My fascination with cup noodles started in grade school when my mother gave me a Nissin cup noodles from her usual shopping trip from the grocery store.
She is a kind of Mother who is always curious about things and makes her excited.
As we sit down in our dining table, and it quickly got me confused when I saw a different character printed on the label (I don’t know its Nihongo then). During those days, there is no Google to rely on and it is good that there is a figurative instruction printed as well.
No wonder she picked that day the chicken ramen flavor (not because it is the safest flavor, as she thought) but the cup noodles per se.
Fast forward, that curious little girl wearing a pigtail was in Yokohama and busy checking the Google Map for the location of the famous CUPNOODLES Museum.
Located near the harbor of Yokohama Japan, this famous CUPNOODLES Museum is a must-visit destination if you are heading to Japan. This interactive museum is designed to stir the creativity and curiosity within every visitor and provide a rich educational experience. Through the museum’s many exhibits, you can learn about the creative thinking of Momofuku Ando, the founder of Nissin Food Products and inventor of Chicken Ramen, the world’s first instant noodles. That revolutionized eating customs all over the world. Here you will gather the knowledge that inspires invention and discovery and find the creativity within you be seeing, touching, playing, eating, and having fun.
What makes Nissin cup noodles famous and among the top-most favorite noodles of the world?!
This CUPNOODLES Museum helps me to understand the story of innovation, creativity, and the ‘can-do attitude’ to come up with these impressive ideas.
Did you know that someone dedicated his whole life to gain to create food to serve society, and gain this success? That is Ando-san.
Momofuko Ando (1910-2007) - The Father of Instant Noodles
He was born on March 5, 1910, and established Nissin Food Products and founded the Ando Foundation. In 1958 Momofuku invented chicken ramen, the world’s first instant noodles, and creating the instant noodle industry. In 1971, he invented cup noodles, the world’s first instant noodles served in a cup. While serving as President and Chairman of Nissin Food Products, Momofuku contributed to building the instant noodle industry as chairman of the Japan Instant Food Industry Association and as chairman of the World Instant Noodles Association. Dedicated to the health education of young people, in 1983 he used funds from his personal fortune to establish the Ando Foundation.
Inside the CUPNOODLES Museum
The CUPNOODLES Museum Building is composed of 5 levels:
Level 1 is where the Entrance Hall, and Museum Shop
Level 2 is the exhibition floor showcasing Momofuku-san’s works. These exhibitions include The Momofuku Ando Story, Creative Thinking Boxes, Momofuku’s Work Shed, Momofuku Theater, and the Instant Noodles History Cube.
Level 3 is where the interactive experience, and my most favorite! This floor is where we found the Chicken Ramen Factory, where you can experience making your own chicken ramen. And the My CUPNOODLES Factory, where you can experience making your own cup noodles!
Level 4 located the NOODLES BAZAAR, also known as the World Noodles Road where we experience the different flavors and cuisines of noodles all over Asia including Italy.
CUPNOODLES Park is also located on this floor where kids can plan a ‘noodle obstacle challenge’.
Level 5 is where The Ando Foundation located, and their own Event Hall.
Who knows that cup noodles can be a work of art?! This is the Instant Noodles History Cube.
This exhibit displays the instant noodle lineup that started with Chicken Ramen. An astounding selection of over 3,000 product packages shows how a single product grew into a global dietary culture.
For those instant noodle fans like me, you can make this kind of wall in your own home!
After we enjoyed our photos with this huge wall of cup noodles, the next stop is a 20minute video presentation inside the Momofuku Theater. Also called Momofuku TV, employs CG animation to look back at the history of instant noodles and tell the story of how Momofuku Ando overcame great adversity to achieve inventions of worldwide importance. The program presents the six keywords that drove Momofuku’s creative thinking in a way that is fun and easy to understand.
The presentation is in the Japanese language however, they have available headset if you need a translation available in English, Chinese and French.
You can also download the CUPNOODLES Museum Yokohama Audio Guide App for free, and helps you to explore the whole museum.
Momofuku’s Work Shed
We visited the recreation of Momofuku’s work shed where Chicken Ramen was invented. The message of this little shed is that even without any special equipment, it is possible to create world-changing inventions with only ordinary tools as long as you are creative.
His work shed perfectly reminds me of my Mother’s dirty kitchen. Until now she prefers to cook in her small shed coz, she finds it more comfortable and a place where she cooks us special delicious meals!
The life of Momofuku Ando is presented in an expansive 58-meter long panorama that combines images from his life and times and endearing illustrations. Linked to the Creative Thinking Boxes inspired by Momofuku’s six key ideas, you can follow the footsteps of an entire life dedicated to creating food.
My CUPNOODLES Factory
After watching the AV presentation, we headed to the 3rd Floor and we signed up for our DIY Cupnoodles package! Here you can create your own completely original CUPNOODLES. In a cup that you design, select your favorite soup from among four (4) toppings from among 12 varieties. Altogether there are 5,460 flavors combinations.
Isn’t that awesome?!
Chicken Ramen Factory
You can make Chicken Ramen by hand starting with kneading spreading and steaming the wheat flour and then dying it with a flash-frying method. After experiencing the process that led to the invention of the world’s first instant noodles, you can take your freshly made instant noodles with you and enjoy them at home. All this just right next to the My CUPNOODLES Factory experience room.
Ticket Price:
Elementary school children – 300-yen each
Junior high school and above – 500-yen each (tax included)
CUPNOODLES Park, and NOODLES Bazaar
Located on the 4th Floor, kids can enjoy the CUPNOODLES manufacturing process at this interactive attraction, while the adults can enjoy their delicious hot noodles inside the NOODLES Bazaar where you can find different noodles variety from different parts of Asia.
Do you like Pho? Coz I do!
How to get there?
By Train:- 8 minutes walk from Minatomirai Line, Minatomirai Station
- 8-minute walk from the Minatomirai Line, Bashamichi Station
- A 12-minute walk from the JR/Shinkansen, Sakuragicho Station
By Bus
- Near to the tourist spot round-trip bus Akai-kutsu bus, Kokusaibashi CUPNOODLES MUSEUM-mae shop
- Near to the tourist spot round-trip bus Akai-kutsu bus, Kokusaibashi CUPNOODLES MUSEUM-mae shop
By car
- 5-minute from the Miratomirai interchange of the Kanagawa Route 1 Yokohane Lane
- 5-minute from the Miratomirai interchange of the Kanagawa Route 1 Yokohane Lane
Watch our vlog below!
I honestly never wanted this post to end. It was so much fun to read! I had no idea this place even existed, and now I've put it on my bucket list - I'm inspired! I LOVE the idea of making my own Ramen from designing the cup to choosing the toppings, what an awesome part of the museum.
ReplyDeleteThank you Stephanie! That customized ramen of mine still at home as my souvenir!
DeleteI would have never imagined that such a museum exists. I am not a noodle lover, but I must admit that I find very interesting to visit such a museum for the history and information it brings to us. When I will go to Yokohama, I will add it to my list. Thanks for sharing this with us.
ReplyDeleteLearning it's history is much interesting, and this inspires many young entrepreneurs as well.
DeleteOMG Never heard about such Museum in Japan. Cup noodles museum sounds interesting.Glad to know about invention of Noodles and experience of making our own noodles.
ReplyDeleteWe were thinking of joining in creating the noodles per se, but it was fully booked already!
DeleteWow I feel like this is a musuem that so many people would enjoy. I know that Ramen noodles are incredibly popular in the United States when you don't really feel like cooking or just want to save money. I like how interactive it is where you make your own noodle dish.
ReplyDeleteRight now, there are so many variations of cup noodles and I haven't tried most of them!
DeleteI got to know only a month or so ago that Ramen noodles came from Japan, and not China. And now through your article, I knew that they got a museum about that. Love learning about Japan through your blog. I would surely visit this place if I go to Japan.
ReplyDeleteI love how you started the story in your childhood! When we went on our first trip to Japan in 2012 we also visited a cup noodle museum dedicated to Momofuko Ando, it was in Osaka. We went to Yokohama on our third trip to Japan in 2016 and I had planned to visit the museum there as I think it's bigger with more activities, but we didn't manage it. I loved reading about your visit, especially the noodle bazaar!
ReplyDeleteThank you Kavey! Most of my travel stories are inspired by my childhood who dreamed of travelling the world and carrying all my Mother's teaching in my pocket.
DeleteI had no idea there was a cupnoodle museum, but this actually sounds really fun! I love quirky and unexpected museums like this. It's so cool to learn about the history of something that is so common and mundane to us. You never really think about how it started and developed. The DIY package sounds really fun as well, I'd love to try to make my own cupnoodles.
ReplyDeleteWhich makes Japan more interesting to visit. I am now looking for more quirky museum that we can visit in the future.
DeleteWow!! Never thought that could exist a cupnoodles museum, if I will be nearby, I surely visit it!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like a beautiful experience, to try ;)
Thanks for sharing this
hope you could visit next year!
DeleteNever imagined there can be a museum for Cup Noodles too. They are major hit for snacks time in my house. I may spend more time at Level 3 for the interactive experience. A great way to learn the art of making it. Noodle obstacle challenge for kids sounds interesting.
ReplyDeletekids love it! Especially the DIY cup noodles.
DeleteWhaaaaatt? I've never heard of such a museum, but what a FUN place. And to eat noodles afterwards...like what else should you do? Ha! Such a fun place to visit. <3
ReplyDeleteThanks Jennifer! Hope you can visit this museum soon!
DeleteSuffice to say, I know the first place that I'm going when these restrictions are lifted! Funny enough, I've actually been there as well, and it's a fun little museum to go and check out!
ReplyDeleteIt's awesome! Pity that we didn't make it to the nearby attraction. They placed it on-hold due to the rain.
DeleteWow. This is like the most unique thing I have read in a while. I love the part where you can make your own cup noodles.
ReplyDeleteI still have it! And a great reminder of fun times in Yokohama :)
DeleteThis is fun and exciting. We have never been to the cupnoodles museum but we will make sure to include this in our itinerary during our next Japan trip. I'm sure my kids would enjoy this.
ReplyDeleteOh I miss Japan! Hope we can visit again :)
DeleteJapan has some of the coolest museums and exhibits. This seems super interesting and unique.
ReplyDeleteSo true! Thanks for visiting!
DeleteThis is quite an interesting visit. I enjoyed reading about the history of the brand. Such a humble story. The museum seems well curated with not just how the brand evolved but the whole set up of Mamafuku's workshop. Thanks for sharing this
ReplyDeleteNo wonder Momofuku's employees are very proud working in this noodle factory and museum.
DeleteI've never thought that there could be a museum of Cupnoodles and your pictures speak for itself how splendid your entire experience was! I loved that DIY Cupnoodles and it sounds so much fun. I'd love to visit this museum!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you like my blog!
DeleteOh wow! It's wild what unique and quirky museums you can find around the world! I'm a foodie in my travels so a visit to this muesum would defintely intruge mw!
ReplyDeletewonderful! Hope you can visit Japan soon!
DeleteWow this thing is huge for such a niche museum. "Don't touch the exhibits". More like don't eat the exhibits :)). I haven't had ramen for quite a long time, I'll probably thing about it for the rest of the day.
ReplyDeleteI agree! Cup Noodles is huge part of the Japanese culture.
DeleteThis is the first time i've heard of a cup noodles museum. It looks quite quirky and intriguing. Definitely one of the most unique attractions not just in Japan but anywhere in the world. Would surely visit here whenever we're in Japan
ReplyDeleteJapan will be open to the world soon!
DeleteI am a big fan of Noodles too. I enjoyed reading your blog ung feeling na parang nakapunta narin ako dun. I want to try it especially ung ikaw mismo magdesign ng cup mo and you can choose from different flavor. Sana ma try ko din yan soon.
ReplyDeleteUntil now yung cupnoodles ko buhay pa! Iniingatan kong wag ma-consume :) LOL
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