The 2013 Grand Tsukemen Fest is Here!

And this is what the entrance looks like.

Let me break it down.



Be sure you buy your ticket before lining up. One ticket works for any shop. You'll probably want the blue one. The pink is ladies size (smaller and ladies only), and the yellow one is for a 0% alcohol beer. There are plenty of nearby convenience stores if you want to bring in your own real beer.



If you love using your smartphone for everything, you can handle your tickets with the tixee app. It's in Japanese though. Acts like a fastpass for the long lines!



Then get in line! On the opening day, a Thursday afternoon, the lines weren't bad at all. The weekends should be a bit more. I can't make any predictions; maybe 30-40 minutes for a popular shop.



If you can read the Kanji characters, there are plenty of shop banners to lead you.



Or just go with the photo. Couldn't be easier!



When you get to the front of the line, you can order extra toppings for some extra yen. Most shops do something like this one; an egg for 100 yen and extra chashu pork for 200 yen. Some shops will have crazy topping choices, so save those coins.



The next step . . . eat! You can sit anywhere you want. Because tsukemen noodles are served cold, you don't need to rush this one like you would with a bowl of ramen.



When you are ready to leave, take your tokens (you get one with each bowl) to the voting boxes.



And give the best bowl your votes. Who will win the 2013 Grand Tsukemen Fest?

Join me and find out? I'll be coming to the event off and on throughout the next month, but for sure I will be there every Sunday evening at 7pm. It is the official "Ramen Adventures オフ会 Offline Meeting!"

Nothing major, just a good time for English speakers, expats, locals, and travelers alike, to meet up and have a few bowls together. Feel free to join the Facebook events page and invite anyone you want.

https://www.facebook.com/events/167454580121963

7pm at the ticket machines. Hope to see you there!