tonkotsu Ramen,” available exclusively at the Odaiba location.
The self-service corner offers furikake, pickles, garlic presses, and more, making it easy to customize your meal to your liking—another appealing feature. The restaurant is bright and lively, with an atmosphere that makes it easy for families to feel comfortable coming in.
"Tantan-tei 175° DENO": A Fiery Fusion of Hokkaido and Sichuan!
Next up is “Tantan-tei 175° DENO,” known for its unique dan dan noodles. This new concept merges a renowned Sapporo dan dan noodle specialty shop with a popular wonton noodle specialty shop—a hybrid restaurant that truly takes the best of both worlds. Its specialty is dan dan noodles made with authentic Chinese spices.
The “Hand-Wrapped Wonton Chengdu Dan Dan Noodles (Dry-Style),” featuring an exquisite balance of spiciness and umami, combines the rich flavor of fresh meat ground daily in-house with a secret sesame sauce and aromatic homemade chili oil, all perfectly blended with custom-made noodles and wontons. With its addictive kick and flavor, some customers reportedly visit the restaurant several times a week.
In addition to wonton, the menu features a wide selection of other dishes such as gyoza, xiaolongbao, and drooling chicken, and in the evenings, you can enjoy the restaurant in an izakaya-style atmosphere. When eating wonton, start by savoring the natural flavors of the ingredients as they are, and then try “changing up the flavor” with the wide variety of condiments available on the table. The restaurant takes great pride in its attention to detail—everything from the grated ginger and sweet-and-sour onion to the house-made edible chili oil and aromatic vinegar is prepared from scratch.
"Menya Torino Keiji": It has the luxurious richness of a potage!
"Menya Tori no Keiji," which has made its debut in Tokyo, is a restaurant that has drawn long lines and enjoyed overwhelming popularity in the Kansai region since its founding in Sakai City in 2015. While the restaurant is certainly committed to flavor, what it values above all else is customer service. Under the slogan “For our customers’ smiles,” it goes to great lengths to provide memorable hospitality. The restaurant is also flexible in accommodating large groups, and it’s said that many customers are drawn to the establishment precisely because of its warm service.
The restaurant prides itself on its rich chicken white soup, made using only domestic chicken and water and simmered for 8 hours. It’s surprisingly creamy—it’s almost as if you’re drinking a potage soup. One of their specialty dishes, “Chicken Soba Fromage,” features this rich soup topped with a generous amount of Parmesan cheese and black pepper. As the cheese melts and coats the noodles, you can enjoy it as if you were eating soup pasta.
In addition to the classic “Chicken Soba (Salt or Soy Sauce),” the menu features luxurious options like “Truffle Soba,” “Toriji Red” with special chili oil, “Toriji Black” with sesame oil, “Toriji White” with pork back fat, matcha “Toriji Green,” and even “Rare Chashu Niku Soba,” where you can enjoy our homemade rare chashu—the variety is truly extensive.
"Tokyo Ramen Kokugikan Mai" also features an open-air terrace called the "Ramen Terrace." It offers a panoramic view of the Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Bay right before your eyes. Since you can freely bring ramen from any of the shops to your table on the terrace, groups can enjoy a tasting comparison. It’s also a great way for friends, couples, and families to share and enjoy their favorite ramen together. When visiting, be sure to secure a seat first, then place your order at each shop. Once you’ve finished eating, please return your tray to the shop where you picked it up.
Each of the six shops has its own unique charm, and every bowl is well worth trying. This is a spot we highly recommend not only to ramen lovers but also to tourists from Japan and abroad, as well as people who work in Odaiba. When you visit Odaiba, why not stop by “Tokyo Ramen Kokugikan Mai” to experience the depth of Japan’s ramen culture?
《Tokyo Ramen Kokugikan Mai》
Address: 5F Aqua City Odaiba, 1-7-1 Daiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Closed: Same as Aqua City Odaiba.
*For more details, please check the official website below.
https://www.aquacity.jp/trk_mai/
Address: 5F Aqua City Odaiba, 1-7-1 Daiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Closed: Same as Aqua City Odaiba.
*For more details, please check the official website below.
https://www.aquacity.jp/trk_mai/