A five-minute walk from Zoshiki Station on the Keikyu Main Line, Shinjiko Shijimi Chukasoba Kohaku builds its delicate ramen around shijimi — small freshwater clams — from Lake Shinji in Shimane Prefecture. The shop has held a Michelin Bib Gourmand for six consecutive years (2021–2026 Tokyo guides) and now operates entirely by reservation, drawing diners from Japan and abroad to this quiet corner of Ota City.

The story

Kohaku opened on May 1, 2019 — the very first day of Japan's Reiwa era. Owner Hiroyuki Iwata trained at the ramen shop Mendokoro Honda before going independent, and the accolades came almost immediately: the overall Best Newcomer grand prize at the TRY (Tokyo Ramen of the Year) Awards 2019-2020 and first place in the Ramen Walker Grand Prix new-shop category.

The signature bowl uses Lake Shinji shijimi clams, shipped directly from a Shimane wholesaler, not only in the soup but also in the shio tare and the aroma oil — with no MSG or artificial seasonings. The result is a clear, amber-colored broth dense with succinic acid, the umami compound in shijimi. In 2025, licensing company T-NEXT announced plans to take the brand overseas.

What to order

Start with the signature Shinjiko Shijimi Chukasoba (shio) — the bowl that won the TRY newcomer shio category, pairing the clear clam broth with thin, straight noodles. The other pillar is the Jidori & Shijimi Chukasoba (shoyu), which took second place in the newcomer shoyu category.

The tokusei (deluxe) version with upgraded toppings was reported at ¥1,700 for the shio, and the tsurushi-yaki pork rice bowl at ¥500, as of October 2024. Check the official reservation page and X account for the current menu and prices.

How to visit (reservation rules)

Kohaku is now fully reservation-based: seats are booked only through its official TableCheck page. Slots for the following Monday to Saturday are released every Sunday at 12:00 JST, so once your visit date is set, plan to book at that release time. Walk-ins are not accepted.

Each guest must order one bowl, and a non-refundable ¥390 booking fee applies per person. Party size and date cannot be changed after booking, and guests are asked to arrive 10 minutes before their slot. Payment is cash only — the shop asks visitors to bring ¥1,000 notes — and ordering is via a ticket machine inside.

  • Book only via the official TableCheck page (slots released Sundays at 12:00 JST)
  • One bowl per person required; non-refundable ¥390 booking fee per person; no changes after booking
  • Arrive 10 minutes early; cash only, ticket machine ordering (bring ¥1,000 notes)