Slurp Some Noodle History at the Osaka Instant Ramen Museum

Instant ramen is beloved all over the world, but do you know the story of its invention in Japan?

The first instant ramen in the world, “Chicken Ramen”, released in 1958, was invented by Mr. Momofuku Andō. He later founded Nissin Foods, and was responsible for the development of Cup Noodles.

Today we will take a look at his life and at the history of instant ramen, by using Google Street View.

Learn About What Led To The Creation of Instant Ramen

There is no better place to learn about the history of instant ramen than the Instant Ramen Museum, located in Ikeda City in Osaka Prefecture. It is a museum where you can find out about Momofuku Andō's life and about the history of instant ramen.

The museum is located a five-minute walk away from Ikeda Station on the Hankyū Takarazuka Line. It takes up to 20 minutes from Umeda Station to Ikeda Station, so it is quite accessible from the heart of Osaka.

Place your cursor on the above picture, then click and drag to see the actual scenery unfold before your eyes.

There is a bronze statue of Momofuku Andō outside the museum. His copper visage stands on top of a Cup Noodles cup, clutching a package of Chicken Ramen in its hand; both were created by Mr. Andō. It is a slightly odd statue, but you could say that its shape is the highest form of praise for his contributions to the food industry.

Well, let’s head inside.

As you enter the front of the exhibition space, a small wooden shed will come into view. This is the shed from the garden of Mr. Andō’s home. In this shed, he worked on the development of Chicken Ramen. You can view the inside of the shed, but there are not necessarily any special devices inside. This shed shows that even with common tools, the application of intelligence, creative expression and problem-solving techniques can invent something world-changing.

To the right of the shed where Chicken Ramen was developed, there is a wall exhibit titled “The Story of Mr. Andō and Instant Ramen.” Here, you can follow Mr. Andō’s steps, from his initial plan to develop instant ramen to how he spread it across the globe.

TV screens, the former noodle-making machines and other displays are incorporated into this easy-to-follow exhibit. By passing through here, you will acquire a deeper understanding of how Mr. Andō’s genius was not limited to recipe development for Chicken Ramen, but also encompassed effective product distribution methods and marketing techniques.

The exhibit on the opposite wall, known as “The Instant Ramen Tunnel,” is a display of the historical product lineup of Nissin Foods. Successive generations of product packaging are lined up on this wall in chronological order. By looking at this exhibit, you will learn how much Nissin Foods has evolved from its beginnings with Chicken Ramen and Cup Noodles.

A Place Where You Can Make An Original Cup Noodles Recipe!

After exiting the exhibit area about Mr. Ando’s history, you will enter a spacious food court-like area. This is the “My Cup Noodles Factory,” where you can freely choose a soup flavor and different topping types in order to make a Cup Noodles variety that is uniquely yours. The idea is that after learning about Mr. Ando’s life and the history of instant ramen, you can experience the convenience and taste of his life’s work for yourself.

Check Out Cup Noodles All Over the World

In a corner of the “My Cup Noodles Factory,” there is a very interesting installation which shows how Cup Noodles, first created in 1971, are now flourishing in international markets. This exhibit shows various Cup Noodles packages from all over the world. From the tom yam kung flavor sold in Thailand to the mini-sized Cup Noodles sold in the Philippines for smaller meal sizes, you can see the different packages that have been adapted in response to domestic conditions and tastes.

Instant ramen was created in a small wooden shed, and is now such a successful product that approximately a hundred billion cups are sold in one year. From following its history, we can realize that the vital ingredients for great inventions are not special tools and materials, but creative expression and the ability to solve problems. For those of you who have seen the Street View, while eating some Cup Noodles tonight, how about imagining the feelings of those great people who came before you?

Information

Momofuku Andō Instant Ramen Museum (インスタントラーメン発明記念館)

Address: Osaka, Ikeda, Masumi-chō 8-25
Operating hours: 9:30  -16:00 (last entry at 15:30)
Fixed holidays: Tuesdays (when a national holiday falls on a Tuesday, the museum will close the following day) and the New Year’s Holiday
Wi-Fi access: None
Credit cards accepted: Cash only
Foreign language support: Chinese and English
Foreign language menus: English and Simplified Chinese pamphlets
Closest station: Ikeda Station (池田駅) on the Hankyū Takarazuka Line
Access: Five minutes’ walk from the Masumi-chō exit of Ikeda Station
Admission: Free (attractions have a separate charge)
Religion: N/A
Phone number: +81-72-752-3484
Official website: Momofuku Andō Instant Ramen Museum