The world is in the midst of a long holiday, and Kyoto Station and its surrounding areas are crowded with tourists. However, on this day, I had work nearby. During lunchtime, I visited the recently renovated Kyoto Tower Sand. The renovation didn't seem too different from before, with the neon lights and the overall impression remaining the same. But there was something new - pink lights and poems at the entrance. I decided to try the dipping noodles this time. The noodles were slightly thinner than before, with a great texture and flavor. The dipping sauce was a perfect balance of chicken broth, soy sauce, and a hint of sweetness and tanginess. It was a familiar and satisfying taste. For ramen lovers visiting Kyoto, I recommend trying this hidden gem in the basement of Kyoto Tower Building.

Located in Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City. In the basement of Kyoto Tower, there is Kyoto Tower Sand. I decided to try out the pioneer of tsukemen here. However, the entire floor is a food court with various genres of shops. Both customers and staff are mostly foreigners, making it feel like I've traveled abroad (even though I haven't). When you visit, make sure to ask for this: "Can I have soup-wari?" The response will be, "Sure, please bring your own bowl." Success! The tsukemen (891 yen + tax) was served in a silver bowl, piping hot. It came with two large slices of flavorful chashu, menma, and green onions. The soup is a light and clear soy sauce base with hints of chicken and seafood. It has a slightly purple hue, reminiscent of fresh soy sauce, with a subtle acidity in the background. Since it's tsukemen, I wish the soup was a bit richer. The noodles are medium-thick straight noodles that have a smooth texture and blend well with the soup. When you add the soup-wari, it transforms into a more Japanese-style dish. If I were to add something extra, it would be shichimi or ichimi for a Kyoto touch. Overall, it was a delicious Kyoto-style tsukemen, and whether this shop is truly the pioneer of Kyoto tsukemen is up for debate. But one thing is for sure, it was simply delicious!

Located in the food court on the B1 floor of Kyoto Tower, this place operates on a system where you receive a call bell after placing your order. More than half of the establishments here also serve alcohol, and you will often see many foreign customers. The convenience is great as it is directly connected to Kyoto Station. The atmosphere is different from typical shopping mall food courts, with a mixed vibe and lighting that creates a cozy drinking atmosphere. I tried the Chicken and Niboshi (dried sardine) broth ramen called "RAKU" for 1,200 yen. The toppings vary depending on the menu - "ZA," "RAKU," or "MURASAKI." Despite its appearance of a rich soy sauce-based soup, the first sip was surprisingly light and you could taste the umami of chicken and niboshi. The noodles, which are straight and ordinary, paired well with the easy-to-drink soup, providing a smooth texture. The topping included local chicken thigh and pork shoulder chashu, both tender and delicious. The pork shoulder chashu, in particular, had the perfect thickness and a melt-in-your-mouth texture that made me want to order more. Although I wasn't very hungry as I had eaten okonomiyaki at an odd hour, I managed to finish the whole bowl, including the soup. Personally, I love Kyoto leeks, so I am curious about trying the maze-soba with plenty of Kyoto leeks if I get the chance.

Cold soba with dipping sauce for 980 yen. The noodles are chewy, but the dipping sauce lacks depth and sharpness. I wish the noodles were colder if they're meant to be served cold. Overall, the dish feels lacking in quality. I would recommend trying a different place for delicious ramen or cold noodles. The advantage is that it's close to Kyoto Station.

I visited this place for dinner. It is located in the food court in the basement of Kyoto Tower. I ordered the Ramen [Za] with soy sauce broth. Despite being in front of Kyoto Station, the prices were reasonable. The chashu was large and there were two slices of it. It was a standard chashu. The shina chiku was a bit cold and not to my liking. The soy sauce soup had a good umami flavor and was refreshing. Overall, it was an average ramen without any standout features or complaints.

I visited Kyoto Senmaru Shakariki Murasaki for lunch. I originally wanted to go to Tada-san, but it was crowded so I came here instead. It was around opening time, so it wasn't busy here. Porta is usually crowded, but Tower Sand is relatively empty. I ordered the Ramen Setza (1100 yen including tax). It came with the standard ramen and a mini shredded pork bowl. Other options like ramen, maze soba, and tsukemen couldn't be included in the set. The ramen was a light soup with a hint of dried fish flavor, not too rich or thick. I adjusted the flavor with a bit of pepper and shichimi. The noodles and chashu were decent. The shredded pork bowl was not too dry and had a normal flavor. It would be nice if there were more options for the set. This place is good for a quick ramen fix around Kyoto Station.

Located right below the Kyoto Tower in Kyoto, there is a ramen shop in the food hall. The atmosphere here is like a Shibuya alley, with techno music playing and many foreign tourists around. The soup has a strong dried fish flavor, combined well with a soy sauce spiciness. The noodles are slightly thin and chewy, pairing nicely with the flavorful soup. Toppings are served separately, including three types of chashu, seasoned egg, and spinach. The chashu seemed to be thinly sliced pork shoulder and low-temperature cooked chicken breast, giving a delicious combination of smoky flavor and collagen-rich texture. It's great to be able to enjoy this level of ramen right in front of Kyoto Station.

I had the "Raku" ramen with additional toppings at the ramen shop in the food court located underground at Kyoto Tower. The soy sauce flavored soup was easy to eat and would be enjoyed by many. It was delicious. I highly recommend it, especially when you don't have much time for a leisurely lunch.

During the 2023 Obon holiday, I went to a hotel in Kyoto to escape the intense heat. "Hotel Keihan Kyoto Hachijoguchi" is my favorite hotel, located about a 5-minute walk from JR Kyoto Station Hachijo East Exit, with excellent access. The entrance, decorated with traditional Japanese umbrellas, is very elegant and Kyoto-like. For dinner, I had Tower Sandwiches. The food hall, where you can enjoy a variety of dishes from multiple restaurants at once, is a fun place for Kyoto gourmet food hopping. "Kyoto Senmaru Shakariki Murasaki" is one of my favorite restaurants. The Kyoto Kujo Negi Mazesoba - regular size (880 yen) is made with plenty of Kyoto Kujo Negi. The crunchy green onions are delightful, and the tender chashu is delicious. The rich aroma of soy sauce is excellent, making it a very tasty mazesoba.

I felt like eating ramen near Kyoto Station, so I went to a place I had seen on Tabelog. I ordered the "Za" ramen. The noodles, chashu, and menma were all very delicious, and the soup was so tasty that I drank it all up. It was amazing.

With the use of the Youth 18 Ticket, we visited Seiga and Nagahama, but on the way back there were multiple accidents causing a complete suspension of service in Kyoto. We ended up at the food court in Kyoto Tower. My wife had an eel rice bowl, while I chose the dipping noodles. It took quite a while for the food to be ready, and they didn't even have a receipt or a buzzer system. Turns out, they had just opened and the register wasn't even set up yet. After my wife finished her meal, the staff finally found our order. The dipping sauce had a sour taste base with medium-thick noodles, and it was delicious. The pork slices were thinly cut. Overall, we enjoyed the meal, but the service was a bit lacking.

I ordered maze soba! I prefer a lot of green onions! The taste is delicious! The noodles don't seem to have any particular characteristics, huh? Maybe next time I'll try the ramen. It seems like there were more people eating ramen. Food halls are really great.

There is a food court located in the basement of Kyoto Tower with various shops. Despite the presence of school trip students and foreign tourists, it was not overly crowded, making it stress-free to place an order. I tried the "Murasaki Zenbu-nose Ramen" for 1500 yen. The soup is soy sauce-based with medium-thick straight noodles that go smoothly down the throat. The toppings are plentiful, even considering the balance with the noodles. #Kyoto #lunch #gourmet #ramen #noodle #ramenlover #noodlegram #noodlelift #kyotogourmet #foodie #Kyotofood

Tsukemen with soft-boiled egg topping and shredded pork rice bowl (small) for 1390 yen. The noodles for the tsukemen were thin and smooth. The dipping sauce was a strong mix of chicken and seafood flavors, with a noticeable chicken taste and acidity. The small size of the shredded pork rice bowl seemed quite cost-effective and was quite delicious. Overall, the dishes were soy sauce-based, which made me crave more liquids. I'll have some oolong tea to cleanse my palate. While other reviewers seem to be quite critical, personally, I enjoyed the meal.

A delicious ramen shop located in the stylishly renovated food court in Kyoto Tower Building basement. I think it would become quite popular if it were located in the ramen alley inside Kyoto Station Building. The crowd is much less here compared to the station building, so I always choose this place on weekends.

On a regular weeknight, the Kyoto Tower Sand Food Hall was filled with foreigners! It's still Monday, so I decided to skip alcohol and went to Chitamaru Shakariki for ramen. I ordered the standard Zha ¥820 with an additional flavored egg for ¥130. The soup was described as a clear chicken and dried fish broth, but to me it tasted like strong soy sauce... I couldn't taste the dried fish at all, just a strong soy sauce flavor. I started to get a bit tired of it, but since I could sit wherever I wanted in the food hall, I didn't feel like going to the shop to get some pepper, so I just ate it as it was. However, the noodles were really smooth and delicious! If I were to eat here again, I might go for the dipping noodles instead. Thank you for the meal.

I visited "Kyoto Senmaru Shakariki Murasaki" located under Kyoto Tower. I have been to the main store before, but this was my first visit here. I didn't know there was such an area under Kyoto Tower! It's like an adult food court. There are multiple shops, and it's a self-service style where you go pick up your order when your buzzer rings. But the atmosphere is calm and not bustling. Most of the shops serve alcohol. I thought about getting ramen, but I didn't want to wait in line, so I decided to try the tsukemen. The tsukemen at the main store was delicious. The tsukemen cost 980 yen and you can pay with QR code, so you don't need cash, which is convenient. I hardly use cash these days, except for ramen shops, I mostly use cards or QR code payments. And here comes the tsukemen! Or more accurately, I went to pick it up when the buzzer rang. The stainless steel bowl keeps the noodles cold. The dipping sauce is black, with a strong sweet taste and a hint of sourness. It's quite sweet. The salt content is not too high, so you can drink it without diluting it with soup. It seems like something that people from Kansai region would like. It's delicious though. The noodles are medium-thick and slightly thin. They are chewy and have a firm texture. It feels like udon in a way. The chewiness is like Inaniwa udon. It's delicious. But if someone asked if this would be good with udon instead, I couldn't deny it. The dipping sauce is gentle and the noodles are smooth, so you don't need to lift the dipping sauce. Overall, it was a tsukemen that you can eat smoothly. Rating: 3.0 It's not bad at all. In fact, it's delicious. Honestly, the tsukemen that I enjoyed at the main store felt a bit lonely here. I wonder why? Thank you for the meal.

Located on B1 of Kyoto Tower, this soy sauce ramen shop offers a pretty average tasting soy sauce ramen. The prices are cheap, so it's not bad. If you go in with high expectations due to the high ratings, you might be a little disappointed. But if you go without expecting too much, you probably won't be let down.

The mixed noodles, 880 yen, and the shredded pork bowl, mini size, 280 yen, feel like a food court. The restaurant itself only has 3 counter seats. It has a taste of chicken oil plus soy sauce. Not delicious. The noodles are sticky. The pork in the bowl is dry. The service was also mediocre.

Kyoto Tower's underground food court has a counter with only three round stools, but there is a shared space where many customers eat. The menu is like a food court, offering ramen options such as "Sei Yubune Chicken x Niboshi," "All Toppings (Purple)" with 4 types of toppings, "With 4 Types of TP (Kyoto)," and the classic "Shakariki Ramen (Za)." They also have tsukemen and maze-soba, with set options available. If you plan to eat on the round stools, be aware that two of them have wet spots from spilled self-serve water, so you may need to sit on the edge. The "Shakariki Ramen (Za)" is priced at 820 yen and comes in a unique silver metal bowl. It includes a large slice of char siu, menma, leeks, mitsuba, and thin noodles in an amber-colored soup. The soup has a good balance of flavors without any bitterness or harshness, and the noodles are delicious. Bon appétit! ♥️

I visited Koshien for the first time in a while, and we stopped by for a late-night ramen in Kyoto after drinking. We were seated at the counter without waiting and ordered the ramen for 820 yen. After waiting for 8 minutes, we were called with a buzzer and went back to our seats to eat with my wife. The chicken soup with soy sauce was delicious and straightforward. My wife even said, "This is my favorite." We got our beer from a vendor, and the venue was bustling with a variety of shops. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal.