For a hearty bowl of ramen noodles in the Kyoto museum district (Okazaki-koen Park and Heian-jingu area), Karako is the obvious choice.
Karako wins zero points for ambience and few points for a smiley welcome, but that’s not why local businessmen and savvy expat residents pile into the place. Rather, they come for the superb kotteri (thick soup) ramen, topped with some of the best chashu (roasted sliced pork) we’ve tasted anywhere. If you’re a really big eater, you can order a set of ramen, rice and huge chunks of fried chicken, but you can write off any further sightseeing for the day if you chow down on this lot – the only thing you’ll be good for is a long nap.
For more Kyoto ramen choices, see our Best Ramen in Kyoto page.
English address:
12-3 Tokusei-cho, Okazaki, Sakyo-ku
Japanese address:
左京区岡崎徳成町12-3
Opening hours:
11.30am-2pm & 5pm-midnight
Closed Tuesday
Price:
Cheap
Non-smoking area: No
Nearest Transport:
10min walk from Jingu Marutamachi Station, Keihan line
Telephone: 752-8234
Website: None
Customer Reviews:
Read customer reviews of Karako on TripAdvisor
More Restaurant Suggestions: See my list of Kyoto’s Best Restaurants for more eating inspiration. The list covers all cuisines and price ranges.
Near To Here:
Karako is located in Kyoto’s Northern Higashiyama district. See our complete list of things to do in Northern Higashiyama, including places to eat, nightlife and places to stay.
Where Is This Place Located?
See these places on our Kyoto Google map:- Open the Kyoto map
- You will see the list of places on the left hand side. (Click the 3-line icon in the top left corner if not). Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want.
- Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map.
- Map pins are color coded - BLUE: Hotels | VIOLET: Ryokan | PINK: Places to Eat | YELLOW: Things to See and Do
- If you're using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location.
Kyoto Vacation Checklist
- For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Kyoto guide
- Check Kyoto accommodation availability on Booking.com and Agoda.com - often you can book with no upfront payment and free cancellation
- You can buy shinkansen (bullet train) tickets online from Klook - popular routes include Tokyo to Kyoto, Kyoto to Osaka and Kyoto to Tokyo
- Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Kyoto
- See my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
- You can buy an eSim to activate in Japan or buy a data-only SIM card online for collection when you arrive at Tokyo's Narita or Haneda Airports or Kansai International Airport. You can also rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
- Compare Japan flight prices and timings to find the best deals
- If you're making frequent train journeys during your visit, you might save money with Japan Rail Pass – see if it's worth it for you
- A prepaid Welcome Suica card makes travelling around Kyoto easy – here's how
- World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world
- Do you want help planning your trip? Chris Rowthorn and his team of Japan experts at Japan Travel Consulting can help
