Tabelog ratingHikage (日陰) is built around its noodle. Each order is hand-pressed from a high-hydration dough of mochi-hime and haruyutaka wheat into very thick, irregular ribbons. They are silky and thin at the edges and chewy at the core, and reviewers compare them to hōtō or wonton skin. The shop comes from the lineage of the Michelin-listed Mento Mirai and is now run by a second-generation owner. It was selected for Tabelog's Ramen 100 every year from 2021 to 2025.
Nearly every review praises the noodle and the clear salt broth of chicken and niboshi (dried sardine). The braised pork-belly chāshū falls apart and wins near-universal praise. The ebi wantan, shrimp wontons wrapped to order, are called plump and slippery. The shōga-don is a small bowl of rice with gingery minced pork, and regulars call it a must-order, often finishing it with the last of the soup.
The complaints are consistent too. Hygiene comes up often: grimy glasses, a dusty or oily kitchen, a fly on the counter. The silent one-man operation can feel tense and rushed. Several diners describe curt or hostile treatment, including one group turned away because a member was parking the car. The noodle divides opinion, and a few found the soup salty or oily.
Reviewers in 2024–2026 paid around ¥1,050 for ramen, ¥1,150 for ebi wantan-men and ¥1,200 for chāshū-men. Switching from salt to soy-based koikuchi cost ¥50 extra, as did a large portion. The spicy karakuchi option was ¥100, shōga-don ¥150 and a canned beer ¥250. Expect to spend ¥1,000–1,999 at lunch or dinner. Prices rose after the change of ownership.
Value is excellent. Reviewers call it underpriced, and the chāshū-men carries up to eight or nine thick slices of pork.
- Getting there: about 1.2 km from Shin-Kawasaki Station (JR Yokosuka and Shonan-Shinjuku lines), a 15–30 minute walk. Alternatively, take the Rinko bus from Kawasaki Station, West Exit, or from Musashi-Kosugi Station and get off at Egawacho.
- Booking: no reservations. Walk in and join the queue, which runs 20–60 minutes at peak and is shorter on weekdays after 13:00 or in rain.
- Queue rule: your whole group must be present to hold a place.
- Hours: Tue–Sun 11:30–14:30 and 18:00–20:00, closed Monday. It closes early when noodles or soup run out.
- Seating and ordering: seven counter seats and one cook. Wait to be beckoned in and order verbally when asked. There is no ticket machine.
- Payment: cash only. Cards, electronic money and QR payments are not accepted. Coins of ¥10 and smaller are refused, so bring larger coins.
- Children: allowed, but the listing notes that families often have unpleasant experiences here.
- Photos: food only.
- Non-smoking. No private rooms and no parking.
