Niigata Ramen Expo

Kyoko, Bambi and I went to the 2nd Niigata Ramen Expo at Niigata City! There were 24 stalls from Niigata, Fukuoka, Nagano, Kanagawa and Yamagata prefectures. I was slightly disappointed cos I thought there'd be more stalls from other prefectures.

Large eating area in the convention hall

Long snaking queues at the ramen stalls outside

My tonkotsu ramen (Fukuoka style). It tasted ok, but not fantastic and the other stalls didn't appeal to me, so I had only 1 bowl.

Bambi's 1st bowl - supposed to be tonkotsu style but tastes more like miso ramen

Bambi's 2nd bowl - miso ramen

Kyoko's 2nd bowl (she had the same thing as me for her 1st bowl) - white miso ramen with tons of onions on top *puke puke!*

Me at a mock-up yatai (ramen was traditionally sold at these pushcart stalls)

Kyoko trying her hand at the Nissin Chicken Cup Noodle lucky draw game. She won a packet of instant chicken noodles.

Night view of Niigata City and the Shinano River (longest river in Japan) from the observation deck of Toki Messe Convention Centre