Cup Noodles Museum

What to know

The Cup Noodles Museum, officially known as the Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum, is a lively and interactive attraction in Yokohama's Minato Mirai district. It celebrates the invention of instant ramen noodles through playful exhibits and hands-on workshops. Opened by Nissin Foods, the company founded by Momofuku Ando who created instant ramen in 1958, this is the second such museum in Japan; the first is in Ikeda, near Osaka.

Visitors can watch a short film on the history of instant noodles, see a replica of the shed where they were invented, and explore a visual timeline of instant noodle products from around the world. A small collection of modern art pieces reflects Nissin's innovative spirit, including exhibits on Cup Noodles (instant ramen in a styrofoam cup) and Space Ramen developed for astronauts.

The museum offers several activities, most notably the My Cupnoodles Factory workshop, where you can design your own cup noodle by choosing soup flavors and toppings. This costs 500 yen and may sell out on busy days. The Chicken Ramen Factory workshop lets you make instant ramen noodles from scratch, package them, and take them home. It takes about 90 minutes, costs 1000 yen for adults, and requires advance reservations.

Other highlights include Cupnoodles Park (500 yen for 25 minutes), a children's playground designed like a factory where kids pretend to be noodles being made and shipped. The Noodles Bazaar is a food court styled as an Asian night market, with the sounds of hawkers and traffic. It serves noodle dishes and canned drinks from around the world, with small portions allowing you to sample various flavors at 500 yen per dish.

The Cup Noodles Museum is a 10-minute walk from either Minato Mirai Station on the Minato Mirai Line (3 minutes, 200 yen from Yokohama Station) or Sakuragicho Station on the JR Negishi Line (3 minutes, 160 yen from Yokohama Station) and Yokohama Subway Line.

The Akaikutsu Loop Bus connects Sakuragicho Station with nearby Landmark Plaza, Pacifico Convention Center, World Porters (across from the museum), Red Brick Warehouses, and other central Yokohama sights. It costs 220 yen per ride.