Kibi Taro

"Kibitaro" is a ramen izakaya (ramen pub) located on the 1st floor of the To Building in Asakusa 2-chome, just a 2-minute walk from Tsukuba Express Asakusa Station. Its most distinctive feature is its late-night operating hours, from 6:00 PM to 3:00 AM the next morning, making it a rare and valuable spot that supports Asakusa's nightlife. It serves as an ideal choice for a post-drinking ramen (shime-ramen), a late dinner for tourists, or simply a rare late-night dining option. The signature "Asakusa Black Ramen" has a dark appearance, yet its taste is surprisingly not overly strong. It offers a balanced flavor profile where the aroma of dashi (Japanese soup stock) and the deep acidity of soy sauce come to the forefront. It's a soy sauce ramen with a milder taste than its look suggests, featuring medium-thick, wavy noodles that beautifully cling to the soy sauce broth. The "Torisoba" (chicken ramen) features a rich and crisp chicken soup, a clear golden chintan (clear broth) with a salt base. It's simply prepared, topped with tender chicken chashu (braised chicken slices) whose skin is fragrant and body is flaky soft. The "Assari Shoyu Ramen Special" (Light Soy Sauce Ramen Special) for 1350 yen boasts hand-kneaded style (temomi-fu), medium-thick flat wavy noodles from Mikawaya Seimen, and a highly accomplished soup combining chicken, pork, sababushi (mackerel flakes), and sodagatsuo (frigate tuna) niboshi (dried small fish) for both a nostalgic and rich flavor. With a wide selection of side dishes and alcoholic beverages, it truly functions as a ramen izakaya. It accepts all major domestic and international cashless payment methods (including VISA, Master, JCB, AMEX, Diners, UnionPay, IC cards, Alipay, WeChat Pay, etc.), making it easily accessible for international travelers and a popular late-night choice in Asakusa. Be cautious with the "Gekikara" (extremely spicy) chili pepper on the table; its name is accurate, so try a very small amount when adjusting the flavor.