I visited Noboribetsu Onsen for sightseeing in August 2020. The town is filled with demons, and there are attractions like Jigokudani and natural foot baths in the mountains, making it a very enjoyable place. However, when looking for a lunch spot, I found that there were only about three open restaurants on the main street, giving the town a somewhat deserted feel. Among them, I decided to try this ramen shop that seemed safe. The sign outside advertised "Sapporo Miso Ramen," and since I had just arrived at New Chitose Airport that day, I ordered the miso ramen. The miso ramen had a mild flavor soup and soft noodles. The chashu was delicious. The shop had a bit of a worn-out feel, and cleanliness was a bit of a concern. I would not recommend this shop to those who are particular about cleanliness.

Before going to Sagiri-yu, I stopped by for a meal without much expectation. It was my first visit. The quiet chef and lively hostess greeted me. The counter was full, so I was seated in a tatami room and ordered soy sauce ramen. I was the only Japanese person there. The ramen was delicious and piping hot, with flavors tailored for Japanese taste. A group of 8 Asian visitors arrived and were quite noisy. I just wanted to quickly finish my meal and head to the hot springs. The entrance fee for Sagiri-yu was 450 yen. The soy sauce ramen cost 750 yen. Thank you for the meal!

Visited home and informed my parents about changing jobs. The next day, my sister invited me to have lunch ramen, so we went to a famous shop in Noboribetsu Onsen town. However, we couldn't find the shop as it had closed down. We ended up at a different shop with a similar name to a famous shop in Sapporo Ramen Alley. We ordered soy sauce ramen and spicy miso ramen. The ramen looked similar but tasted completely different. It was average, nothing special. My sister enjoyed it, but I couldn't help but think about the shop's name. Overall, it was an okay experience.

Tenho (Tenho) There is a shop with the same name in Susukino Ramen Yokocho. I had been curious about it for a while, and finally had the opportunity to visit the shop this time. I stayed at a hotel in Noboribetsu Onsen with my family after a long time. We ate a lot at the hotel buffet, but left a little room in our stomachs to eat ramen. Coincidentally, Noboribetsu Onsen was holding a "Jigoku Matsuri" (Hell Festival) and it was very lively. Even Enma, who is usually inside the temple, marched down the main street of the hot spring town during the festival, creating an impressive sight! I thought that the Tenho in Susukino Ramen Yokocho was close to Asahikawa Ramen even though it was advertised as Sapporo Ramen. I wonder how the Tenho in Noboribetsu Onsen is like? I ordered the shoyu ramen, which is typical of Asahikawa Ramen. The low hydration noodles with a firm texture that is similar to Asahikawa ramen. The soup, a combination of tonkotsu and seafood, is also reminiscent of Asahikawa. The soup had a strong saltiness and I couldn't finish it all, but I thought this ramen was truly reminiscent of Asahikawa. As expected of a ramen shop in a tourist spot in Hokkaido, they have menu items like corn ramen and butter ramen. It's a unique experience to casually stop by in a yukata after a bath. I would like to visit again. Thank you for the meal.

Looking back on my holiday wanderings during my solo assignment period, I realize now that driving long distances in a light car can really add up in terms of gas money. Despite not having a lot of money to spare, I found myself aimlessly wandering around. It's embarrassing to admit. Based on my records, this was likely my second visit, or perhaps the first time at Tenho, a ramen shop in Susukino Ramen Alley. The noodles were good - definitely my preferred low-water content type. However, overall, the soup temperature and other factors didn't quite meet the standards to be classified as Asahikawa ramen.

The "Tenho" that I know is located in Susukino Ramen Yokocho. Although it doesn't have a standout reputation, it is definitely worth a try. I didn't specifically search for it, but happened to come across it. Given that it shares the same name as my favorite Asahikawa ramen shop, I couldn't resist trying it. The noodles are indeed low in water content, but the broth is lukewarm and lacks a strong flavor. It didn't leave a lasting impression. While the noodles are the main attraction, the broth that surrounds them should also be of a certain level. However, I don't check the broth with a spoon before trying the noodles. When you slurp the noodles, they intertwine and allow you to savor the flavors. It's a bit embarrassing to watch, so could you please stop? First of all, let's talk about the soup...

The noodles are unbelievably stretchy. It's not a matter of taste.

Finally made it. The day after performing at a festival in Iwamizawa, I delayed my flight back to Tokyo and rented a car to drive to Noboribetsu. I was heading to a branch of my beloved Roppongi restaurant, "Tenho". The original owner of Tenho, Takeshi Saito, trained in ramen for 25 years in Asahikawa before opening a shop in Sapporo's Ramen Yokocho in 1977, gaining great popularity. He expanded to Tokyo on November 26, 1984. (Haha, I have a rare book with an interview of the owner from 1987, so I know all about it.) Many people still consider the shop in Ramen Yokocho as the main store, but that's a big mistake. I had visited the shop in Ramen Yokocho in 1997 and had been there many times in the 90s, but the taste was completely different back then. In preparation for my visit to Noboribetsu, I also visited the shop in Ramen Yokocho, where you can order the "135" ramen, even though it's not on the menu. In the 90s, when I asked if they could make the "135", the staff would be surprised and engage in conversation, but this time, during a less crowded time with fewer tourists, everyone was ordering the "135". The soup, with a seafood flavor in addition to the pork bone, was quite different from the original Roppongi shop. The noodles from Nishiyama Seimen were either of a different type or the aging process in Roppongi was unique, as the appearance, texture, and flavor were completely different. Nevertheless, I was satisfied with the "135" that was quite different from the 90s. Now, onto the main topic of the shop in Noboribetsu, there was very little information available. It was said to be run by a relative of Takeshi Saito, but it seems that the taste has not been fully inherited. However, I wanted to try it for myself. If it's related to "Tenho", I want to experience it, I wanted to see the storefront, the noren. That's what being a fan is all about. In fact, the lettering on the Tenho sign was quite similar to the one in Roppongi. It was a moving experience. Without hesitation, I ordered the soy sauce ramen, which, like the original Tenho in Roppongi, follows the Asahikawa style. As mentioned earlier, Tenho started in Sapporo's Ramen Yokocho, and although some people mistakenly think it's Sapporo ramen because they use the noodles from Nishiyama Seimen, the base is actually Asahikawa ramen. This shop boldly writes "Sapporo Ramen" on its sign, but the milky soup with a strong soy sauce flavor is reminiscent of the atmosphere of the old Asahikawa shops where Saito trained, such as "Tokuitiban" and "Ajispecial". After eating, I was about to approach the staff, but a group of Asian tourists entered the shop saying "17 people". Yes, this shop is located in a prime location in Noboribetsu Onsen town, and besides ramen, they also serve Genghis Khan, catering to tourists. But 17 people... I quickly paid and headed to the hot spring right next to the shop. After knowing about this shop for a few years, I finally got to enjoy this bowl of ramen, and while soaking in the Noboribetsu hot spring, I was intoxicated by the joy of it all.

Noboribetsu Onsen. One of my favorite hot spring resorts in Hokkaido. I have been to this hot spring resort many times, either by bus from New Chitose Airport, by JR train, or by renting a car. Soaking in the hot spring and strolling around the town is enjoyable. The town of Noboribetsu has a relaxed atmosphere, making it pleasant to walk around. During one of my strolls, I discovered a ramen shop called Sapporo Ramen Yokocho Tenho. After soaking in the hot spring, I always get hungry. So, I decided to try their ramen. They offer a variety of ramen flavors such as miso, soy sauce, salt, spicy miso, green onion miso, butter, crab miso, corn, scallop salt, original baron, special chashu, and more. This time, I chose the simple miso ramen. Hokkaido is known for its miso ramen, and the rich miso flavor with curly noodles from Nishiyama Seimen was satisfying. It truly tasted like authentic Hokkaido miso ramen. I enjoyed it and finished every last bit. Now, let's go soak in the hot spring again.

I went to a seemingly nice restaurant in a hot spring town with my friends. We ended up going in because we couldn't find any other good options. When we entered, an old lady greeted us. We all ordered different types of ramen - miso, soy sauce, salt, and I chose crab miso ramen. We waited for over 20 minutes for our ramen to arrive. When my crab miso ramen finally came, I was disappointed to find that it was made with canned crab. I tried the soup, hoping it would taste good, but it turned out to be just average. We all agreed that the ramen was nothing special as we walked back to our hotel in Noboribetsu. It was a mediocre night in Noboribetsu.

Spicy miso ramen and a side of small rice.

The quality was just as expected, not a bit different.