After 50 Years in Business, a Local Ramen Shop in Ota Ward Is Seeing Unprecedented Changes The number of foreign tourists visiting late at night has increased fivefold compared to the same period last year!

Yoshinaka Shoji Ltd., which operates the ramen restaurant “Satsumakko” in Ota Ward, Tokyo, has seen a fivefold increase in the number of foreign tourists visiting the restaurant compared to the previous year.

In particular, there has been a rise in visitors staying at hotels around the Omori Kaigan area, with a notable number of them discovering “Satsumakko” through review sites and social media before visiting.

Satsumakko Ramen 1

[Number of Inbound International Tourists to Reach Record High in 2025]

According to data released by the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), the number of international visitors to Japan is recovering at a pace that exceeds pre-COVID levels and is expected to remain high in 2025.

According to the Japan Tourism Agency’s “Survey on Inbound Consumer Trends,” dining expenses are one of the major categories of spending by foreign tourists visiting Japan, and an increasing number of travelers are enjoying Japan’s unique culinary culture—such as ramen and sushi—during their stay.

In recent years, driven by social media and video posts, attention has shifted not only to major chain restaurants but also to community-based eateries, and there is a growing trend among visitors seeking “local culinary experiences.”

JNTO: https://www.jnto.go.jp/

Japan Tourism Agency: https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/

[Rapid Increase in Foreign Customers and Positive Reviews]

Amid this trend, the number of foreign tourists visiting our ramen restaurant “Satsumakko Heiwajima,” located in Ota Ward, Tokyo, has increased fivefold compared to last year. In particular, there has been a rise in visits from hotel guests staying in the Omori Kaigan area, with many discovering “Satsumakko” through review sites and social media before paying a visit.While Chinese tourists used to make up the majority of our customers, we are now seeing an increase in visitors from South Korea, Vietnam, and Western countries. Thanks to our location near Haneda Airport, we often see foreign customers enjoying “Japanese ramen culture” late at night. Another notable trend is the high number of orders for “Satsumakko Ramen,” which is in the higher price range.While some customers from Western countries may not be fond of nori or wakame, it’s impressive to see many of them enthusiastically enjoying their ramen even while using chopsticks, which they are not accustomed to.

[Satsumakko Ramen Details]

The signature “Satsumakko Ramen” features a “soy sauce-based pork bone broth” developed through 50 years of research. While it makes full use of the rich umami of pork bones, the aftertaste is light, and it is beloved as a traditional flavor crafted only by skilled artisans.

This bowl, loaded with chashu pork, cabbage, and a seasoned egg, is the restaurant’s pride and joy—a dish they recommend you try first. Thanks to its location near Haneda Airport, it has garnered high praise from international visitors to Japan, who say it offers “an authentic taste of local Japanese ramen.”

Satsumakko Ramen 2

[Future Plans]

“Satsumakko,” which has been beloved by the local community for many years, will continue to operate as a community-focused restaurant, striving to create an experience where customers from both Japan and abroad can enjoy Japanese ramen culture.

Satsumakko Heiwajima Branch

[Company Overview]

Name: Yoshinaka Shoji, Ltd.

Business Activities: Operation of the “Satsumakko” ramen restaurant chain

Address: 2-15-2 Denenchofu, Ota-ku, Tokyo 145-0071

URL: https://www.satsumakko.com/