The Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum Ikeda, also known, as the Cup Noodles Museum Osaka, is a small museum that showcases the history of instant noodles and the Cup Noodle brand. Inside, there is also a brief section on the so called ‘father of cup noodles’ Momofuku Ando, who had created instant noodles in his shed.
Cup Noodles came to be following WWII, when the economy of Japan was weak, and people were subsiding on handouts of bread from the United States. At the time, despite noodles being more familiar to the Japanese than bread, there was simply not a sustainable supply of noodles to the people, as it was too costly to produce enough to meet the demand.
It was this shortage of cheap and easily accessible noodles in which Instant noodles were born from. Ando began working on a solution to the shortage in his shed, which can be seen in the form of a faithful recreation at the museum. After months of arduous trial and error, the first rendition of instant noodles were available on the market. In 1958 – the year of release onto the market – the instant noodles had a market value of 35JPY.
At the Cup Noodle Museum Ikeda, there is a wall showcasing the various flavours of instant noodles now produced by Nissin Foods—the company Ando founded when he released instant noodles onto the market. This will also showcase the products’ progress and packaging over time.
The museum also has a tasting room where you can eat the various flavours of noodles available from the vending machines in the room.
However, possibly the most famous attraction of the Instant Ramen Museum is the MY CUPNOODLE Kitchen, where you can create your own unique cup noodle flavour and later eat your creation when desired.
Many of the Exhibits at the cup noodle museum are in Japanese, but there is English audio guides and pamphlets available on-site.
Hours and Admission
- Hours: 9:30am-4:30pm (Closed Tuesdays)
- Free (500JPY for creation of own cup noodle flavour)
- Average Time Spent: 30-60 minutes
- Official Website
Accessing the Instant Ramen Museum
The Instant Ramen Musuem is a short walk south from Ikeda Station, a major stop along the Hankyu Line. You can get to Ikeda Station by taking the Hankyu railway from Umeda Station, to Ikeda Station for 270JPY along the Hankyu-Takarazawa line. This journey will take only 20 minutes via train, with an additional 5 minutes of walking from Ikeda Station.
Discover Japan like never before with the Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass), your ticket to seamless travel across the Japan. Unlock the full potential of Japan’s extensive rail network, renowned for its punctuality, comfort, and convenience.
Discover Japan like never before with the Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass), your ticket to seamless travel across the Japan. Unlock the full potential of Japan’s extensive rail network, renowned for its punctuality, comfort, and convenience. Read More…
Forget the hassle of purchasing individual tickets for every journey. The JR Pass offers exceptional value for money, available in flexible durations ranging from 7 to 21 days, allowing you to tailor your travel experience to suit your itinerary. Read More…
English