Shimane Has Plenty of Delicious Ramen Shops!

Shimane Prefecture's ramen culture is characterized by its unique style, which makes use of ingredients sourced from the fresh seafood of the Sea of Japan and the region's rich nature. Centered around Matsue and Izumo, there is a wide variety of ramen shops, ranging from those serving traditional shoyu (soy sauce) ramen to creative bowls using local shijimi clams. Of particular note are the ramen made with "ago" (flying fish), the official fish of Shimane Prefecture, and bowls loaded with shijimi clams from Lake Shinji. These are loved by locals and tourists alike as special dishes you can only taste in Shimane. Furthermore, an increasing number of shop owners are returning home after training at famous establishments in Tokyo and Osaka, adding the appeal of being able to enjoy nationwide-caliber flavors right here in Shimane.

11 Recommended Ramen Shops in Shimane

Ramen Cho-san

"Ramen Cho-san" in Agenogi, Matsue, boasts immense local popularity as a renowned salt ramen shop. It was reopened by Tsutomu Nagata, the originator of the long-standing "Stubborn Salt Ramen" since the Taisho era, as a challenge to create a new flavor. The clear, beautiful soup is packed with the umami of chicken and pork, offering a light yet deeply rich flavor. What makes it unique are the toppings available at the table, such as "chopped onion," "homemade black garlic," and "homemade red garlic." Adding these allows you to enjoy countless flavor variations from a single bowl. It is a popular shop that opens early in the morning, with many regulars stopping by for a "morning ramen."

Shijimi-dokoro Kamiari Seimen

"Shijimi-dokoro Kamiari Seimen" in Hikawa-cho, Izumo, is a renowned shop known nationwide for its ramen using Lake Shinji’s famous shijimi clams. The owner, who originally ran a shellfish wholesale business, opened the shop in 2012 to leverage those supply routes. Their signature "Shijimi Salt Ramen" features a stunning visual of a mountain of Lake Shinji yamato-shijimi clams. The soup, in which the umami of the clams melts into a chicken and pork-based broth, is light yet deeply savory. It pairs perfectly with their chewy, homemade high-hydration noodles. The owner has a prolific creative streak, having developed over 2,000 different menu items. Though they are only open for lunch, this is one of Shimane's premier ramen shops with a line that never seems to end.

Kakizaki Shoyu Ramen Shop

"Kakizaki Shoyu-ten" in Oonan-cho is a ramen specialty shop that opened in May 2025 by renovating a corner of a long-established soy sauce brewery founded in 1921. Their "Shoyu Ramen," packed with the specificこだわり of a soy sauce brewer, uses a secret *kaeshi* (seasoning sauce) that blends four types of their own soy sauce. The soup, made by slowly simmering chicken, pork, kelp, and bonito flakes in subsoil water from 53 meters underground, is infused with the rich aroma and umami of soy sauce aged in wooden barrels. They use homemade noodles made from domestic wheat and whole wheat flour, characterized by a smooth, chewy texture. The chashu, made by marinating local Iwami pork in their special soy sauce, is also exquisite. The self-service corner offers "tamago-kake shoyu" (soy sauce for egg over rice) and *moromi* (mash), allowing guests to freely adjust the flavor.

Men-ya Hibari

Located in Kitahori-cho, about an 8-minute walk from Matsue Castle, "Men-ya Hibari" is a renowned shop highly acclaimed both within and outside the prefecture for its ramen using "ago" (flying fish), Shimane's official fish. Their signature "Ago-dashi Paitan Ramen," devised by an owner who trained at a high-end restaurant, features an original double-soup blend of seafood broth and pork bone paitan (white soup). The full-bodied sweetness and aroma of the ago-dashi fill your mouth, perfectly balanced by the mellowness of the pork bone paitan. The homemade whole-wheat noodles have a pleasant, firm texture and pair perfectly with the soup. As you eat, mixing in the sweet and spicy minced meat topping allows you to enjoy three stages of flavor changes. It is a highly capable shop selected for the "Tablog 100 Famous Stores" list and is characterized by a large number of female customers and tourists.

Men-dokoro Waya

"Men-dokoro Waya" in Kamishioya-cho, Izumo, is a specialty shop for a new sensory experience in seafood ramen, opened in October 2021. Their signature menu, named "Wa-men," is a creative bowl that uses no animal-based broth at all, but rather dashi made exclusively from a rotating selection of daily seafood. It is characterized by its *kaiseki*-like toppings served on a separate plate, such as sea bream rice, dashimaki (rolled omelet), grilled fish, yuba (tofu skin), and *ohitashi* (blanched greens). Guests have the freedom to eat these as they are or as toppings for the ramen. You can choose from three types of noodles—regular, yuzu, or fish-powder—and limited-edition noodles appear depending on the day. It is a one-of-a-kind shop that combines the high-quality taste of dining at a high-end restaurant with the simple joy of eating ramen.

Shina Soba Katsumi

"Shina Soba Katsumi" in Gakuen, Matsue, is an authentic *shina soba* shop opened in 2013 by an owner who trained at the famous "Yakumo" in Ikejiri-Ohashi, Tokyo. Their signature wonton noodles come in two varieties: pork wonton and shrimp wonton, both with a firm, plump texture that stimulates the appetite. The soup can be chosen from "white," "black," or "mix," featuring a light flavor that is a well-balanced blend of chicken, pork bone, and seafood. The white soup highlights the seafood umami, while the black soup allows you to enjoy the rich aroma of soy sauce. The curly noodles cling well to the soup, and the melt-in-your-mouth tender chashu is also exceptional. Due to its location near Shimane University, it is a popular shop loved by a wide range of people, from students to locals, and it is not uncommon to see a line during lunchtime.

Hagane-ya

"Hagane-ya" in Imaichi-cho, Izumo, is an authentic tonkotsu (pork bone) ramen shop with a "heavy metal" concept, opened in February 2025. It is a unique shop run by an owner who is also a metal band musician; the sign features a metal logo, the interior is decorated with metal-themed flags and photos, and the background music is metal. Despite the "hard" music, the tonkotsu ramen served is gaining a reputation for being authentic. Their *yobimodoshi* soup, carefully handmade using only Izumo water and pork bones, carries the aroma and umami of the pork directly, with rich soy sauce tying it all together. The low-hydration, straight, medium-thin noodles sourced directly from Kurume have a pleasant, firm "shiko" texture and pair perfectly with the tonkotsu soup. The abundant chashu is also deeply flavorful, and to the accompaniment of surprisingly soothing metal background music, you'll find yourself finishing the bowl in no time.

Ramen SUN !

Opened in Imaichi-cho, Izumo, in December 2025, "Ramen SUN !" is a noteworthy new shop started by an owner who returned to their hometown of Izumo after training at the famous "Ramen Rotasu" in Shizuoka Prefecture. They have been popular through event pop-ups, but now have finally started as a storefront location. Their signature "Roasted Tomato Salt Ramen" is a creative bowl featuring a clear, additive-free soup topped with roasted tomatoes. The acidity of the tomatoes and herbs melt into the soup, with the umami increasing with every bite. On the other hand, the "Buta Soba" is a hearty *Jiro*-style ramen with thick, chewy noodles topped with back fat and plenty of vegetables. From additive-free, health-conscious ramen to addictive, hearty bowls, this is a new-generation ramen shop that caters to a wide range of needs.

Ramen Tomo-san

"Ramen Tomo-san" in Iuya, Higashi-Izumo-cho, Matsue, is a salt ramen specialty shop that opened in August 2023. Simple yet carefully prepared, their salt ramen is a bowl that is light but packed with palpable umami. The clear soup has a gentle flavor based on chicken broth with added seafood umami, and it’s reputed to be highly satisfying. The medium-thin noodles are chosen for their compatibility with the soup and are characterized by their smooth texture. With simple toppings like chashu, bamboo shoots, and green onions, the quality of each ingredient really shines through. Their stoic focus on salt ramen alone is a testament to the owner’s commitment and confidence. It is a "hidden gem" loved by local regulars.

Tanaya Saburoku

"Tanaya Saburoku" in Kamo-cho, Unnan, is a popular shop where you can enjoy "foam-style" chicken paitan ramen. The creamy, frothy chicken paitan soup, rare in Shimane, is mellow and rich yet leaves a refreshing aftertaste. The soup, packed with concentrated chicken umami, is a flavor you won't forget once you've tried it. Further worth noting is the "Grilled Mackerel Mixed Rice," which incorporates grilled mackerel, a specialty of Unnan. It’s a dish you rarely see at other ramen shops and pairs perfectly with the ramen. The menu, which utilizes local ingredients, is a charm unique to Unnan City. Their chewy, homemade noodles also cling well to the soup, allowing you to enjoy every bite. Though only open for lunch, a bowl worth making the trip for awaits.

Ramen Ikkoku

"Ramen Ikkoku" in Kisa-cho, Yasugi, is gaining popularity as a rare specialty shop for beef bone ramen in the San'in region. The soup, boiled with beef bones for an entire day, is characterized by the sweet aroma and depth unique to beef, offering a rich yet clean aftertaste. In addition to beef bone ramen available in salt or soy sauce flavors, their "Vegetable Salt Ramen," topped with plenty of vegetables, is a bowl where the aroma of stir-fried vegetables and the umami of the beef bone soup match exquisitely. Their "Tantanmen," characterized by its creamy, rich, and spicy soup, is also very popular. There is a wide variety of toppings, including soft-boiled eggs, green onions, bamboo shoots, and seared chashu, allowing you to customize your order to your preference. With its convenient location along National Route 9, this is one of San'in's premier beef bone ramen shops visited by many tourists as well as locals.

Let's Eat Delicious Ramen in Shimane!

Shimane Prefecture's ramen scene is truly diverse, ranging from creative shops making the most of local ingredients to authentic establishments with nationwide-level techniques. Ramen made with ingredients unique to Shimane—such as Lake Shinji shijimi, ago (flying fish), and Iwami pork—offers a special experience you can only find in this region. Also, the appeal of Shimane lies in the fact that shop owners who have trained at famous shops in Tokyo and Osaka are returning home to build a new ramen culture. When sightseeing at Izumo Taisha or Matsue Castle, be sure to stop by these ramen shops as well. Through a single bowl of ramen, you should be able to feel Shimane's rich food culture and the passion of the shop owners. You too should experience the flavors loved by the locals.