Located about halfway between Kamikawa Town and Aibetsu Town on National Route 39, this drive-in has been a popular spot since I started working there. This region is known for mushroom production, so they offer dishes like Kinoko Ramen and Maitsutake Ramen. But when I looked at the menu, I saw they also had Curry Ramen. My companion ordered the Maitsutake Ramen, while I went for the Curry Ramen. The Maitsutake Ramen uses jumbo maitsutake mushrooms from Aibetsu Town, creating a flavorful salt-based ramen that mushroom lovers will adore. The Curry Ramen had a nice curry aroma, with chunks of white potatoes on top. The soup had just the right amount of curry flavor - any stronger and it would have been like curry roux, any lighter and it would have been hard to discern. It had the perfect balance of curry flavor - it was great! The noodles were chewy and paired well with the curry. Drive-ins seem to be becoming less common these days, but this one stands quietly by the road thanks to the nearby free expressway, making it a hidden gem for a satisfying meal!

Ashikawa is a town of mushrooms, while neighboring Kamikawa Town is a town of ramen. That's why I came here to try Kinoko Ramen. The real specialty seems to be the Maikake Ramen, which is salt-based and includes various types of mushrooms. However, I prefer the Kinoko Ramen with soy sauce base, which also includes various mushrooms. It's a combination of pork bone and seafood double soup with mushrooms! The ultimate trio of umami flavors. This ramen is truly a must-try, and I would come back here just for it!

I finally visited the restaurant after confirming that I had quit smoking thanks to the Health Promotion Law. I sat at a table near the stove as it was a bit chilly. I ordered the highly rated mushroom ramen based on reviews. It had increased in price to 980 yen. The spacious restaurant had 3 customers already seated and 2 truck drivers as new customers. After a short wait, the ramen was served. A nice mushroom aroma wafted from the bowl. The soup was indeed delicious. The round, slightly sweet saltiness of the soup combined with the mushroom broth and the oil on the surface made it irresistible. I almost drank it all up. The white straight noodles were firm and went well with the soup. While it would have been more satisfying with meat, the flavor was very satisfying. I have decided to revisit. I hope this rare drive-in, like an endangered species, continues to thrive. Thank you for the meal.

I came to Kamikawa because I found a delicious soba restaurant, but it was closed. My wife went to work from the inn, and I came to Kamikawa. I don't plan on stopping my food adventures, so when I see a delicious soba restaurant, I have to go. But it was closed. What's going on? And because of you, we ended up going to a drive-in. The place was a mess. The lady there was something else. She pointed to a seat and told me to sit there. She didn't say anything to the solo customer who came in later. And when a group of six came in, she said, "It's full, so no." She seemed a bit overwhelmed with the busyness. She even ordered a "shoyu ramen," which was a bit much at 740 yen. We were going to be waiting for a while. Was the old man the only one making the food? That's impossible. We decided to go to a different restaurant, but it was closed. It was 12:30. After waiting for 35 minutes, the shoyu ramen finally arrived. She just placed it on the table and said, "Shoyu." Not "shoyu ramen." Not "shoyu ramen." Just "shoyu." I wasn't told it was going to take so long, so at least say "sorry for the wait." This was a typical drive-in shoyu ramen. The noodles were not from Asahikawa, but something I was used to. The menma had a seasoned taste, and the cheap chashu was meaty. The flavor was strong and nostalgic. It had no fat, so one bite was enough. The green onions were not chopped finely, which I don't like. The soup had a strong shoyu flavor, but it wasn't outstanding. It was decently tasty, but the service was unacceptable, and it felt overpriced. In the end, even though the sign said "closed," they started accepting customers. It was a chaotic drive-in experience.

As you can see in the photo, there are plenty of shiitake mushrooms in the ramen. Thanks to that, it has a light taste but with a deep flavor from the broth. I ordered the Shiitake Ramen (salt flavor) for 980 yen. This ramen allows you to enjoy shiitake both as a broth and as an ingredient. The rotation of noodles, shiitake, and soup lasts until the end, as there are plenty of shiitake mushrooms throughout. The noodles are a characteristic of Kamikawa ramen, being medium-thick straight noodles that go well with the light salt flavor. I also tried the mushroom ramen (soy sauce flavor) before, which was delicious, but the shiitake ramen is just as good. A regular customer who came in later ordered the shiitake ramen as well. They also ordered fried garlic as a topping. I see, fried garlic with this salt flavor. It might go well together! Next time, I'll try adding fried garlic as a topping when I go back.

In the photos, the ramen may look oily and greasy, but in reality, it has a clean and refreshing flavor. The mushroom ramen is a great choice as mushrooms pair well with the broth. I ordered the Mushroom Ramen (Soy Sauce) for 1040 yen. The noodles are medium thick and straight. The soup has a slight thickness to it, which complements the abundance of mushrooms. They provide two types of ladles - one for the soup and another for the mushrooms, which is very convenient. Aishankei Drive-in is located on the way from Kamikawa Town to Asahikawa, near the intersection with Aishankei Onsen. You can easily spot it by the large sign. After reading reviews, I was torn between the Shimeji Mushroom Ramen and the Salt flavor, but I ultimately chose the Mushroom Soy Sauce, which was a great decision. It was delicious. If I have the chance, I would like to try the Shimeji Mushroom Ramen next time.

After mountain climbing, we went to "Aizankei Drive-in". The "Maitake Mushroom Ramen" was delicious with plenty of maitake mushroom extract in the broth, it was amazing! I also found the "Special Miso Ramen" intriguing. The spacious interior is suitable for families with children or groups. Check out more details here: [link to the blog post].

Monday in the first half of Golden Week. A 1-night, 2-day trip to Kitami. While popular destinations during Golden Week are usually in the south like Hakodate, my husband, who loves driving, always chooses to head north because the southern areas are usually very crowded. We made a schedule to have an early lunch at a ramen shop that cannot be missed if you are heading north. We visited the shop right at its opening time at 11:00 and were the first customers. The ramen was served in about 10 minutes. The Matsutake Mushroom Ramen costs 930 yen and uses jumbo matsutake mushrooms from Aibetsu (as stated on the menu). The moment I took a sip of the soup, I was pleasantly surprised and impressed. Even though I had eaten it once a year ago, I found myself questioning, "Was it this delicious before?!" "No, it was definitely delicious!!" The soup is so flavorful despite only having matsutake mushrooms and green onions as toppings. I think the abundance of matsutake mushrooms is what brings out the rich flavor. I indulged in the soup for a while, enjoying the umami flavor. The noodles were slightly curly and white, perfectly absorbing the soup. They had a good chewiness, and I realized how tasty they were. The matsutake mushrooms were thick and had a chewy texture. You can't find such thick matsutake mushrooms just anywhere. I was so engrossed in eating that I started to feel full halfway through, so my husband helped me with the noodles. I managed to finish all the soup by myself again. It was really delicious!! The price of 930 yen may receive mixed opinions, but I believe it is worth the value. Just like in a previous review that said, "If you're nearby, it's worth going a little out of your way to eat here," I had the same feeling this time. My digestion the next morning was also great (we have a theory that eating matsutake mushrooms improves digestion haha). It had been a year since my last visit, and I thought, "I'm glad I came back!!" Even as I write this review, I want to eat it again. I will visit again next year♪ Thank you for the meal＼(^o^)／

A long-established drive-in that opened in 1969. It used to be bustling along National Route 39, but with the completion of high-standard roads, the number of customers has decreased. Many shops have disappeared, but this one is still going strong! I was surprised to see so many customers after several decades. The most popular item that everyone is ordering is "ramen"! Without hesitation, I ordered the soy sauce ramen. When it arrived, it looked very simple and honestly not very appetizing... Let me try it... "Mmm, delicious!" It's the same old Naka-Kawa ramen that hasn't changed over the years. The noodles have a nice firmness that I like. It's truly amazing. I now understand why it's still thriving. It was worth making the effort to visit despite coming off the high-standard road.

I pass by this road every year for work. Normally, I would stop by a soba restaurant called "Seiro" for lunch, but unfortunately it's closed. If I miss this area, there's nothing until Sounkyo. So, I decided to have lunch at the "Aizankei Drive-In" that I always used to see around here. In the past, I visited a few times and even though I hesitated, the mushroom ramen was surprisingly delicious. Today, I decided to go for a lighter option - soy sauce ramen. My companion ordered the mushroom tempura soba. The food arrived promptly and the soy sauce ramen was piping hot. The soup wasn't cloudy and the char siu was nicely seared, adding to the hotness. It was a satisfying lunch. Now, I have to continue driving. I'm glad the drive-in was open.

A drive-in restaurant located along National Route 39 in the neighboring town of Aibetsucho, known for using jumbo dancing mushrooms from the area and serving Upkawa ramen. The restaurant is a large dining hall where Prince Mikasa, also known as the Bearded Prince, used to visit frequently after mountain climbing. We arrived at 11:30 am, with the restaurant opening at 10 am and no other customers present. The spacious interior felt a bit lonely, possibly due to the decrease in traffic after the opening of a nearby highway. We ordered the "Dancing Mushroom Ramen" in a large portion, which cost 1030 yen. The dancing mushrooms, grown in Aibetsucho, are massive and thick, sautéed in oil and placed on top of the ramen. The ramen itself is white and soft, likely Upkawa ramen. It is said that Upkawa ramen is considered the best in Japan due to using water from the Daisetsuzan mountains for making the noodles and soup. The soup has a salty taste, likely made from chicken broth. It is oily and salty, making it necessary to finish all the soup. The ramen only had dancing mushrooms and green onions as toppings. The dancing mushrooms were delicious, but it would have been better if there were more of them considering the high price. In addition to ramen, the restaurant also serves soba, udon, rice dishes, and Genghis Khan. Next time, we plan to try the rice dishes.

I saw this ramen restaurant in a book about Asahikawa and came here because I wanted to try the ramen with Maiko mushrooms, a specialty of Aibetsu town. It was crowded because of Golden Week, but I didn't have to wait long for my ramen to arrive. I had the Maiko mushroom ramen for 930 yen. The ramen had big chunks of Maiko mushrooms in it, with only green onions as other toppings. First, the soup. It was delicious! The light salt soup had the umami flavor of Maiko mushrooms, creating a rich broth that was really satisfying. The big Maiko mushrooms were also delicious, with a meaty texture that was very satisfying. Mushroom lovers would definitely enjoy this! The noodles were white, low-water content thin noodles, cooked al dente and deliciously chewy. This ramen really highlights the quality of the ingredients. I will definitely come back to eat here again!

In the second half of Golden Week, we decided to visit Kitami, and stopped at a drive-in in Kamikawa for lunch. We went there to try the recommended dancing mushroom ramen by my husband. We arrived a little after 11 o'clock, and even though it seemed a bit early for lunch, there were already about 5 groups of customers. It's definitely Golden Week. They also had mushroom ramen on the menu, but we decided to go with the dancing mushroom ramen for 930 yen each. They serve water at first, but you have to refill it yourself from the server. The ramen was served in about 10 minutes. The visual presentation was surprisingly not dominated by the black color of the dancing mushrooms, it was a simple dish with dancing mushrooms and green onions. There were plenty of big dancing mushrooms in it. First, I took a sip of the soup. Mmm, delicious!! The saltiness was just right, and the umami of the dancing mushrooms infused the soup, creating a great flavor. Next, I slurped the noodles. The curly noodles were well coated with the soup and had a nice firmness to them. And then, the dancing mushrooms. They used "Jumbo Dancing Mushrooms" from Aibetsu. When you take a bite, they are thick and crunchy! It's a completely different experience from the 100 yen dancing mushrooms you can buy at a regular supermarket!! I've never had dancing mushrooms like this before. They were so delicious that I couldn't stop eating them (^^) The amount of dancing mushrooms in the ramen was just right. Too little would be unsatisfying, and too much might be overwhelming. The dancing mushroom ramen had only a salty flavor, but the umami from the dancing mushrooms was so rich that it didn't need any extra seasoning. My husband had talked about the dancing mushroom ramen several times, and he was always so enthusiastic about it, but honestly, I wasn't expecting it to be that good (lol). However, it pleasantly surprised me. The soup was so flavorful that I usually leave some behind, but this time, I couldn't waste such a delicious broth and ended up finishing it all! It takes about three and a half hours by car from Sapporo through the local roads (about two hours on the highway), so it's quite a distance to go just for a meal. However, if you happen to be nearby, it's definitely worth making a little detour to try it. I would love to have it again. Thank you for the meal♪

When traveling from Asahikawa to Kitami, I usually take the toll-free expressway, but this time I decided to take the local roads. Next to Aibetsu is Aiyama, where I found "Aiyama Kei Drive-In"! The name reminded me of Jozankei in Sapporo. Intrigued by the large sign, I decided to stop by. The parking lot was spacious. Inside, there were tables and a raised seating area, giving it a nostalgic diner or hot spring inn vibe. I liked the atmosphere. It was late for lunch, so there were no other customers. I sat at a table, and a staff member brought me water. From then on, it seemed like self-serve. Aibetsu is known for its mushrooms, so I ordered the "Matsutake Mushroom Ramen (Salt)" and my companion ordered the "Mushroom Ramen (Salt)". While waiting for our ramen, we wandered around the store. They also sold various souvenirs. There was even a fireplace! Finally, our ramen arrived! The Matsutake Mushroom Ramen was filled with plenty of matsutake mushrooms. I tasted the soup first. It had a subtle matsutake aroma and a light flavor. Simple and traditional taste, which I really enjoy. Next, I tried the noodles. They were white curly noodles with a slight flavor. They were hot, and I think I burned my tongue a bit. Sorry! The noodles paired well with the soup. Time to eat the matsutake mushrooms! The large matsutake mushrooms soaked in the soup were delicious. I love matsutake mushrooms, so I couldn't help but smile. The thick, flavorful matsutake mushrooms, combined with the salty soup, made it a satisfying meal. The taste of the matsutake mushrooms really showcased the local specialty. They also had other dishes like Katsu Curry and Matsutake Mushroom Donburi. If I have the chance to visit again, I would definitely try them out!

On the way from Kamiikawa to Asahikawa, I happened to miss lunch, so I stopped by the large sign of Aiyama-kei. It's a drive-in in the mountains, so I wasn't expecting much, to be honest. Ramen seems to be the main dish, with miso, shio, and shoyu available. Among them, there was a ramen made with Hokkaido-produced rock seaweed, so I ordered it immediately. I love rock seaweed, but wherever I go, I usually only see those from Sanriku, so it's rare to come across Hokkaido-produced ones. The rock seaweed ramen came with shio and shoyu options, and I chose shio. This soup is delicious! It's rich and doesn't overpower the palate. The melting rock seaweed adds a delightful fragrance. I definitely want to go back to this place. They also have a variety of sets, so it's recommended for families as well.

I stopped by after visiting Sounkyo to see the autumn leaves. I couldn't decide whether to eat at Sounkyo or take the highway to have ramen at a certain inn in Kenbuchi, so I ended up choosing Maitsutake soba! (I love mushrooms) As soon as I entered, I had a feeling of "Oh no." The first thing that caught my attention was the empty bowls left on the table from the previous customers. Hmm, maybe they are busy, I thought. I love ramen, so I hesitated a bit, but I ended up ordering Maitsutake tempura soba for 930 yen. They use jumbo Maitsutake mushrooms produced in Aibetsu. My mother ordered mountain vegetable soba for 730 yen, and my son ordered fried rice (with soup) for 730 yen. Although the restaurant didn't seem too crowded, it took quite a while for the food to arrive. My son's fried rice came first, which took 25 minutes, which was within an acceptable range, I guess. But for a drive-in, shouldn't they be faster?! I thought to myself. Next came the Maitsutake tempura soba and mountain vegetable soba. The mountain vegetable soba didn't look clear, but the Maitsutake tempura soba was a bit disappointing in terms of the amount of tempura. For 930 yen, this was it...? There were only about 5 pieces of sliced Maitsutake tempura. The soba and the broth were just average. It was like, hmm... The service was not great, but other than that, I don't want to be too critical... Maybe my taste and sense are off, or maybe Aibetsu's Maitsutake is a luxury item... It made me think a bit. It's not bad, but in terms of cost performance and the atmosphere of the restaurant, it's not great. The mushroom ramen seems to have a good reputation, so maybe I should have checked that out first. The rating might change with the mushroom ramen, so for now, I'll withhold my judgment...

I visited this restaurant during the last lunch of a three-day weekend and it was extremely crowded! Despite having a two-person staff on the floor, there were already many empty bowls left on the tables when we arrived. I wondered if they were able to handle the crowd. When we placed our order, we were told it would take about 20 minutes. Although 20 minutes seemed reasonable, we noticed that many groups who arrived before us still hadn't received their food. Can they really make it in 20 minutes? Well, they couldn't. The service was so slow, with staff members moving sluggishly. They would bring water but leave the empty bowls on the table, not clearing them, and then head back to the kitchen empty-handed. In the end, it took us 40 minutes to get our food. The ramen we waited so long for turned out to be just average. Disappointing.