Recommended bowl: Religious experience

Urashima is a shop Japanese ramen geeks often refer to as ‘Legend.’ It's located deep in the Wakayama countryside and only open two hours per day. It's not uncommon for the staff to stop allowing additions to the line less than one hour after opening. Launched in 1976, the shop looks like something of a shack, with little besides rice fields and farmland in the background. There used to be a more extensive menu, but these days the only offerings are ramen (in two sizes) and rice. But the bowls do not disappoint: deep, creamy tonkotsu soup, magically balanced with rich local shoyu tare. The noodles are from Miyamoto Seimen, based in Wakayama. No spoons are provided; you just drink from the bowl. For some, the short time spent here is akin to a religious experience.