Where to Eat: Ajisai Ramen Shop (Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan)

We finished checking out Hakodate's city views from Mount Hakodate Ropeway and made our return trip back to the historic district of Toyokawa-cho at the waterfront Bay Area of Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan.

This area is so walkable with clear signs to help you reach the more popular areas of interest.

Before lunch we did window shop around and cut through the Hakodate Seafood Market also in search of dining delights. Instead, we kept exploring.

Happily made our way to Hakodate Bay Gourmet Club 函館ベイ美食倶楽部 – a dining complex that featured restaurants serving authentic regional specialties:

• Gaya Bay Area Store 雅家 ベイエリア店 – an Izakaya-style restaurant
• Japanese Curry Restaurant スープカレー 大地のめぐみ
• Genghis Khan MeiMeiTei – serving traditional Hokkaido-style grilled mutton and lamb bbq
• Marukatsu Suisan まるかつ水産 – conveyor-belt sushi spot

With the high of 67°F at port today, we were very open to a hot bowl of ramen and waited in line at AJISAI Ramen Shop – a branch of Hakodate's iconic 90-year-old ramen shop. We didn't know it at the time but they're famous for their clear, light, and savory shio (salt) ramen broth.

The waitress took our order while we waited in line. So many mini square receipts for every add-on:

• White Miso Corn & Butter Ramen ¥1430 (2x)
• Boiled Egg ¥150
• Wan Tan ¥200
• Green Onion ¥150
• Draft Beer (Med.) ¥600
• Coke ¥300

Around a $25 - $30 lunch.

The chef kept very busy.

With beer came with otsumami (おつまみ) What exactly was this "drinking snack" though? We had no idea.

11:45am – Once seated, we didn't seem to wait very long for our steaming bowls of ramen. After a few bites and sips, we both wished we had bigger stomachs to finish such a big portion.

Lunch in Hakodate Verdict: Two thumbs-up 👍👍