Japan is well-known for the way in which it glorifies the peculiar - to which the Yokohama Cup Noodles Museum is no exception. Situated in the peaceful portside city of Yokohama, the museum pays tribute to longtime Japanese hero, Momofuku Ando (1910-2007), the father of instant ramen.
Today Cup Noodles are an internationally recognized brand; they have revolutionized our ways of eating, and transformed our relationship to food. At the Yokohama Cup Noodles Museum, you are encouraged to embark upon a journey of creativity. A series of engaging exhibits encourage you to play and have fun, embarking on the same path of discovery and invention as our beloved Mr. Ando.
The museum's most enthralling exhibit, 'My Cup Noodles Factory', allows you to design your own Cup Noodles soup inside-out. A mere ¥300 gives you your ticket to create the Cup Noodles of your dreams, selecting soups and toppings from a potential 5,460 flavor combinations! You can also give your personal touch to the outside of the package, drawing on the cup with a variety of special colorful markers.
For those after an even greater hands-on, experience, there is the 'Chicken Ramen Factory'. At the Chicken Ramen Factory, where you are invited to make chicken ramen by hand - kneading, spreading, and steaming the wheat flour, then drying it with a hot oil drying method. Even better yet, you get to put your ramen to the test by taking it home to enjoy later. Note that to participate in this experience you're required to book ahead on the Cup Noodles Museum website or by phone reservation.
Today we can but wonder what the world would be like if it were not for Momofuku Ando's intrepid spirit of invention. With a range of fascinating and engaging exhibits, the Yokohama Cup Noodles Museum is sure to delight people of all ages, and is a must-see attraction during a stay in Yokohama.
The Yokohama Cup Noodles Museum is best accessed by train, being an 8 minute walk from Minatomirai and Bashamichi Stations on the Minatomirai line. Alternatively, the museum is also just a 12 minute walk from JR Shieichikatetsu Sakuragicho Station.
