Here's some great news for Koshigaya residents and anyone who regularly visits Aeon Lake Town. "Dotonbori Kamukura," the popular ramen chain that got its start in Osaka, is opening at Aeon Lake Town kaze on Thursday, July 30, 2026. A restaurant so well known in the Kansai region that practically everyone there has heard of it is finally coming to Koshigaya.
"I've heard the name Kamukura, but what kind of ramen is it?" You may well be wondering exactly that. In this article, we'll walk through the story behind the shop, what makes its signature bowl special, and the limited-time menu available only this summer—everything worth knowing before opening day. By the time you finish reading, chances are you'll want to pay the shop a visit.
A story that began with 9 seats in Osaka's Dotonbori
The history of "Dotonbori Kamukura" dates back to July 19, 1986. It all started as a tiny shop with just 9 seats in about 13 square meters of floor space, tucked into Dotonbori, one of Osaka's liveliest districts. That's roughly the size of eight tatami mats. The idea that a ramen brand now found across Japan grew out of that small counter is quite a romantic thought, isn't it?
What's even more interesting is the background of founder Masato Fuse. Fuse was originally the owner-chef of a French restaurant. Someone who had honed his craft in the world of French cuisine turned to ramen instead. That unusual starting point is exactly why people say Kamukura's ramen is "a little different from the rest."
Kamukura steadily grew from there, surpassing 100 locations across Japan as of March 2025. Its headquarters remains in Kita-ku, Osaka, so the brand has never strayed from its Osaka roots. The fact that it has been loved for four decades and grown past 100 shops is proof of just how many people have kept thinking, "I want to eat that again."
A bowl boldly named "Delicious Ramen"
Kamukura's signature dish is called, quite simply, "Oishii Ramen"—literally "Delicious Ramen." That's not a nickname or a fan-given label; it's the official product name printed on the menu. Naming your own bowl "Delicious Ramen" takes a certain boldness, and you can't help but smile at that level of confidence.
So what kind of ramen is it? The defining feature is a broth that tastes light and clean yet packs a concentrated depth of flavor drawn from its ingredients. "Light" and "rich" might sound like opposites, but Kamukura's broth manages to be both at once. Its hallmark is a broth that draws out natural sweetness from vegetables, and that sweetness is the heart of what makes Kamukura distinctive.
Look into the bowl and the first thing you'll notice is a generous pile of Chinese cabbage along with pork belly. It's fairly unusual for Chinese cabbage to play such a starring role as a ramen topping. Simmered until it soaks up plenty of broth, it adds both a pleasant texture and a gentle sweetness. Meanwhile, the savory richness of the pork belly melts into the broth, producing a bowl that stays light without ever feeling like it's missing something.
The founder, once a French chef, approached ramen with the mindset of drawing out the best from each ingredient. Hearing that, this unique balance starts to make a lot of sense. It's neither a heavy, rich-style bowl nor quite a clear, delicate one. For those who've never tried it, it may be a flavor that's hard to picture from words alone—which is exactly why it's worth tasting for yourself.
Only certified "Soup Sommeliers" can finish the broth
You can't talk about Kamukura without mentioning its dedication to the broth. First, the soup recipe is a closely guarded company secret. The blueprint for a flavor protected over decades never leaves the company.
Even more intriguing is an in-house certification called "Soup Sommelier." At Kamukura, only those who hold this qualification are allowed to handle the final stage of preparing the broth. In other words, to deliver the same great taste at every location, the company formally certifies who can be entrusted with that finishing touch.
Just like a wine sommelier, someone with a trained eye—or rather, a trained palate—handles the final step. The fact that a chain restaurant maintains this kind of craftsman-like system says a lot about how seriously the brand takes its work. Knowing that every bowl served at the Aeon Lake Town kaze location will be made under this same system only raises expectations.
A summer-only special: "Clear Dashi Cold Delicious Ramen"
There's one more piece of news that makes this timing especially worth noting. Kamukura is currently offering a limited-time menu item called "Sumikiri Odashi no Tsumetai Oishii Ramen"—a cold version made with clear dashi broth. It's available from Wednesday, July 1 through Thursday, September 17, 2026, which puts it right in season now.
It was created as a way to beat the intense summer heat: cold and light, yet satisfying, and packed with nutrition too. Even when the summer heat has sapped your appetite, it goes down easily while still leaving you properly satisfied afterward.
Some people hesitate to visit a ramen shop in the middle of summer. But this chilled version changes the equation. Since the sales period runs from early July through mid-September, it overlaps nicely with the shop's opening—so stopping by while shopping at Lake Town to compare the classic "Delicious Ramen" with the cold version sounds like a fun plan.
Location: Aeon Lake Town kaze 1F, opening July 30
The new shop is officially named "Dotonbori Kamukura Aeon Lake Town kaze." It's located on the first floor of Aeon Lake Town kaze in Koshigaya City, Saitama Prefecture, in unit number 163. The opening date is Thursday, July 30, 2026.
Aeon Lake Town is known as one of Japan's largest shopping malls, drawing visitors not only from Koshigaya but from across the prefecture and beyond. Being on the first floor of the kaze section makes it easy to drop in mid-shopping trip or right after you arrive at the mall. It's a convenient spot whether you're grabbing a bite during a family shopping run or capping off a weekend outing.
A ramen shop that has long been a staple in Kansai will now be easy to enjoy in Koshigaya. For anyone from the Kansai region who finds the flavor nostalgic, this may be a long-awaited arrival. And for first-timers, it's sure to be an introduction to a new kind of ramen experience.
In closing: enjoy the buzz of a brand-new opening
"Dotonbori Kamukura Aeon Lake Town kaze" opens on Thursday, July 30, 2026. A brand that began with just 9 seats in Osaka's Dotonbori and grew to more than 100 locations nationwide will finally be serving its signature bowl right here in Koshigaya.
There's the "Delicious Ramen," light yet full of depth, loaded with Chinese cabbage and pork belly. And there's the limited-time "Clear Dashi Cold Delicious Ramen." Deciding which to try first is a tough call—but that's part of the fun.
The energy of a freshly opened shop is something you can only experience right now. If you have plans to head to Aeon Lake Town, consider adding this to your list of stops. Just how good is a bowl bold enough to call itself "Delicious Ramen"? There's only one way to find out—taste it for yourself.
