Ramen Jiro Sapporo

8 minutes walk from JR Sapporo Station, this is the northernmost branch of the original Ramen Jiro, the only one in Hokkaido, and the 42nd direct branch out of 45. True to its direct lineage, it serves a bowl with homemade extra-thick flat straight noodles, a tonkotsu shoyu (pork bone soy sauce) slightly emulsified soup, a mountain of Hokkaido-grown vegetables, and thick, tender buta (chashu), all crafted with the same quality as the original Jiro in the Tokyo metropolitan area. The soup is a slightly emulsified type, with layers of soy sauce sharpness, pork umami, and the aromatic richness of the tare (sauce base) washing over you. The noodles have a chewy, firm texture, and the aroma of wheat becomes more prominent with each bite. The signature 'Ramen (Small)' has a noodle portion of around 300g, and for first-time visitors, options like 'men sukuname' (less noodles) or a mini ramen are also available. Standard toppings are raw egg, shibire (numbing spice), and 'butamashi' (extra pork), forming the three main pillars. Sapporo store's distinguishing feature is its crisp and efficient service provided by the owner and two female assistants, which reduces the often-intimidating atmosphere common in Jiro-style shops, creating a welcoming vibe for beginners, with J-POP playing as background music. Despite this, the perfection as a Jiro ramen is uncompromised, making it a sacred destination for Jiro enthusiasts nationwide, often visited as the final stop on their Hokkaido expedition.