Ramen Muraji: Kyoto's Chicken Paitan in a Machiya Townhouse
Ramen Muraji offers a distinct Kyoto dining experience, serving a rich, velvety chicken paitan broth inside a beautifully preserved wooden townhouse in Gion. Learn why this female-chef-founded shop is one of Kyoto's absolute gems.
Ramen Muraji offers one of the most atmospheric dining experiences in Kyoto, serving a velvety, cream-coloured chicken paitan broth inside a beautifully preserved machiya (traditional wooden townhouse). Located along a quiet stone-paved side street in the historic Gion district, this female-chef-founded shop provides an elegant, serene alternative to Kyoto's typically heavy pork-based ramen.
A Serene Sanctuary in Gion
Founded by a female owner who wanted to create a welcoming, beautiful space for solo diners and travellers, Muraji feels more like a Kyoto tea house than a standard counter shop.
The Machiya Aesthetic
"We wanted to create a space that respects Kyoto's architectural heritage while serving a bowl that is both rich and clean." — Ramen Muraji Founder
The Velvet Tori Paitan Broth
Muraji's culinary signature is its tori paitan (white chicken broth), which stands out in a city known for dark soy sauce and backfat-laden soups.
- Pure Chicken Base — Simmered for many hours until the collagen and fat emulsify into a milky-white, silky soup.
- Clean Richness — Delivers a comforting, concentrated chicken flavour that is rich but light on the palate.
- Elegant Garnishes — Garnished with tender steamed chicken chashu, green onion, and dried seaweed.
The Viral Lemon Ramen
The shop's most celebrated creation is the Lemon Ramen (Remon Ramen), which has taken social media by storm.
- A base of their signature rich, white chicken paitan is poured into the bowl.
- Medium-thin, straight noodles are added and arranged neatly.
- A full layer of fresh, thinly sliced lemon rounds is laid across the surface.
- The lemon slices are left to steep briefly, releasing citrus oils that cut through the rich chicken fat.
Browse ranked shops in Kyoto
Mapped list with ratings, stations, and tourist-friendly filters.
Best ramen in KyotoPlanning a Tokyo Ramen Crawl?
Skip the 90-minute tourist lines. Use our free curated walking routes and ticket machine guides to explore neighborhood counters with confidence.
Former Fukuoka tonkotsu ramen apprentice and creator of Japan Ramen Guide. When not exploring Japan's ramen alleys, I build tools for Japan life like Daruma Japan Life and recommend foreigner-friendly housing through Affarah.
