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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
