When I visited Urakawa for work, I used this place for lunch. I ordered the salted pork ramen, which was satisfying with a good portion size. What surprised me was that it had Hidaka kelp in it. It seems they put effort into it because it's a major kelp-producing area. There were many regular customers. The person making the food was chatting cheerfully with customers, so... it took a little longer to be ready, but leaving aside the time, I was impressed.

Happy New Year! This post marks the beginning of 2023. I hope we can continue to work together well. Now, do you know the only movie theater in Hidaka area? It's the "Daikuroza" in Urakawa Town. This time, "Tom Cruise" is coming to Daikuroza, so I decided to watch it for the third time during the New Year break. The screening starts at 1:30 PM, so I first refreshed myself at Apoi Sanso and then tried to go to Mizumaru, but unfortunately, they were still closed for the New Year break. Oh well, I headed to Urakawa and arrived at Boryu-san, the next choice. The parking spaces in front of the store were full, so I parked my car about a 3-minute walk away by the sea and entered the store. I greeted the owner and ordered my usual "miso vegetable ramen & small rice". The store was quite busy. As a family of six left the store saying "thank you for the meal," more families came in after me. It seems like business is good even from the New Year. My usual set arrived in about 7 minutes. I appreciate the generous amount of vegetables. I drizzled some chili oil, picked out the noodles from the vegetables, and slowly enjoyed the slightly firm noodles. The miso soup is delicious. The vegetables that are not overcooked are delicious. The vegetables definitely add flavor to the soup. The miso flavor is not too strong, but the balance of soup, noodles, and vegetables is always well done. The chashu is lightly seasoned, and it feels more like eating miso soup with white rice rather than an original bowl with toppings on rice. It's a satisfying meal, and as always, I finished every last bit. I thanked the owner and headed to Daikuroza. As for "Tom Cruise," I'm starting to feel like "maybe that's enough" after watching it three times, so it seems like it will end after around January 20th (bitter smile).

I took a one-hour break in the evening and went to Urakawa for the wake of someone I was grateful to. The wake here took a full hour, which was longer than I expected. After the wake, I looked for a place to have dinner but many restaurants were closed, full, or had long lines. I ended up going to Takararyu for some pork miso ramen. There were about three groups of six customers in the restaurant. I sat at the counter and ordered my usual miso vegetable ramen with a side of small rice. The owner quickly made my ramen after serving the other customers' ramen and fried rice. The ramen had a good amount of vegetables like Chinese cabbage, onions, bean sprouts, and shiitake mushrooms in a delicious miso soup that had a pork soup-like taste. The noodles were slightly firm, so I started by enjoying the soup and vegetables first before mixing everything together. The thinly seasoned chashu was tender, and the simmered kelp, although light, was flavorful and could be a good snack with alcohol. When there was about a third of the bowl left, I started eating the rice. I finished everything, and it was delicious as always. Additionally, the woman sitting next to me also finished her ramen and fried rice. I couldn't eat that much though.

I took a sudden afternoon off and decided to visit Hooryu, where I had been dumped on New Year's Eve. The owner commented, "You came all the way to Urakawa in this wind," to which I replied, "Well, it's just a bit strong." The miso vegetable ramen and small rice combo was as delicious as always. The soup had a good amount of oil but was emulsified nicely, making it mild. The unique miso soup at this Urakawa branch of Hooryu, with a generous amount of vegetables, has been a favorite of mine for a long time. I slurped up the noodles and vegetables in parallel, enjoying the slightly firm medium-thick noodles, and then finished off the white rice. Even though I was heading to the Red Cross pilgrimage afterwards, I left the bowl completely empty. It's a reliable miso ramen!

On the first Sunday after the third declaration of something in Hokkaido, I decided to visit Urakawa. I went to Boryu for their miso vegetable ramen. The soup had a rich vegetable flavor with well-cooked noodles. The combination of vegetables and noodles was perfect, and the addition of simmered kombu added a nice touch. I enjoyed my meal, and even got treated by a local company president who happened to be dining there. It was a delightful dining experience overall.

Today was a visit to the hospital for a blood test. After a quick morning at work, I headed to the hospital for my appointment. Since I had recently been transferred to a new section, I hadn't had a chance to visit the related agencies, so I made sure to do that this time. It was a productive visit with some meaningful discussions. The hospital appointment went smoothly and I picked up my medication from the pharmacy. With a little time left until noon, I contacted a former colleague and we decided to go to Takararyu for lunch. It was quite busy when we arrived, but we managed to find seats at the counter. We ordered soy sauce ramen with half fried rice set for my friend, and miso vegetable ramen with half fried rice for myself. The fried rice came out first, followed by the ramen a few minutes later. The ramen was packed with plenty of vegetables, almost like a "vegetable miso soup with noodles" due to the sweetness from the vegetables. The ramen was delicious, and we enjoyed our meal while chatting. The fried rice was moist but not too greasy, a good complement to the ramen. After a satisfying meal and some advice exchanged with my friend, I made my way back to the office.

I arrived in Urakawa town on the day of my car inspection and left my car at the shop. I then went to Takararyu nearby and ordered a miso vegetable ramen with kombu instead of wakame. The soup was a bit strong in miso flavor, but the noodles were cooked just right. The ramen was packed with vegetables, making it seem like a healthy meal, but I ended up finishing every last bit. The temporary car I was driving was a bit difficult to handle.

On Sunday, after working almost the whole day on my day off on Saturday, I went to Urakawa in the morning after finishing my work. It was around 1 pm and I was quite hungry, so I decided to stop by at Horyu-san first. There were two other groups of customers already there, but I ordered the miso vegetable ramen and started reading the newspaper. It only took about 5 minutes for my ramen to arrive. In this shop, when you order vegetable ramen, they put various vegetables in the bowl besides bean sprouts. You can see the vegetables peeking out from the bowl over the counter. The ramen is full of ingredients like Chinese cabbage, carrots, shiitake mushrooms, and bean sprouts, and you really have to "eat" your way through them. The amount of vegetables is impressive, and the miso soup has a subtle sweetness that makes it different from other miso ramen, almost like a village-style taste. It's different from other Horyu-san shops. I used to work in Urakawa town for about 2 years, and this miso vegetable ramen was a favorite of mine. I'll continue to enjoy this ultimate bowl whenever I have a bit of alcohol left over. When I asked the owner how things were going, he said, "Nothing is good... just have to endure." He also mentioned that summer events might be canceled because it's difficult to collect donations.

I returned home from work at the Senkyo office around 10:30 pm and got tired of watching the election special, so I started watching the British Open Golf. It was so interesting that I ended up going to bed around 3 am. However, I had already taken a day off the next morning for a hospital appointment, so I managed with a little bit of sleep deprivation. The hospital I visited was the Urakawa Red Cross Hospital. I left the hospital around 11:30 am, dropped off my prescription at the pharmacy, and then visited my favorite restaurant, Takararyu. I greeted the familiar master and ordered my go-to dish, miso vegetable ramen with a side of rice. This set was my go-to during my two years working in Urakawa, especially on days when I was nursing a hangover from heavy drinking the night before. The dish arrived in about 6 minutes, and as always, the generous amount of vegetables was a delight. The miso soup had a seemingly light flavor, but it brought out the sweetness of the vegetables perfectly. The noodles were cooked just right for me, not too firm, so I could easily slurp up the noodles and vegetables. I enjoyed the meal, finishing every last bit in the bowl. The restaurant's consistency never fails to impress me.

Visited a ramen shop in Urakawa for a quick shopping trip. Even though I hadn't actually started shopping yet (lol). I've known the owner for over 10 years, and he often shows up at events in our town. I realized later that the shop was actually closed that day (awkward smile). I ordered the extremely delicious miso ramen that I hadn't had in over 3 years. I think the last time I tried it was when they were offering samples. Since there were no other customers at 11 o'clock, my ramen was served in about 5 minutes. The owner said that using the special miso for this ramen costs close to the original price. The soup was a bit sweet and rich in flavor. It lacked a bit of spiciness, but you could really taste the deliciousness of the miso seasoning. The simple appearance without bean sprouts was probably to highlight the goodness of the miso soup. Some people might find it a bit lacking in the typical Sapporo-style miso ramen flavor, but there are times when you might crave this sweet soup. After this, I went shopping... (lol)

About 10 years ago, I used to commute by car for 45 minutes to work in Urakawa Town, and during that time, I was a regular at this restaurant. My go-to dish at this place was the miso vegetable ramen with a side of small rice. As soon as I walked in today, I placed my order with the master, "Miso vegetable ramen and small rice, please." The dish arrived in about 6 minutes, as there was a customer ahead of me. The miso ramen here is different from other ramen places, and it suits my taste perfectly. The addition of vegetables adds a sweetness to the soup, making it smooth and delicious. The generous amount of vegetables, tender chashu, and classic Sapporo-style miso flavor make this bowl of ramen stand out. The black appearance you see is dried kelp, which adds a slightly sweet accent to the dish. I finished every last bit of the ramen and rice, which was exactly what my body needed after a night of heavy drinking. It was a satisfying meal.

The biggest earthquake in Hokkaido's history followed by ongoing power outages. Although power was gradually being restored in my town, my area was still without electricity. I wanted to take a bath, so after work, I drove to Urakawa and visited Takararyu, where I had been well taken care of during my time working there. The master said, "We don't have enough vegetables to make vegetable ramen," so I ordered miso hormone ramen and a small bowl of rice. The food was served in about 4 minutes. The miso flavor at this Takararyu is different from other locations and I really like it. The finely chopped hormone blended well with the soup without overpowering the ramen, and the tender chashu was delicious. Afterward, I took a bath to wash away the sweat from the ramen and feel refreshed.

I arrived at 3 o'clock. It's hard to find restaurants open outside of lunch hours around here! Many places in Erimo, Samani, and Urakawa are closed after lunch time. Just when I was about to give up, I found this place. It's a great place for a late lunch! Finally, I can eat lunch. From 11:00 to 13:30, they have a set menu with ramen and a mini rice bowl for 880 yen. In the summer, they also serve chilled ramen. They have three types: chilled, kimchi, and sesame. The soy sauce ramen has a refreshing aftertaste and is quite delicious. Was it this delicious before? Maybe because I was so hungry? And the fried rice! It's oily enough to pool at the bottom of the bowl, but I like it! The fried rice is moist and flavorful, not dry and crumbly. It was delicious! I would be even happier if there was a bit more pickled ginger. Thank you for the meal!

December 2017, lunch at "Horyu Urakawa Store". It's been over 10 years since I last came here. I can't remember what I ate last time, maybe the taste didn't leave a strong impression. The staff consists of a veteran couple and two women specializing in delivery and serving. It was before noon, but a few more customers came in later, so I think this place is supported by the locals. I ordered the lunchtime limited ramen and mini rice bowl set for 880 yen. I chose salt ramen and mini fried rice. The salt ramen had a hint of garlic, but it wasn't too strong when I drank the soup. The pork bone broth had an artificial umami flavor, with some lard floating on top, a taste that would appeal to most people. The noodles gave the impression of being like the cheap 3-pack noodles sold in supermarkets. The char siu was tender but lacked flavor, while the bamboo shoots were well-seasoned, creating a mismatched impression. There was a moment when I mistook the kelp for wakame, but it was actually from the famous Hidaka kelp-producing area. The fried rice seemed to be pre-made and was quite bland. So, it was a bit challenging for me to eat it without drinking the ramen soup. Horyu also had its own unique menu, like "Hidaka Mountain Range Ramen" and "Hidaka Kelp Ramen". I was curious about the Hidaka Mountain Range Ramen, but I guess I'll have to wait another 10 years to come back here!

I quickly had lunch and had to head out, so I went to this place along the national highway. It was still before 11:30, so Masago was not open yet. Inside the restaurant, there were tatami rooms (3 tables and a counter) and it was mentioned that tatami rooms are for families with children or groups of 3 or more. Even though it was just before lunchtime, the counter was about two-thirds full. They had a lunchtime special set for 880 yen, which includes ramen and a rice bowl. I wanted to try the tantanmen, so I skipped the set, but it was a good deal considering the set normally costs 1100 yen. You can also choose from four different rice bowl options. The fried rice for 700 yen was delicious, typical of a ramen shop. It was neatly shaped and served, very cute! However, the flavor was a bit light for a ramen shop fried rice. It had a kick from the pickled ginger, and it came with soup (my child gave up on the soup halfway through because it was too spicy, maybe because of the pepper?). The tantanmen for 850 yen was very red and very spicy! It had ground meat, green onions, and chashu pork. The green onions were sliced in both round and white styles, providing a variety of textures. It was a delicious and classic tantanmen, with a familiar taste. I would like to try the branch in Niikappu next time. The Niikappu branch is also located near a Seven-Eleven along the national highway!

When I went to a ramen shop, I usually order salt or soy sauce ramen (mostly salt), but this time I tried the miso butter ramen. The menu is extensive, with options like soy sauce, salt, and miso as bases, as well as Cantonese noodles, tantanmen, and champon. Of course, they also have fried rice, and the ankake fried rice is delicious. The shop has an L-shaped counter that can seat 12 people and a spacious raised seating area. They also issue service cards, and if you collect 10 stamps within 6 months, you can receive a free miso, salt, or soy sauce ramen. The stamps are available at the counter, and they will stamp your card when you present it during payment. Although it is a chain restaurant, this shop has its own unique menu items that show creativity.

Located in Urakawa Town, there is a restaurant called "Horyu". With its distinctive yellow facade typical of the Horyu chain and its location along the national highway, it is easy to spot. The interior has an L-shaped long counter seat and a few tables on a raised platform. They also offer delivery service. During lunchtime, they have a great deal which includes ramen and a mini rice bowl for 880 yen. I ordered miso ramen (usually 700 yen) and a mini fried rice (usually 400 yen). The dishes arrived in about 10 minutes. The ramen had a traditional Sapporo miso soup with a hint of vegetable flavor, which is my favorite type of ramen that doesn't vary much across different Horyu branches. The fried rice was not too dry and had a slightly moist texture, typical of a ramen shop's fried rice. It was simply delicious. I felt that the set was quite a bargain for the portion size. I recommend this place to those who enjoy traditional ramen.