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Is This Ramen Chain Closing Stores Because It Sucks?
Why is this chain about to close a third of its stores in the Tokyo area? Some fans are blaming its lack of consistency.
By Jay Allen
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.
