It’s hard out there for an independent ramen shop. It’s apparently hard out there for some chain stores as well. One large ramen chain is set to close a third of its shops in the Tokyo area. What’s driving the loss of ramen shops even as a record number of tourists continue to visit Japan?
1/3 of stores in greater Tokyo area to close
The chain is ironically named Tenka Ippin – ironic because this translates as “The world’s best.” In business since 1971, Tenka specializes in Kyoto-style chicken bone broth-based ramen.
Tenka runs on a franchise model and had, as of May 16th, 2025, 209 stores, including 34 in the greater Tokyo area (the metropolis of Tokyo and the cities of Kanagawa, Chiba, and Saitama, among others). However, it has apparently made plans to cut 10 stores around Tokyo by June 30th. That’s 29%, or almost a third, of its locations in the area.
The company didn’t announce this plan, though. Social media users picked up on it as individual users posted closure signs they’d seen at different stores. Affected stores include locations in Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro West Entrance, Tamachi, Meguro, Kichijoji, Kamata, Kawasaki, Ōbune, and Ōmiya East Entrance.
Is it closing because it sucks?
To be sure, it’s tough times out there for independent ramen shops. There were more bankruptcies in 2024 than in previous years. Many shops are finding themselves squeezed by rising costs coupled with a fear of breaking the so-called “1000 yen wall” in terms of pricing.
However, other ramen chains are thriving. Ichiran Ramen, for example, continues to pack every store in its franchise and remains a huge hit with both foreign visitors and Japanese citizens.
So why is Tenka struggling?
When contacted by LiveDoor News, Tenka Ippin refused to comment on why it’s closing the stores. Some social media users, however, chalk it up to the chain’s quality and its franchise model.
“Even at the stores I’ve gone to since forever, the flavor changes when a new manager comes on,” one griped. “Tons of complaints even in the Kansai area [the chain’s original location].”
“There’s an overwhelming difference in taste from store to store,” another complained, “even in Kansai.”
This doesn’t surprise me. I’ve written before about the problems that the Subway franchise has had in Japan. One issue with Subway is that its franchises haven’t had strong corporate direction, with franchisees running their stores as they see fit. That betrays the primary expectation that many have for a chain, which is reliable consistency.
It’s unclear how much trouble Tenka Ippin is in or if it can reverse course. If it doesn’t move quickly to address its consistency issue, it’s possible its remaining 24 stores in Tokyo could disappear as well.
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Sources
「天下一品」が首都圏で閉店ラッシュ 6月30日で少なくとも10店舗が閉店. LiveDoor News
外国人観光客の行列が絶えない一蘭。“簡単に入れない店舗”が増えても「日本人ファンが離れない」ワケ. SPA!
