"Asakusa Rairaiken" Returns to Its Birthplace in Asakusa After About 80 Years

Coming Home After About 80 Years

Founded in 1910 (Meiji 43), "Asakusa Rairaiken" hung its noren curtain once more in its birthplace, Asakusa, in July 2026. The famed restaurant relocated to Yaesu because of the war, and closed its doors in 1976. Its revival is in an area where traditional shops and everyday life still thrive, close to Banryu-ji Temple, where the founder rests.

What Prompted the Revival

The revival began with the wish of the founder's 92-year-old grandson, Kunio Takahashi: "I want to eat Rairaiken's 'raumen' in Asakusa one more time." His great-grandson Yusaku Takahashi took action, and in 2020 recreated the flavor with research from the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum and the cooperation of "Shinasobaya." In July 2026, he returned to Asakusa together with great-grandson Masahiro Takahashi.

Signature Menu

• Hyakunen Shoyu Raumen (880 yen): Rebuilt in a modern style, using the flavor of the original as a guide. The clear soup, made with pork, chicken and vegetables, is light yet deeply rich. The noodles are yellowish, medium-thin noodles made with "Sato no Sora," which carries the genes of Meiji-era wheat.
• Ganso Rairaiken's Tenshin-don (regular 950 yen, small 550 yen): A dish born from a request for "food that can be eaten quickly." Fluffy eggs with flaked crab meat are topped with a secret sauce.

The raumen bowls are originals made with "Komatsuya," a long-established tableware shop in Kappabashi, and even the details reflect a love for the good old Asakusa.