My favorite ramen near Ueno Station, Tokyo

This is Men Mitsui, one of the best ramen shops near Ueno station. The majority of the time I find myself in the area, I always get overwhelmed by the volume of people swarming around the tracks. So I began to look further afield for a good bowl.

The caliber of their ramen is unmatched, and is worth the 17 minute walk along the scenic Higashi Ueno main street. Along the way you’ll pass shops selling shrine materials, old fashioned sweet shops, and kitchen ware suppliers.

The atmosphere is pristine, and the noodles are massaged and beautifully presented. The additive-free soup and toppings all scream luxury in the best unpretentious way.

These noodles are supple and very easy to slurp. I love how the counter seats look into the kitchen, where you can watch the chef work his magic.

They opened in 2013 and use a digital ticketing system. Take a walk around while you wait for your number to be called. You can check on the QR code on your receipt, super easy.

I still can’t believe the ramen costs just over 1,000 yen. If that doesn’t get you off the main tourist drag of Ueno, I don’t know what will. Japan's ramen scene—Tokyo in particular—is endless. But hopefully this gets you started in the right direction. And with Ueno being connected to Narita airport via the Skyliner and the Narita Express, this is an easy sell.