This post was written in 2012. Shop details and prices may have changed since then.
Every year in Hamamatsucho, famous ramen shops from all over Japan gather for a tsukemen expo, the Dai Tsukemen Haku. Eight shops rotate every week, three rotations in all, so 24 restaurants from around the country take part. With regional big names I had only heard rumours about all in one place, I could not not go, and it was packed.
The venue
The system is that you buy an 800 yen meal ticket and line up at the shop you want. I picked a relatively short line. There is also a vote for first place, and this year Chuka Soba Tomita took it.
Soup girls
Maybe because this is a country where idols are everywhere, there are ramen idols too. A dozen or so “soup girls” were handing out flyers in front of the venue. They also performed at one point. A fun event, somehow.
The lines are a bit longer at night than during the day.
Well.. the shops with long lines must have their reputations for a reason, but rather than reputation I went by Tabelog scores and lined up at one that looked good..
Ginjo Ramen Kubota
Apparently a famous shop in Kyoto.
Miso tsukemen
The miso broth is rich. The noodles are excellent too. A flawless tsukemen. The other shops are probably around the same level.
Since the event runs for three weeks, I figured I would get a few more chances to come back, but in the end I never did. I wanted to try a few more places, which is a shame. With crowds like this they will surely do it again next year, so I will look forward to a year from now..