The Taste of Memories | My Love for 　kitakata Ramen (Part 1)

It’s my heartful summer memory from Aizu, Fukushima —but wait, who even cares, right?!

Well… I do.

Because my love for Kitakata Ramen is loud and proud! (lol)

This post contains a small affiliate introduction.

It’s starting to get chilly these days (‘ω’)

And when the cold sets in,

what do we crave the most?

That warm, steamy, slurp-worthy comfort food… ramen! (´ω｀)

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You might be wondering:
“Why does the title say summer when it’s already cold now?! ”

Good question!

Today, I’m going to share the story

of a flavor I’ve loved for many, many years —

Kitakata Ramen.

So… why talk about it now?

Because every time I think about eating Kitakata Ramen,

a flood of memories comes back to me.

If you remember the post where I talked about yogurt before,

then you probably know what I mean…

福島県飲みにくいヨーグルトと宮崎県 ヨーグルッペ を比較レビュー！/Yoguruppe vs. Soft Creamy Yogurt

懐かしい味を体験！ / 懐かしの味を徹底比較！この詳細レビューでは、日本の**『ヨーグルッペ』と『ソフトクリーミィヨーグルト（プレーン＆いちご）』**を徹底比較します。

skydolphin-m-photo.com

2025.07.17

A Summer Memory Etched in My Heart

Every summer memory I have somehow connects back to one special place —
Koishigahama Campground in Fukushima Prefecture.

Even before I was born —
yes, even when I was still in my mother’s belly —
my parents had already been visiting there.

From the time I was a little girl until I became a college student,
it was our yearly family tradition to spend summers in my father’s hometown,
Aizubange Town, Fukushima.

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The Scents, the Dogs, and the Gentle Country Wind

When the wind blew through the golden rice fields,
it carried the soothing scent of the harvest.
That gentle fragrance always wrapped our family in peace.

Back then, both of my parents were full of energy,
and our countryside home was never without a dog —
Chacha, Shiro, Gon… one after another, they became part of our lives.

Taking them for walks, being pulled along those dirt paths —
that was my little joy every summer.

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The Calm of Lake Inawashiro — Our Family’s Summer Haven

It’s been years since I last visited,
so I’m not sure what it’s like now.

Back then, the toilet was an old-style pit latrine,
and there wasn’t even a shower at first.

My dad, ever the problem-solver,
used a concrete-mixing tray placed on top of the car to heat water under the sun,
turning it into our “solar bath.”

Sometimes, he’d fill up a plastic tank and warm it for a makeshift shower.
Eventually, a coin-operated shower was installed —
what a luxury that felt like!

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Under the Starry Sky

One of my favorite memories was sitting in a chair,

looking up at a sky full of stars,

falling asleep to the gentle rhythm of the waves.

Of course, there were the less peaceful moments too —

like when my flashlight ran out of batteries on the way to the toilet,

and I had to find my way back to the tent in total darkness, heart pounding.

Or those early mornings when I woke before sunrise,

sipping coffee as the first light of dawn kissed the lake.

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Fireflies, “Ultraman,” and Laughter

When the campground’s old caretaker was still alive,

he once took us to see the fireflies —

a scene straight out of a dream.

And his son? He wore sunglasses even at night,

so I gave him the nickname “Ultraman.”

So many moments —

so many little memories that still shine in my heart.

The Charm of Koishigahama Campground

I found something wonderful while browsing through reviews on Jalan —

people today are still talking about how special

Koishigahama Campground is.

It’s the same place where I spent my childhood summers,

and reading those reviews brought all the memories rushing back.

Many visitors praised it for its crystal-clear water

and the freedom the campsite offers —

just like I remembered it.

It makes me so happy to know that

the place that shaped so many of my summer memories

is still loved by others today.

I couldn’t find an official website for Koishigahama Campground,

so I quoted the information above instead. (^^)/~~~

According to other sources,

it seems that the campground has now been passed down

to the son of the man we used to call “Ultraman.”

(Unfortunately,

I couldn’t get permission to feature them ( ;∀;) so sad!)

Two Unforgettable Flavors

Local Favorite “Kourakuen” & A Chance Encounter with “Kawakyo”

Another summer delight whenever

I visited Fukushima

was, as I mentioned earlier, ramen!

When I was an elementary school student,

my greatest joy was going to a ramen shop called “Kourakuen” in Aizu.

Every time we traveled from Osaka to Fukushima

—or on our way back home—

we always stopped there.

Official Website　translation by Weblio

Official Website　Japanese language only

And here’s the Google Map for your convenience↓

The Joy of Familiar Flavors & The Excitement of Travel

That feeling of happiness — knowing

I could eat it again this year —

and the special excitement that

only comes with being on a trip…

I still remember how my heart would race as a child.

And then, there was another unforgettable encounter.

It happened when I was a college student,

just after I’d gotten my driver’s license.

During my very first drive,

I happened to find a ramen shop by chance —

“Kawakyo” (河京).

If I remember correctly, the place was called “Ramen Museum.”

But when I tried looking it up on Google Maps recently…

something just doesn’t seem right. ((+_+))

It should’ve been along the route from

Koishigahama Campground →

Aizu Jibo Kannon Statue → Aizu Clan School Nisshinkan

→ toward Wakamatsu,

but I can’t find it anywhere now. ( ;∀;)

Maybe the shop moved as time went by.

So for now, I’ll leave the link to a different branch instead.

My First Taste Behind the Wheel

The first ramen I ever ordered at the shop

I found on my very first drive

had that perfect balance — light yet rich,

the soup blending beautifully with the noodles.

I remember thinking,

“I hope I can come back next year too.”

But as time passed, those summer trips slowly became

impossible to make…

And then one day,

I suddenly started missing that flavor.

So I searched online for

“Kawakyo Kitakata Ramen” on Rakuten

and began ordering it to enjoy at home.

Of course, it’s not quite the same as eating it at the shop —

since I cook it myself, it’s a little different.

But every time the aroma rises and lingers in the air,

I can’t help but nod and think,

“Yes… this is the one.”

Being able to enjoy that nostalgic taste so easily at home

makes me truly happy.

Because Kitakata Ramen really is the best.

And with that, we begin…

The Great Kitakata Ramen Taste Test! ( ´艸｀)

Part Two — LETS Go!!

Since I’m not sure when I’ll be able to visit Fukushima again,

I used a lovely featured photo from hide8639 on photo AC.

Thank you so much for the wonderful image.

Read the Japanese blog here!