Go ahead and slurp ramen, soba, or udon audibly, it’s the norm rather than an exception, and locals genuinely read it as appreciation for the food rather than as impolite.
This is specific to hot noodle dishes served in broth. It doesn’t extend to other foods, cold noodle dishes like zaru soba (dipped, not slurped from broth) are a partial exception, and general eating-with-your-mouth-open noise elsewhere at the table is still just as rude as anywhere else.
- Don’t force it if it feels unnatural — nobody will be offended if you eat quietly, the point is that slurping isn’t the faux pas visitors often assume it is.
- It doesn’t apply to pasta or other non-Japanese noodle dishes, even in Japan — the norm is specific to Japanese noodle culture.