Ajisai Honten

A long-established salt ramen shop representing Hakodate, Hokkaido. Located about a 7-minute walk from Goryokaku Koen-mae Station on the Hakodate Streetcar line, right next to Goryokaku Tower, it's a popular spot for international tourists as a staple of Hakodate sightseeing. Their signature dishes are the 'Shio Ramen' (1,030 yen) and 'Tokusei Shio Ramen' (1,300 yen). These feature a clear, golden soup based on pork bone and konbu, topped with thin, wavy noodles, braised pork chashu, fu (wheat gluten), naruto (fish cake), menma (bamboo shoots), and a soft-boiled seasoned egg. Hakodate Shio Ramen is one of Hokkaido's three great ramens, alongside Sapporo Miso and Asahikawa Shoyu, and Ajisai is its prime representative. For an additional 50 yen, you can upgrade to thick noodles from Nishiyama Seimen. If you find the saltiness a bit strong, we recommend adjusting the flavor with the 'Ezo Abura Kosho' (Hokkaido oil pepper) available on the table. The touch-panel ticket machine supports multiple languages, and there are also English and photo menus available. They widely accept various cashless payment methods. It's a large restaurant with 58 seats, so even during peak hours, the customer turnover is relatively smooth. Thoughtful amenities include paper aprons and hair ties for women, and 2/3 size ramen is also available, making it suitable for those with smaller appetites. They also offer a rich selection of Hokkaido-style side dishes such as Zangi (Hokkaido-style fried chicken) and Gyoza (dumplings). It's a must-visit establishment, considered a sacred spot for experiencing Hakodate Shio Ramen.