If you’ve never stood in a Japanese convenience store staring at a wall of instant ramen, you’re missing out. What we call “instant ramen” barely scratches the surface of what’s available in Japan. Here’s my guide to the best instant ramen in Japan. I show you which packs are worth the suitcase space, where to buy them, and how to make them your own once you get home.

A retail shelf displaying various Nongshim and Donbei instant noodle bowls with Japanese price tags, perfect for those seeking new instant ramen hacks.

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In part two of the Souvenir Cooking Series, I’ll show you how to get the most out of the food you bring home from your Japan trip. This time, we’re talking all about instant ramen.

Shelves stocked with various Cup Noodle flavors—including curry, seafood, and chili tomato—in regular and big sizes, showcase some of the best instant ramen in Japan. The colorful packaging is arranged in neat rows, with price tags visible on the shelves below.

Why Instant Ramen Makes a Great Souvenir

Instant ramen might not sound like a glamorous souvenir, but trust me, it is a genuine crowd-pleaser. A single pack can transport you to your favorite shop in the comfort of your home. Here is why instant ramen is worth the space in your suitcase.

  • Easy to pack. Instant ramen weighs almost nothing and packs flat, perfect for tucking into any corner of your suitcase.
  • Something for everyone. With options like tonkotsu, shoyu, miso, tantanmen, and even vegetarian ramen, there’s a flavor for every craving.
  • Customizable meal. Instant ramen is just the starting point. Add a few extras and it transforms into a filling, time saving meal.
Shelves stocked with various colorful instant noodle cups, mostly featuring Japanese and Korean labels, line a grocery store—many showcasing the best instant ramen in Japan. Cups are arranged neatly in rows.

Where to Buy Instant Ramen in Japan

Where should you stock up on ramen in Japan? Here are my top picks for your trip.

  • Convenience stores (konbini). Quick, cheap, and surprisingly good. At 7-Eleven, look for the Gold Series (セブンプレミアム ゴールド), their upgraded line with richer broths and better noodles than the standard shelf ramen. Lawson has their private-label products. Both Lawson and Family Mart have rotating instant ramen collaborations with famous ramen shops.
  • Supermarkets. The widest selection by far. This is where you’ll find regional specialties and multi-packs at better prices than convenience stores.
  • Don Quijote. Known by its shortened name Donki (ドンキ), this is a one-stop shop for all souvenirs. They stock the famous Ichiran tonkotsu ramen kit, and often carry limited or unusual flavors you won’t spot elsewhere.
  • In ramen shops. A variety of top ramen shops collaborate with instant ramen companies. Look out for any instant ramen cups sold in the shop. You might be able to take your favorite bowl home.
  • Airports. Large international airports sell souvenir-ready ramen near the departure gates. It’s a good last-minute stop if you’re running low on suitcase space and time.
Shelves display colorful instant noodle cups with Japanese labels in orange, blue, brown, green, and yellow, neatly stacked in rows at a grocery store. Price tags are visible under each product—offering shoppers a tempting selection of the best instant ramen in Japan.
Instant fried noodles in blue and spicy mixed noodles in red packaging are displayed on a store shelf, with product images and Japanese text on each package—showcasing some of the best instant ramen in Japan.
A red instant noodle package labeled Hamburger Lucky Pierrot, considered by some as the best instant ramen in Japan, features a clown holding a hamburger, Japanese text, and preparation instructions.
Packets of Ichiran ramen with red, green, and black stripes are stacked together. The packaging shows an image of ramen with pork, egg, and vegetables. Japanese text is printed prominently on the front, highlighting what many consider the best instant ramen in Japan.

Top 5 Instant Ramen to Bring Home

Nowadays, instant ramen in Japan goes way beyond the packs most students relied on in college. Think better broth, flavorful seasoning packets, non-fried noodles, and premium toppings. Here are the top five I recommend most:

  1. Ichiran Tonkotsu Ramen Kit – The souvenir version of the famous Hakata pork bone ramen chain. Rich, porky broth and thin noodles. Find this at Donki and most airports.
  2. 7-Eleven Gold Series – Rotating regional flavors, with a seasonal lineup worth checking every time you visit. Recently, I spotted instant soy sauce ramen and Tan Tan Ramen (spicy, sesame ramen) from Japan’s top-rated ramen shop, Iida Shoten.
  3. Tenka Ippin Instant Ramen – A cup version of the legendary Kyoto chain’s creamy chicken broth. This ramen also comes in full and half-sized versions.
  4. Maruchan Seimen Umakara Tantanmen – Non-fried noodles in a rich, sesame-forward tantanmen broth with doubanjiang and a warming hit of Sichuan pepper.
  5. Nissin Raoh Shoyu Ramen – Nissin’s premium instant line, known for thick, chewy non-fried noodles and a deep, soy sauce broth with more umami than standard instant ramen.

While these are some of my favorites, choose whichever catches your eye when shopping. New flavors pop up constantly, so there’s always something interesting to discover.

Ichiran ramen gift sets on a store shelf in Japan, priced at ¥3,240. Red boxes feature Hakata-style thin noodles with chopsticks and spoon sets included—perfect for experiencing some of the best instant ramen in Japan right at home.
Bags of the best instant ramen in Japan in various colors, with Japanese text and images of noodle bowls, are neatly arranged on a grocery store shelf with price tags displayed below each product.

How to Glow-Up Your Instant Ramen

The fun doesn’t stop once you get home from Japan. There is an entire world of instant ramen hacks that turn the simple dish into a memorable meal. Whether you want to up the richness, or round the soup out into a balanced meal, here are some ways to make instant ramen your own.

  • Add an egg. Jammy ramen eggs, a soft-boiled onsen tamago, or even a raw egg cracked straight into the hot broth all add richness.
  • Finish with aromatic oils. Heat neutral oil and pour it over the seasoning packet to bloom the aromatics. Or top with Nami’s Crunchy Garlic Chili Oil.
Four ramen eggs, halved to reveal their soft, runny yolks, are arranged on a white scalloped plate set on a patterned cloth. A pair of wooden chopsticks and a blue dish complete this inviting ramen eggs presentation.
A Weck glass jar containing Crunchy Garlic Chili Oil (Taberu Rayu).
  • Up the umami. Add flavor enhancers like kimchi, tuna, and sesame oil like this . Try this Instant Ramen Recipe, which adds toppings to enhance the flavor and nutritional value.
  • Experiment with toppings. Try classics like braised pork belly Chashu or chicken chashu. Top with leftover veggies to clear out your fridge. Add slices of cheese and thinly sliced hot pot style meat to cook in the hot soup.
A white ramen bowl containing Korean ramen (ramyeon), topped with soft-cooked egg, kimchi, and green onions.
Blue and white bowls containing ramen with soup topped with seared sliced chicken chashu, soft boiled egg, and blanched bok choy, and garnished with pickled ginger.
  • Make creamy ramen. Use slightly less soup and stir a spoonful of mayo into the flavor packet for a richer, creamier bowl similar to tonkotsu ramen.

Instant ramen is one of the easiest souvenirs to justify. It’s inexpensive, easy to pack, and with a soft-boiled egg and a swirl of aromatic oil, it tastes closer to a real bowl than you’d expect. Buy a few packets on your next trip to always have a taste of Japan waiting in your pantry.