Ramen Higuma — Ojiya Honten

There was already a line

We arrived right at opening. There was already a line.

It was Obon, one of the busiest weeks of the year to be anywhere in Japan, and Ramen Higuma's Ojiya main shop (らーめん ヒグマ 小千谷本店) was no exception. We queued for about 30 minutes before we even reached the ticket machine by the door — buy your ticket first, then hand it to staff once you're seated. There's no ordering at the table here.

Shoyu, ginger, and a generous bowl

We ordered the shoyu chashu-men for ¥900. The broth is shoyu-based with a clear ginger kick running through it — warming rather than sharp, and easy to keep sipping to the end. The portion leaned generous; we left full, not just satisfied.

The parking lot has a fair number of spaces, but each one is narrow, so take a little more care than usual if you're in anything bigger than a compact car.

Would we go back?

Yes. It's the kind of shop worth timing your morning around, especially outside peak holiday weeks. We'd bring family again without hesitation — nothing about the counter, the queue or the seating made it awkward for a family visit.