Ramen is a staple food for everyone from children to office workers on a lunch break and is as inseparable from Japanese culture as the hamburger is from American culture. As a working person's lunch, ramen changes to account for what the customer is looking for. In colder climates like that of Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost prefecture (subdivisions within Japan), creamy miso ramen is popular to ward off the chill of winter. In Tokyo's warmer climate, shoyu ramen is prized for its refreshing clarity.
