Genroku Ramen

Genroku Ramen is a longstanding ramen shop in the Yanagase entertainment district of Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture, serving a simple lineup of shio (salt) and shoyu (soy sauce) ramen in the lighter Gifu style that reflects the city's position between the heavier stocks of Nagoya and the clearer broths of Hida Takayama. The chicken shio ramen — a clear, pale-golden broth made from long-simmered chicken bones seasoned only with sea salt — is the shop's most characterful offering and the preparation most often cited in local food coverage. The broth is notably clean in flavour, relying on slow gelatin and mineral extraction from the bones rather than added seasoning, with depth that becomes apparent only after several mouthfuls. Thin straight noodles cut to a consistent thickness carry the light broth without absorbing too much liquid, maintaining their bite through the bowl. A richer tonkotsu option provides a contrasting creamier register for diners who prefer heavier broths. Genroku is a no-frills operation: a counter with roughly a dozen seats, handwritten menu boards, fluorescent lighting, and a constant haze of broth steam. The shop opens at 11:00 and operates through 21:00, making it one of the more accessible options in Gifu City for both lunch and early dinner at a low price point. Reservations are not accepted; queues during Friday and Saturday evenings typically run five to ten minutes. The Yanagase arcade address places it within easy walking distance of Gifu Station and the central Gifu City hotel district.