Ramen Japan
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    Watanabe

    渡なべ

    Shop Photo

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    Ground Intel & Counter Rules

    Queue Protocol

    Line Up First

    Join the line outside. Staff will direct you inside to buy your ticket when seats open up.

    Payment Acceptance
    ¥1,000 Notes Only

    The ticket machine rejects ¥10,000 and ¥5,000 notes. Break large notes at a convenience store before arriving.

    Typical Wait

    Usually under 15 minutes

    Peak rush runs 11:45 to 13:15 on weekdays. Arrive 15 minutes before opening for shorter waits.

    Best for

    The 2002 shop that helped turn rich pork-and-seafood ramen into a Tokyo-wide craze, run by ramen producer Juan Watanabe. Its thick tonkotsu-gyokai soup, inspired by three earlier shops, is paired with thin, low-hydration straight noodles, big-cut bamboo shoots and thick chashu.

    Order This

    Rich Pork & Seafood Ramen (濃厚豚骨魚介らーめん)

    Tonkotsu
    Gyokai
    Ramen
    Tsukemen
    Under ¥1,000

    Good to know & entry protocol

    About 6 minutes from Nishi-Waseda Station or 8–10 minutes from JR Takadanobaba Station. 8 counter seats only; cash only (no cards or e-money). Limited-edition bowls appear often and are posted on the shop's Instagram.

    Operational note: Produced by Ikkousha; rich Kyoto-style black shoyu ramen; store notices on Instagram
    Live announcements:@kounosuke_hakata
    Counter seating

    Location

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    東京都新宿区高田馬場2-1-4

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    What to expect

    Noodles

    Ramen
    Tsukemen

    Broth

    Tonkotsu
    Gyokai

    Typical price

    Under ¥1,000

    Convert with YenPocket →

    Recommended order

    Rich Pork & Seafood Ramen (濃厚豚骨魚介らーめん)

    Hours from Hotpepper, Ramen Databank and Rurubu snippets (11:00–20:00, no closing day). Price: ramen was ¥880 in the 2020 Ramen Walker article; band may now be ¥1,000–1,999. Hotpepper page has no photo.

    食券

    Ticket Machine Button & Price Map

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    Getting there

    東京都新宿区高田馬場2-1-4

    6 min from Nishi-Waseda

    Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line

    Hours

    11:00–20:00. Open daily.

    Queue & entry protocol

    About 6 minutes from Nishi-Waseda Station or 8–10 minutes from JR Takadanobaba Station. 8 counter seats only; cash only (no cards or e-money). Limited-edition bowls appear often and are posted on the shop's Instagram.

    Ticketing & operational notice: Produced by Ikkousha; rich Kyoto-style black shoyu ramen; store notices on Instagram

    Check official accounts before heading over for unscheduled closures or early soup cutoffs:

    @kounosuke_hakata

    How to Order
    Native Japanese audio

    This shop likely uses a ticket machine (食券機 / kenbaiki). Buy your ticket before sitting down.

    Order your bowl

    とんこつラーメンをください

    Tonkotsu ramen o kudasai

    Customise your noodles
    麺かためでMen katame de (firm noodles)
    麺やわらかめでMen yawarakame de (soft noodles)
    替え玉くださいKaedama kudasai (extra noodles)
    Useful phrases
    おいしい！Oishii! — Delicious!
    お会計お願いしますOkaikei onegai shimasu — Check, please
    ごちそうさまでしたGochisousama deshita — Thank you for the meal (said when leaving)
    大盛りでOomori de — Large portion, please
    少なめでSukuname de — Smaller portion, please

    Allergy card

    Select your restrictions. Show the generated card to restaurant staff.

    Need spoken Japanese audio and offline dietary cards?Japan Food Allergy & Celiac App →

    Questions about Watanabe

    What is the nearest station to Watanabe?
    Nishi-Waseda, about a 6-minute walk away. Nishi-Waseda is served by Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line.
    What should I order at Watanabe?
    Rich Pork & Seafood Ramen (濃厚豚骨魚介らーめん). The kitchen works in Tonkotsu and Gyokai. Noodles: ramen and tsukemen.
    How much does ramen cost at Watanabe?
    A bowl runs Under ¥1,000. Bring cash: the shop does not take cards.
    When is Watanabe open?
    11:00–20:00. Open daily.
    What should I know before visiting Watanabe?
    Seating is at the counter.
    Do I line up first or buy a ticket first at Watanabe?
    Join the queue outside. Staff will invite you inside to sit and order at the counter.
    What payment methods does Watanabe accept?
    Cash only. The ticket machine takes ¥1,000 banknotes and coins. Break ¥10,000 bills before arriving.