Experience making your own instant noodles at the Cup Noodles Museum! Explore the history of instant noodles with Artur and discover Ikeda City's famous Chicken Ramen creations.

A five-minute walk from Ikeda Station will take you to the Cup Noodles Museum Osaka Ikeda. Its official name is the Momofuku Ando Invention Memorial Museum Osaka Ikeda, and it embodies the desire of Momofuku Ando, ​​the founder of Nissin Food Products, to "convey the importance of invention and discovery."

As you walk through the entrance hall, the "Instant Ramen Tunnel" appears before your eyes. The impressive array of packaging from across the walls offers a panoramic view of the evolution of instant ramen, from the original Chicken Ramen to the current lineup of products on sale. This colorful and photogenic exhibit is one of the museum's most popular photo spots.

The next area provides easy-to-understand explanations of the themes "Momofuku Ando and the Story of Instant Ramen," "The Birth of Chicken Ramen," and "Instant Ramen Around the World." One of the most notable booths is the one that introduces the story of how Ando continued to develop instant ramen in a shed in his backyard. His passion for manufacturing is evident from the recreated shed and research tools.

Artur was impressed by the depth of the history of instant ramen and said, "I want to try making instant ramen myself!" He headed to the popular experience corner, "My Cup Noodles Factory."

Inside the museum, there are two experience booths: the Chicken Ramen Factory (elementary school students: 600 yen including tax / junior high school students and above: 1,000 yen including tax *1,200 yen including tax after January 31st) and the My Cup Noodle Factory (500 yen including tax per meal). The latter does not require advance reservations, and the appeal is that you can experience it anytime with a numbered ticket distributed on site.

Once you hand your illustrated cup to the staff, it will be set in a special machine, and after the noodles are poured in, the soup and toppings will be added. You can choose one of four soup types (Cup Noodle flavor, seafood, curry, chili tomato) and four toppings from 12 types.

Artur immediately decided on the "seafood" soup. However, he was at a loss as to what ingredients to choose, saying, "I can't narrow it down to four! I want to add them all!" He finally chose shrimp, crab-flavored kamaboko, egg, and chick naruto. "Please add lots of chick naruto," he asked the staff with a smile.

The final step is the "air packaging" process. The Cup Noodles are placed in a special plastic bag and air is pumped in with a small pump, creating a cushioned package that protects them from shocks. It also comes with a strap that can be worn around the neck, making it a popular souvenir.

Having completed his "My Cup Noodles," Artur said with a beaming smile, "This is a real treasure," and left the factory satisfied, saying, "I'd like to try it, but it would be too precious to throw it away!"

Another popular attraction alongside the "My Cup Noodle Factory" we experienced this time is the "Chicken Ramen Factory," where you can experience making authentic noodles. This requires advance reservations. Please make your reservation early as it is very popular.

You can take home the noodles you make in an original package, and it's a great experience to compare the taste of your own "My Chicken Ramen" with the commercially available flavor. Artur was also very interested, saying, "I definitely want to try this next time!"

The museum also has a "Museum Shop" with limited edition goods and souvenirs that can only be purchased here. The most popular items are "Hiyoko-chan" goods, such as mugs, eco-bags, and stationery, all of which are cute and make perfect souvenirs. Aromatherapy products and sketchbooks are also popular among tourists from overseas. There are also other items such as instant ramen-themed miscellaneous goods and miniature models, which are fun to just look at.

Ikeda City is currently running a project called "Osaka Ikeda Chiki Chiki Expedition" (hereafter "Chiki Chiki Expedition"), in which restaurants in the city introduce creative dishes using Chicken Ramen. As an initiative to allow the whole city to enjoy the flavors of these inventions, the project involves local residents and tourists in revitalizing the city by creating a food tour map, a stamp rally, and holding pop-up events.

After learning the story behind the creation of Chicken Ramen at the Cup Noodles Museum Osaka Ikeda, we recommend trying the collaborative menu introduced by the Chiki Chiki Explorers and rediscovering the new charms of Chicken Ramen.

This time, we will introduce some snacks that are perfect for eating on the go, and Gunkan Sushi, a unique collaboration with Chicken Ramen!

The Ikeda Tourist Information Center serves as an antenna base for the Chiki Chiki Exploration Team and promotes collaboration menus using Ikeda's famous Chicken Ramen. There is a kitchen and eat-in space here, where you can enjoy light meals. The most popular item is the Chiki Chiki Soft Serve (400 yen including tax). This limited edition dessert, made with vanilla soft serve topped with crushed Chicken Ramen, can only be enjoyed here. When you eat it, the sweet and salty flavor, combined with the caramel sauce, fills your mouth, creating an exquisite taste.

Another popular menu item is Ikeda's specialty "Ike Kara (450 yen including tax)," which uses Chicken Ramen in the batter, making it twice as crispy and characterized by its crunchy texture. The juicy yet light-tasting chicken breast meat is complemented by the subtle soy sauce flavor of Chicken Ramen, leaving you wanting more. It is also very popular as a snack for tourists to eat on the go.

At the long-established Ikeda City restaurant, Yasubei Sushi, they are quietly creating a buzz with their unique gunkan sushi, an adaptation of Chicken Ramen, that has both adults and children hooked.

The Chicken Ramen Gunkanmaki is a surefire combination of sushi rice topped with crushed Chicken Ramen and finished with a quail's egg yolk. Just eat it as is, and the soy sauce flavor from the Chicken Ramen will exquisitely bring out the flavor of the egg yolk.

It's more like a snack than a meal, and the owner says, "Both adults and children gobble it up." Artur was amazed at how delicious it was!

It can be enjoyed not only by people who like Chicken Ramen and sushi, but also by people who don't like raw fish. It's a dish that's full of the kind of ideas and thoughtfulness that you'd expect from a sushi restaurant, and it seems to have many fans among both locals and tourists.

As of December 12, 2025, there are 33 restaurants in Ikeda City that offer original menu items using Chicken Ramen. For example, Patisserie Montagne's crispy sweets topped with crushed Chicken Ramen, and Kissa Luck's Kissa Ramen-flavored toast, are just some of the attractions of Ikeda.

We recommend picking up a food tour map published by Chiki Chiki Tankentai at the tourist information center and using it as a reference when touring each store!

Arthur was also impressed, saying, "It feels like the whole town is promoting Chicken Ramen. It's so interesting!"

If you look down at your feet while walking through the town of Ikeda, you might come across Chicken Ramen's character, "Hiyoko-chan."

The manhole cover has a pop and adorable design based on yellow, and is perfect for posting on social media. Try to find it near Hankyu Ikeda Station or the Cup Noodles Museum Osaka Ikeda.

At the Osaka Ikeda Guest Information Center located inside the station, you can get a free "Manhole Card" with this manhole motif. Why not pick one up as a memento of your trip?

During this trip to Ikeda, we learned about the history and manufacturing process of Chicken Ramen, as well as the importance of invention and discovery, at the Cup Noodles Museum Osaka Ikeda, and then sampled various gourmet dishes scattered around the city. Whether it was the exhibits, the experiences, or the food, we were able to experience the new appeal of Chicken Ramen and the spirit of craftsmanship everywhere.

What we came into contact with through Chicken Ramen was the spirit of enjoying ideas freely and the ability to give shape to curiosity. The "passion for creativity" that Momofuku Ando held dear seems to be alive and well not only in the museum, but also in the restaurants, initiatives, and designs of the town.

Whether it's the museum or the original menu of the Chiki Chiki Explorers, Ikeda's appeal lies in the way it not only conveys history or introduces products, but also excites visitors and makes them enjoy the experience.

Walking brings new discoveries, eating brings surprises, and cooking brings smiles.

The warmth and fun that can only be found in this "city of invention" made this trip even more memorable.