Halal-friendly and worry-free! Enjoy ramen, beef cutlets, and traditional Japanese sweets THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
December 25, 2025 PR by The Asahi Shimbun
(Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau grant project)

Shunpudou’s “Wagyu Ramen” features a soup made only with halal-certified ingredients, topped with fragrant, perfectly grilled halal Wagyu beef. (Photo courtesy of Shunpudou)
Shunpudou’s “Wagyu Ramen” features a soup made only with halal-certified ingredients, topped with fragrant, perfectly grilled halal Wagyu beef. (Photo courtesy of Shunpudou)

In Tokyo, a city that attracts tourists from around the world, the number of Japanese restaurants obtaining “halal certification” based on Islamic law has been increasing. These restaurants strictly avoid using pork and seasonings containing alcohol, such as soy sauce and mirin, ensuring that Muslim visitors can enjoy Japanese cuisine with peace of mind. This time, we introduce some of the most popular spots among them: a restaurant serving ramen and beef cutlet, and a shop offering matcha sweets.

“We want guests to enjoy with peace of mind”: becoming popular among Muslims

In September 2025, a Japanese restaurant called “Shunpudou” opened in a corner of Tokyo’s Asakusa district, where Edo Period culture still thrives. Its signature dishes are ramen and Wagyu beef cutlet, and all 16 items on the menu are halal-compliant.

On our visit in mid-October, we see young women wearing hijabs and families with children arrive one after another as soon as the restaurant opens at 11 a.m.

Although the restaurant’s operations started just over a month ago, it has already been featured by Instagram influencers who introduce halal food in Japan, and its reputation has spread rapidly.

The kitchen of Shunpudou, a restaurant in Asakusa, with ramen bowls lined up. Most of the staff are from Islamic countries.
The kitchen of Shunpudou, a restaurant in Asakusa, with ramen bowls lined up. Most of the staff are from Islamic countries.

The restaurant offers 10 varieties of ramen based on chicken broth or miso. Among them, the “Spicy Broth Wagyu Ramen,” featuring soup with chili paste and topped with Wagyu beef, is a favorite among spice-loving Muslim diners.

The “Kuroge (black) Wagyu Cutlet” uses A5-grade beef processed according to halal standards. The outer layer is crispy, while the inside remains rare and red. When lightly seared on the tabletop iron plate, the fat melts, creating a rich, melt-in-your-mouth texture.

At Shunpudou in Asakusa, the Wagyu Cutlet becomes tender and flavorful when lightly seared on the iron plate, as the fat melts and enhances the texture.
At Shunpudou in Asakusa, the Wagyu Cutlet becomes tender and flavorful when lightly seared on the iron plate, as the fat melts and enhances the texture.

The owner, who operates several restaurants in Tokyo, decided to open this establishment after hearing from employees from Islamic countries that “there are few places where we can safely dine out with visiting families.”

In recent years, halal-friendly restaurants have been increasing in number in Tokyo, but the options are still limited.

In one corner of Shunpudou, a restaurant in Asakusa, there is a prayer room that includes a washing area for cleansing hands and feet.
In one corner of Shunpudou, a restaurant in Asakusa, there is a prayer room that includes a washing area for cleansing hands and feet.

Driven by the desire to allow Muslim visitors to enjoy Japanese cuisine without worry, the restaurant features spacious tables for families, a small prayer room, and even a washing area for cleansing hands and feet. Many of the staff members are from Islamic countries and can provide assistance in English and Bengali. Despite being halal-compliant, there is no compromise on the noodles or the broth. It is a bowl that even Japanese diners will find satisfying—definitely worth a try.

Information

Shunpudou
3F, 2-6-11 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
03-5830-6700
Open daily / Hours: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.

A view of a Japanese garden: relax with traditional Japanese sweets

The “Matcha Set” served at Jugetsudo in Ginza, accompanied by a traditional Japanese confection.
The “Matcha Set” served at Jugetsudo in Ginza, accompanied by a traditional Japanese confection.

Even after a full meal, there is always room for dessert. How about seasonal Japanese sweets or a matcha parfait with a bowl of matcha tea?

Located on the 5th floor of Kabukiza Tower, adjacent to Kabukiza Theatre where traditional performing art Kabuki is staged, is Jugetsudo, a specialty Japanese tea shop. Beyond the large glass windows stretches the greenery of a rooftop Japanese garden, offering a tranquility that feels a world away from the bustling city center. The store’s design was created by Kengo Kuma, one of Japan’s leading architects. The seating area, enveloped by about 3,000 bamboo stalks, evokes the refreshing sensation of being in a bamboo grove.

Inside Jugetsudo in Ginza, surrounded by bamboo. You can even watch matcha whisked before your eyes. Inside Jugetsudo in Ginza, surrounded by bamboo. You can even watch matcha whisked before your eyes.
Inside Jugetsudo in Ginza, surrounded by bamboo. You can even watch matcha whisked before your eyes.

Although it is a specialty Japanese tea shop, Jugetsudo’s Japanese-style sweets are also highly acclaimed. The “Rich Matcha Parfait,” featuring intensely flavored matcha soft serve, and the “Matcha Ice Cream with Shiratama Zenzai,” accented with chewy rice dumplings, are said to be popular among foreign tourists. The slightly bitter notes of matcha and sencha complement the sweetness of the desserts, leaving a refined aftertaste.

Although it is not a halal-certified establishment, the menu generally does not include items made with alcohol. If you are concerned, it is best to check with the staff for reassurance. Savoring Japanese sweets while gazing at the greenery of the Japanese garden offers a soothing moment that gently melts away the fatigue from sightseeing.

“Rich Matcha Parfait” with a perfect balance of bitterness and sweetness, served with hojicha tea at Jugetsudo in Ginza. (Photo courtesy of Maruyama Nori Co.)
“Rich Matcha Parfait” with a perfect balance of bitterness and sweetness, served with hojicha tea at Jugetsudo in Ginza. (Photo courtesy of Maruyama Nori Co.)

Information

Jugetsudo Ginza Kabukiza
Kabukiza Tower 5F, 4-12-15 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
03-6278-7626
Store hours: 10:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Saturdays: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
*Last order for tea service is 30 minutes before closing.