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Exploring Cup Noodles Museum Yokohama

Let’s take an explore today The Cup Noodles Museum in Yokohama, Japan. It is an interactive museum dedicated to the popular instant noodle brand. The museum is located in the Minato Mirai area, and provides a mix of galleries, audio-visual and cup-noodle hands-on experience.

cup and ramen noodles.
A vast portfolio of cup and ramen noodles on display at start.

Furthermore, established in 2011, the museum was built to commemorate the invention of instant noodles by Momofuku Ando in 1958. Furthermore, the Cup Noodle Museum is part of a larger network of food museums in Japan.

Cup Noodles Museum Yokohama
Welcome to the Cup Noodles Museum Yokohama.

This one in Yokohama was created by Nissin Foods to celebrate its impact on global food culture. It offers a unique look into the history of instant noodles, their invention, and their global influence.

Cup Noodles Museum Cavernous lobby
Cavernous lobby greets you at the ticketing counter and museum gift shop area.

Upon entering, you are greeted by a vast zen-like wooden staircase at a cavernous wooden-floored lobby, gift shop and ticketing area which leads up to the start of the museum section.

Vast lobby staircase
Vast zen-like wooden lobby staircase.
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Museum exterior
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Entry tickets
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Museum lobby gift shop

Also, the museum building itself spans over 7 floors, each with a point of interest. The cup noodle factory and ramen making kitchen is on the 3rd floor. While the play areas are based on the 4th floor. The museum starts on the 2nd floor and run through in a logical and linear fashion.

exploring museum
Making your way around is fairly straightforward and well-marked and accessible.

Learn how Cup noodles were invented

Furthermore, the museum also features exhibits that explore the history of instant noodles. A dedicated section showcases the story of Momofuku Ando’s innovation. It explains how he developed the flash-frying method, which became the key to producing instant noodles quickly.

Timeline gallery
Timeline museum gallery on the second floor of the cup noodle museum.

This invention revolutionized the food industry, making noodles a convenient meal option for people worldwide. Exhibits also show thoughts of inspiration, with some elements of modern art, and how cup noodles expanded globally, adapting to various regional tastes.

Instant Noodles History Cube
Instant Noodles History Cube with walls of cup noodle products produced since the company founding.

You start your journey into the museum’s Instant Noodles History Cube. It is a holding gallery with every cup noodle variant made. Also, this exhibit presents the evolution of instant noodles over time. Lined on the wall chronologically are hundreds of noodle packages from different decades.

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Cup noodles through the times
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The first noodle products
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Nissan entire product range

Also, it illustrates the growth and changing designs of instant noodle packaging across various cultures. The sheer number of products demonstrates how widespread and beloved instant noodles have become.

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Introductory theater
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Ando animated
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Find things which don’t exist yet

Here, you follow onto a red room where a 20-minute video introduction is played covering how the founder of created the idea of the instant noodles. Also, it constantly speaks of innovation, presumably in hope of inspiring future generations. You exit out of the video screening area in the permanent display galleries.

A journey of Japanese innovation

Furthermore, the museum is designed with a modern, clean layout. It uses interactive displays and visuals to engage all ages. Informative signs are placed throughout, offering a deeper understanding of the exhibits.

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Momofuku Ando kitchen hut
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Nicely themed
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Nissin Logo

Moreover, the exhibition follows into a chronological timeline of the various milestones in the progress. Here, the story tells of Momofuku sharing the secret of the patents of the flash frying of noodles so as Japan can collectively distribute food further without spoiling. It was a solution to solve the food issues after the second world war.

Mockup of flash frying process.
Mockup of flash frying process in a mock-up hut belonging to Momofuku.
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Thoughts of inspiration
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Flash frying process
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Audio visual elements

Also, when things became more mainstream, the Instant noodles were well known as means to solve the issue of offering quick nutritious meals to busy people in the go in ramen shops, which were often packed and painful to dine in.

Galleries of inspiration

There is that much you can share about the invention of cup noodles, so the galleries generally revolve about a recurring theme of inspiring perseverance. Something relatable in Japanese culture.

Words of Inspiration
Words of Inspiration or future generations in the museum.

Additionally, the galleries paints the ideology of problem solving and creativity, which grew into a billion-dollar worldwide business and the birth of Nissin and the Cup Noodles brand.

For the record, initially, the cup noodles were sold as rectangular noodle cakes we see in packet ramen noodles, it was not after exporting the noodles to foreign countries, where recommendation by Americans came to convert the packaging to be consumed into a convenient cup we see today. The displays ends with a statue of the late founder Momofuku Ando.

Momofuku Ando statue
Momofuku Ando statue at the end of the level 2 museum display piece.

Moreover, the museum atmosphere is lively, with families, school groups, and tourists bustling about. Also, the hands-on activities encourage engagement, and the overall environment feels educational but fun.

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Quirky perspective light projection
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Forced perspective room
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There is also Modern art

Also, the museum successfully combines learning with interactive experiences, making it suitable for a wide range of visitors. It is worth noting that while the museum’s primary language is Japanese, many displays provide English translations. This makes it accessible to international tourists, ensuring everyone can enjoy the experience.

Cup Noodle Factory- Make your very own cup noodles

Cup Noodles Museum Cup Noodle Factory
The vast Cup Noodle Factory ground is always crowded and packed with visitors.

Moreover, a highlight of the Cup Noodle Factory is the “My Cup Noodles Factory” activity. Here, you can customize the exterior design and make your own personalised flavour of cup noodles. Just like in sterile Japanese efficiency, the Cup Noodle Factory process is highly automated but with a human-touch.

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500 yen to start
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Work of art yea?
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Flavorful condiment choices

The 500 yen for this experience area is not paid upfront at the ticketing counter but rather begins by purchase your base cup from a vending machine here at level 3. Do note you still need a Cup Noodle Factory time slot ticket from the lobby ticketing to enter this area.

Customise your cup
You be given markers to colour and customise your cup.

Furthermore, after purchasing your 500 yen empty cup, you are led by staff to a design table with markers where you can draw and decorate tour personalized cup using assortment of coloured markers provided to you. Also, you can decorate your cup to your liking as long you keep your doodling within the boundary confines of the cup exterior.

Personalised flavours
Choose your Personalised flavours.

At the doodle table you can find a menu selection of soup flavours and ingredients you can choose to mix and match for your own creation. There are many combination to be had and there are no right or wrong combinations. You be ready to assemble and package your cup noodles next.

Assembling your cup noodles

Cup noodle factory counter
Cup noodle factory central counter where you order and watch your cup noodles being hand-assembled.

Thereafter, when you are ready and done with decorating your cup, next you proceed to the central counter manned by staff members to choose from a selection of ingredients and flavours. Also, unlike cup noodles which are all factory made, the cup here is sealed and packaged right in front of you by hand, aided by some form of automation.

Fresh noodle cakes
Fresh noodle cakes rolling out for the factory.

Moreover, the process is simple, you choose a base flavour which is the soup stock, and a variety of ingredients such as dehydrated meats and vegetables all packed in your custom decorated cup.

Verifying your mix
Staff verifying your mix before being sealed for your takeaway.

Additionally, this spot activity is popular among visitors, allowing you to bring home a unique souvenir. You package your noodles into an inflatable transparent bag which you can inflate using pumps provided. Also, I would recommend not to over inflate your bag as you might have problems storing or bringing the bulk home after.

Bubble packed!
Bubble packed!

Besides the Noodle Factory is the Chicken Ramen Factory noodle making hands-on kitchen. For 1,000 yen, you can have a go attend a noodle making class. Also, this activity also requires a timeslot ticket to attend. If you are undecided on which activity to attend, I recommend at least attending the Cup Noodle Factory.

Chicken Ramen Factory session
Chicken Ramen Factory session offers a more hands on noodle making experience.
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Wrapper sealed
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4th Floor viewing area
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Cup noodles kids park

Noodles Bazaar, World Noodles Road

Wrapping up the upper 4th floor of the museum is the Cup noodles Park (500 yen per entry). It is an activity play area and works of art as filler to paint the idea of taking a different perspective in problem solving.

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4th floor Noodles Bazaar
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Ando global culinary tour
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Thai inspiration

Moreover, one notable feature of the museum is the Noodles Bazaar at the 4th floor. It is home to an international food court themed after South East Asian outdoor eatery complete with, possibly form the various adventures of Mr Momofuku Ando on his worldwide culinary tour. Also here, servings of noodles here cost 500 yen, where you can sample noodles from different countries.

Modeled after South East Asian street food
Modeled after South East Asian street food.

This food court-style area offers a variety of noodle dishes inspired by global recipes. It highlights the international appeal of noodles, with dishes from countries like Thailand, Italy, and Vietnam, where noodles transcend cultural barriers and have been embraced in many forms globally.

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Food court sectors
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Authentic collections
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That’s all folks!

Wrapping up

All in all, that wraps up our visit of the Cup Noodle Factory in Yokohama. It does offer an insightful look into the world of instant noodles. With its accessible layout, diverse exhibits, and international, the museum area is not too big and you be done exploring the museum in about 2 hours tops.

Its exhibits trace the history of this global food staple, from its invention by Momofuku Ando to its worldwide success. I found the museum’s blend of education and entertainment makes it a unique yet distinctive Japanese quirky showcase of food culture and history. Definitely one to check out in Yokohama City.

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