Global Rise of Ramen: Japan’s National Dish Captures the World’s Heart, Surpassing Sushi

Published on November 15, 2025

Ramen, a popular dish in Japan and a longstanding representation of the country’s culinary culture, is changing dramatically. This well-liked noodle dish has taken the world by storm and is no longer limited to the streets and modest stores of Tokyo. Driven by a surge of foreign tourists, ramen has become a national sensation, surpassing even sushi in popularity.

The market for ramen restaurants in Japan reached a record 790 billion yen (roughly $6.6 billion) as of the most recent fiscal year, a 60% increase from ten years prior. The growing number of foreign visitors to Japan who are keen to try local cuisine is thought to be the reason for the rise in ramen’s appeal. The ramen boom that has swept through Japan has solidified the dish’s status as a worldwide culinary phenomenon and attracted the attention of foodies everywhere.

Tourism Drives Ramen’s Global Popularity

A large factor in ramen’s rise is its ability to captivate foreign tourists visiting Japan. For example, American tourists, on a Tokyo Ramen Tour, excitedly anticipate the different flavours they’ll experience as part of a guided journey through Shibuya. This tour, run by a Japanese travel agency, offers participants the opportunity to compare six small bowls of ramen across three restaurants in just three hours. Even though the cost of such a tour is nearly 20,000 yen per person, the demand remains high, with thousands of international visitors requesting this ramen experience each year.

Tourism numbers reflect this growing global interest. In 2024, Japan welcomed approximately 36.9 million foreign visitors, a record high, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization. By September 2025, that figure had already surpassed 31.7 million, positioning Japan for another record-breaking year. Among the many culinary delights that Japan offers, it is ramen that has garnered the most attention. In fact, ramen has even eclipsed sushi, the former global symbol of Japanese cuisine.

Ramen Overtakes Sushi as the Favourite Foreign Cuisine

In a 2024 survey conducted by the Japan Tourism Agency, nearly 19% of international tourists said that ramen provided them with the most satisfying dining experience, surpassing even sushi, which came in at 14.5%. This shift in preference is attributed to ramen’s ability to offer an extensive variety of flavours and styles, which cater to diverse tastes. What was once considered a humble street food has now emerged as a high-status culinary experience.

Ramen’s growing status as an international symbol of Japanese food culture is evident in the booming market for ramen restaurants. With the continued influx of foreign tourists and ramen’s increasing presence in global food culture, the future of the ramen market appears robust. Teikoku Databank, a Japanese credit research company, predicts that the ramen market will continue to grow, driven by an influx of new ramen chains and innovations within the industry.

Ramen’s Michelin Recognition and Gourmet Appeal

In recent years, ramen has even found its place in prestigious culinary circles. Since 2015, 246 ramen restaurants in Tokyo have been awarded the Bib Gourmand designation by the Michelin Guide, a coveted distinction given to eateries that offer high-quality food at reasonable prices. One example of such a restaurant is Ginza Hachigou, which opened in Tokyo’s Chuo Ward in 2018. The restaurant has become a hotspot for international visitors, with half of its patrons hailing from Europe, the United States, and various Asian countries.

At Ginza Hachigou, the “ravioli gourmandise chuka soba”, a luxurious ramen dish featuring a wonton wrapped around truffle and foie gras, has become a crowd favourite. With only 30 bowls of this dish served daily, it often sells out by early afternoon. This demand speaks to the growing sophistication of ramen as a gourmet experience, far beyond its humble origins. The restaurant’s success highlights ramen’s expanding global reach and its ability to evolve into a high-end dining experience.

The Evolution of Ramen and Its Roots in Japan

The roots of ramen in Japan stretch back to the early 20th century. Rairaiken, which opened in Tokyo’s Asakusa district in 1910, is widely regarded as Japan’s first ramen shop. Following the devastation of the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923, ramen shop owners from Tokyo and Yokohama were forced to relocate to other prefectures, effectively spreading the dish across the nation.

Throughout the years, ramen underwent several transformations, introducing new regional variations that became integral to its identity. For instance, the tonkotsu ramen, which originated in Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture, in 1947, features a rich pork bone broth that became popular throughout Kyushu. Similarly, the introduction of miso ramen in Sapporo in 1954 revolutionized the dish, with its hearty miso-based broth gaining national recognition.

By the 1970s, the Iekei style of ramen emerged in Yokohama, known for its rich soy sauce-based broth, and has since spawned numerous franchises across the country. Over the years, ramen has continued to evolve, with innovations such as toripaitan creamy chicken broth and tanreikei light broth becoming hit products in the 2000s. These innovations have ensured that ramen retains its place as a beloved dish for people of all generations.

The Future of Ramen: A Continued Evolution

Looking ahead, experts predict that ramen will continue to evolve, embracing more creative and personalized variations. Ramen shops are expected to feature more unique, signature bowls that reflect the distinct personality of the chefs behind them. These new offerings are likely to depart from traditional flavours like tonkotsu pork broth and soy sauce, offering more experimental and diverse tastes to meet the demands of a global audience.

As ramen’s global appeal continues to grow, it is expected that more ramen-related experiences, such as ramen tours and special events, will be offered to international visitors. With its deep-rooted cultural significance and ever-expanding international fanbase, ramen’s future in Japan and beyond appears to be bright.

Ramen as a Global Culinary Symbol

Once a straightforward and reasonably priced street food, ramen has become a worldwide culinary sensation thanks to tourism and a growing interest in Japanese cuisine worldwide. Foodies all across the world are still enthralled with ramen because of its varied flavours, rich history, and capacity to adjust to modern tastes. Ramen is now a major representation of Japan’s culinary skill and cultural influence, surpassing even sushi in popularity.

Ramen is more than just a meal for tourists looking for a genuine taste of Japan; it’s an exploration of the country’s rich culinary heritage, which isn’t about to fade.