Chuka Soba Ginza Hachigou is a specialist ramen shop that opened in December 2018 in the Higashi-Ginza district. Owner-chef Yasushi Matsumura is a French-cuisine veteran who served as executive chef of the Kyoto ANA Hotel (now ANA Crowne Plaza Kyoto). His bowl departs from ramen convention by omitting kaeshi — the concentrated seasoning tare that normally anchors a ramen's flavor — and builds the soup on the ingredients alone. The shop has been listed in the Michelin Guide Tokyo for seven consecutive editions (2020–2026), with one star in the 2022 and 2023 editions and Bib Gourmand in the other years.
What kind of shop it is
The shop is run by Food Operation Japan, which carries on the legacy of sister shop Chuka Soba Katsumoto (opened 2015). Matsumura, who spent 36 years in French kitchens, opened Ginza Hachigou in 2018. Barely a year after opening it earned a Bib Gourmand in the Michelin Guide Tokyo 2020, then rose to one star in the 2022 edition. Even after the star, the signature bowl is still priced at 1,200 yen.
The interior evokes a traditional kappo (Japanese fine-dining) restaurant, per the official site. True to the official concept — 'a soup without kaeshi, arrived at by drawing out the ingredients themselves' — the clear, golden broth is the star of the bowl.
What to order
The noodle menu is compact: Chuka Soba (¥1,200), Ajitama (seasoned soft-boiled egg) Chuka Soba (¥1,400), and Special Chuka Soba (¥1,600). According to media reports, the soup layers Nagoya Cochin chicken, duck, kombu, dried shiitake, and shellfish with prosciutto, seasoned with Guérande salt — closer in spirit to a consommé than a typical ramen broth. The thin noodles come from the noodle maker Asakusa Kaikaro.
The bowl unique to this shop is the Ravioli Gourmandise Chuka Soba (¥2,200, limited to 30 servings a day), which carries the chef's French technique straight into the bowl. Sides include niku gohan (rice topped with chashu pork, ¥500) and a small bottle of Yebisu beer (¥500). All prices are as of July 2026, tax included.
Tips for visiting
From 11:00, walk-in guests are seated in order of arrival, and service ends once the day's soup runs out. From 12:00 there is a seating slot for guests with reservations, bookable via TableCheck (linked from the official site). Book ahead if you want certainty; otherwise, arriving early is the safe play.
The shop is closed on Mondays, with irregular closures on Tuesdays. Temporary changes may be announced on the official X and Instagram accounts, so check before you go. The official website has a full English page covering the menu and visiting information. Note that cash is not accepted — the official site states that payment in cash is not possible — so come prepared with a credit card or another cashless payment method.