Cup Noodles Museums: Make Your Own Instant Ramen

Two museums, one in Yokohama and one in Ikeda near Osaka, let visitors design a cup or make chicken ramen from scratch.

Published October 26, 2026 at 11:16 AM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: Japan has two Cup Noodles Museums, one in Yokohama and one in Ikeda, Osaka Prefecture, both celebrating instant ramen inventor Momofuku Ando. At the Yokohama museum visitors can design their own cup, and at either museum they can make Chicken Ramen from scratch in a reservation-only workshop. Yokohama charges about 500 yen for adults, while the Osaka Ikeda museum is free to enter with paid activities.

Instant noodles are so common that it is easy to forget they had an inventor, a date and a story. The Cup Noodles Museums turn that story into a hands-on outing where children and adults can design, make and taste their own versions. Two locations, one in the port city of Yokohama and the other in Ikeda, north of Osaka, offer similar activities with different strengths. This guide compares them, explains how the workshops work, and gives practical tips on tickets, access and timing.

Who Invented Instant Ramen

Both museums honor Momofuku Ando, the founder of Nissin Foods. He launched the world's first instant ramen, Chicken Ramen, in August 1958 after months of trial and error with a method of drying noodles by frying them quickly. In 1971 he introduced Cup Noodles, which came in a waterproof container that doubled as a bowl.

That second invention explains why the museums feel so playful. A cup that holds the noodles, the soup and the toppings is easy to carry and easy to decorate. The idea reached far beyond Japan, and today instant noodles are eaten around the world. Knowing the story makes the workshops feel like a small lesson in creativity and persistence.

The Yokohama Museum

The Yokohama museum is in the Minato Mirai waterfront area, a short walk from the station of the same name. Admission is around 500 yen for adults, and high school students and younger children enter free. It is open from the morning to early evening, with the last admission an hour before closing, and it is closed on Tuesdays and around the New Year.

Inside, the main attractions are workshops and play areas. My Cupnoodles Factory lets visitors design their own cup, choosing a soup flavor and toppings. Another attraction, Cupnoodles Park, is an athletic play space with age and height limits, and the Noodles Bazaar lets visitors sample noodles from around the world. Online tickets are sold in advance, and a limited number of numbered tickets are available at the entrance for same-day visits.

Design Your Own Cup

My Cupnoodles Factory is the activity most people picture first. Visitors design their own cup, choosing from four soup flavors and a selection of toppings from twelve options. The result is a personal souvenir that no one else will have.

The workshop is a paid activity that uses a numbered ticket at the museum, and it is popular, so arrive early on weekends and holidays. Prices and rules for this activity can change, so confirm them on the official page. A custom cup also makes a fun gift for friends who like unusual keepsakes.

Make Chicken Ramen from Scratch

The Chicken Ramen Factory is a more detailed workshop, available at both museums. Participants knead wheat flour dough, spread it thin, steam it, season it and then dry the noodles by flash frying, which retraces the steps of the original invention. It takes around an hour or more, so it suits patient visitors and families with older children.

This workshop requires a reservation, and there are age restrictions, so check the official page before booking. At the Osaka Ikeda museum, sessions run at set times through the day and take about seventy minutes, and booking ahead is strongly recommended. The result is a bag of chicken ramen that you made with your own hands, which is a memorable keepsake.

The Osaka Ikeda Museum

The second museum is in Ikeda, a city just north of Osaka where Ando did his work, and it is closely tied to the founder's story. A statue of Ando holding a packet of instant noodles stands there. Entry to the museum is free, though workshops carry a fee, and it is closed on Tuesdays and around the New Year.

Hours are shorter than at Yokohama, running from morning to late afternoon, so an early arrival is wise. From Osaka Umeda, the Hankyu Takarazuka Line express reaches Ikeda Station in about twenty minutes, and the museum is roughly a five minute walk from the station exit. The My Cupnoodles Factory is also available there with a numbered ticket.

Which Museum Should You Choose

If you are staying in Tokyo, the Yokohama museum is the easier choice, with a large play area and the option to sample world noodles. If you are based in Osaka, the Ikeda museum gives you a free entry and a more focused view of the invention story. Both offer the main workshops, so the best choice usually depends on your base and schedule.

Families with young children may prefer Yokohama for the play park, while enthusiasts of food history may enjoy the Ikeda setting. It is possible to visit both on a longer trip, although each deserves a half day if you take part in workshops. Check each museum's availability page, because workshops can sell out or pause for maintenance.

Practical Tips and Dietary Notes

Book Chicken Ramen sessions as early as possible, and bring a card or phone for online payments, since some tickets are sold only online. Arrive before the last entry time, which is earlier than the closing time. Check the museum's guidance on clothing and age limits for the cooking workshops.

Instant noodles contain wheat and often other allergens, and toppings vary by workshop. If anyone in your group has food allergies or dietary restrictions, ask the staff and read ingredient labels, because ingredients vary by item. Children's activities may have height or age limits, so check before you go.

Souvenirs and Memories

The cup that goes home with you is likely to be the best souvenir. Because the museums celebrate creativity, it is nice to bring a sketchbook or a simple idea for the cup design. Designing a cup is simple enough for most ages.

For a well-rounded trip, pair the Yokohama museum with a walk along the harbor or a visit to a ramen spot, and pair the Ikeda museum with a day in Osaka. Either way, the museums offer an easy and fun way to understand why a simple packet of noodles changed eating habits around the world.

Want to go deeper? Tokyo Paul's book Traditional, Regional & Creative Ramen Recipes is available on Amazon.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the Cup Noodles Museums in Japan?

There are two: the Cupnoodles Museum Yokohama in the Minato Mirai waterfront area, and the Cupnoodles Museum Osaka Ikeda in Ikeda City, Osaka Prefecture. Both are run by the company founded by Momofuku Ando, and both offer instant noodle workshops.

Can you make your own Cup Noodles?

Yes. At the Yokohama museum, My Cupnoodles Factory lets visitors design a cup and choose a soup and toppings, and the Ikeda museum offers a similar activity. The workshop uses a numbered ticket and a fee. Check the official page for current prices, hours and any age rules.

Do you need a reservation for the Chicken Ramen Factory?

Yes. The Chicken Ramen Factory requires a reservation, and it has age restrictions. Sessions take about an hour or more, and places are limited, so book as early as you can through the official museum page. Confirm times and prices before you travel.

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More guides from Tokyo Paul: Regional Ramen Styles: Sapporo, Hakata and Beyond, Tokyo Museums for Families: Science, Nature, Trains and Hands-On Fun and Gundam: Japan's Giant Robot Icon.