Cup Noodles Museum Yokohama

The Cup Noodles Museum in Yokohama is an experiential food education museum themed around "Creative Thinking," inspired by Momofuku Ando, the founder of Nissin Foods, who created the world’s first instant ramen, "Chicken Ramen." The museum aims to stimulate the creativity and curiosity that lie within each child and foster it in a fun way, designed as a place to cultivate future creativity through the history of inventions and experiential attractions.

**Museum Philosophy and Foundation**

The main building is a facility that embodies Ando's long-held wish to "teach children the importance of invention and discovery." Following the opening of the Instant Ramen Museum in Ikeda, Osaka in 1999, the Yokohama location opened in 2011 in the Minato Mirai area. The creative direction is managed by art director Kashiwa Sato, encompassing everything from architectural design to exhibition concepts and logo creation. The logo’s exclamation mark “!” symbolizes the surprise of invention, the joy of discovery, and the budding of creativity.

**Experience Ando Momofuku’s Life and Invention Story**

The museum presents Ando's inventions and the thought processes behind them in an easy-to-understand manner.

- **MOMOFUKU TV**

Through a 14-minute CG animation, visitors can learn about the importance of creative thinking through Ando's life, covering concepts such as "observation," "inspiration," "simplification," "trial and error," "speed," and "perseverance."

- **Replicating the Research Hut**

The museum meticulously recreates the hut that Ando built in his backyard in Ikeda, Osaka. It conveys the passion and perseverance he had in continuing his research with just four hours of sleep, ultimately leading to the completion of "Chicken Ramen."

- **History of Invention Exhibition**

The history of the development from Chicken Ramen to Cup Noodles and then to the space food "Space Ram" is presented chronologically. Anecdotes, such as the inspiration for Cup Noodles from Ando's experience of breaking Chicken Ramen and eating it from a paper cup during a visit to the U.S., are also highlighted.

**Evolution of Instant Ramen and Its Journey to "World Food"**

Ando generously shared the manufacturing concepts and the "Instant Oil Heating Drying Method" he invented, leading to the global spread of instant ramen. The exhibition introduces various advancements, including the innovative techniques behind space food noodles designed for consumption in microgravity environments.

**Diverse Experiential Attractions**

Learning through experiences is a major charm of the museum.

- **Chicken Ramen Factory (Reservation Required)**

Visitors can experience the process of mixing powder, rolling out dough, making and frying noodles by hand. This attraction is aimed at those in elementary school and is popular with families.

- **My Cup Noodles Factory**

Guests can design their own cups and choose from four types of soup and twelve ingredients to create a unique cup noodle. The manufacturing process, from noodle sets to sealing and shrink-wrapping, can be seen, and the finished product can be taken home in an air package.

**Taste the World's Noodle Culture at "World Noodle Road"**

Inspired by Asian night markets, the "NOODLES BAZAAR - World Noodle Road" allows visitors to sample a variety of noodle dishes from around the world in smaller portions. The countries and menus may change, but it is a popular spot to experience diverse noodle cultures from China, Thailand, Vietnam, Italy, and more.

**Space Design to Experience "Creative Thinking"**

The movement lines within the museum, the layout of the exhibitions, and the graphic designs are structured to allow visitors to retrace Ando's thought processes. Sections highlight pivotal moments in his life, and wall displays summarize the history of instant ramen, ensuring new discoveries with each visit.

**A Museum Integrating Learning, Experience, and Food**

The museum’s goal is not just to learn about the history of food but to provide an experience of "the joy of thinking for oneself and creating." The exhibitions are available in multiple languages, making them accessible to both domestic and international visitors. It is a unique facility where one can encounter Ando's invention story, experience a sense of achievement through hands-on activities, and enjoy the diversity of the world's noodle culture, merging learning and play seamlessly.