Often when I'm exploring a new city, I get so engrossed in sightseeing that eating gets put on the backburner. When I was in Matsue, the capital of Shimane Prefecture, I got back to the station after a long day of activities and realized I hadn't eaten dinner. Convenience won out and I stopped into a ramen shop at the station named Naseba Naru Kakeru. The food filled the hole in my stomach, but what surprised me the most was how accommodating the restaurant was to travelers - particularly international ones.
The menu here is available in both Japanese and English, and the English menu has a surprising level of detail to help you determine the type of ramen you want to order. There are descriptions of the broth varieties, whether the noodles are thin or thick, and recommendations for add-ons that you might want with your ramen, like extra pork belly, green onions, or an egg. In short, it makes ordering super simple, even if you don't speak a lick of Japanese.
Another really convenient element for travelers is that their power points are all available for you to use and charge your devices with - there are even little signs on the outlets that say "Please feel free to use this". I know that at the end of a long day when my phone battery was next to nil, this was a much appreciated gesture.
Fast, friendly service topped everything off, and I'd eat here again when visiting Matsue without hesitation. It might not be the kind of ramen that wins Michelin stars, but if there were Michelin stars for convenience this place would be right up there near top spot.
For more to see and do in this part of the country, visit the Japan Travel Matsue City Guide here.
