Discover Japan's Cup-type Instant Noodles: The Ultimate Convenience Food
Updated: Nov 21
HELLO, I'M AYU!
I am one of the staff members at Patia, where we offer cooking classes specifically designed for foreign tourists in Tokyo. I have two children, and I love cooking! I look forward to sharing my passion for cooking with you and making your experience in Japan truly memorable!
Hello, travelers! When you come to Japan, you should definitely try cup-type instant noodles (cup noodles in Japanese). Japanese instant noodles come in many variations and all have unique flavors. Moreover, they are available at affordable prices, making them perfect for a light snack or evening meal during your trip. In this blog, we will introduce the basic way of eating cup noodles and 5 cup noodles you must try when you visit Japan. We will also provide information about the Cup Noodles Museum where you can make your own cup noodles within an hour from Tokyo Station.
Table of Contents
What is Cup-type Instant Noodles
Cup-type instant noodles are food products that contain dried noodles and seasonings in a cup-shaped container and can be easily consumed by simply pouring hot water into the container.
3 Features of Cup Noodles
Easy to Eat Just pour hot water and eat in a few minutes, making them convenient for busy times, camping, traveling, etc.
Plenty of Choices A wide variety of flavors and ingredients are available, including soy sauce, miso, salt, curry, seafood, and many other flavors.
Long Expiration Date Dried noodles and seasonings can be stored for a long time and are popular as emergency food.
5 Best Cup-type Instant Noodles in Japan
Cup-type instant noodles are food products that allow people to enjoy delicious ramen easily. For today's busy people, cup noodles are extremely convenient, allowing them to have a satisfying meal in a short time. Here are 5 recommended cup noodles based on My Best's Ranking.
1. Ippudo Akamaru Shinmi Hakata Tonkotsu (From Seven & i Holdings)
Source: SEVEN PREMIUM
Ippudo Akamaru Shinmi Hakata Tonkotsu (一風堂赤丸新味博多とんこつ) is supervised by Ippudo, a ramen restaurant famous for its Hakata tonkotsu ramen. It is made with a pork bone broth blended with spicy miso, which is the key to its richness and sharpness.
The soup has a rich, thick tonkotsu flavor, and once you drink it, the mellow flavor will fill your mouth. The noodles are of a high quality, like fresh noodles, and are firm but also smooth and easy to eat with the soup.
Where to Buy - 7-eleven
2. Shinshu Miso Ramen (From Yamadai)
Source: Yamadai Corporation
Shinshu Miso Ramen (信州味噌ラーメン), the thick miso soup is made from 100% Shinshu miso, and has a tangy chili pepper flavor. The soup is rich, but not heavy, and can be drunk in large gulps. The noodles are chewy, smooth, and firm, and go well with the miso soup.
The ingredients include hearty meatballs and mushrooms, a feature not found in other cup noodles. If you like spicy miso soup, this is a must-try cup noodle.
Where to Buy - Super markets and drug stores
3. Nisshin Raoh Noko Torojuku Miso (From Nisshin Shokuhin)
Source: Nisshin
Nisshin Raoh Noko Torojuku Miso (日清ラ王とろ熟味噌) features a rich miso soup and thick, wavy noodles designed for a fresh noodle texture.
The slightly sweet miso soup, made with Hokkaido rice malt miso for 36% out of all, is rich and full-bodied. The noodles are firm and chewy, and the texture is enjoyable as well.
In addition to miso, there are soy sauce, salt, and tantan noodles, so be sure to check them out as well.
Where to Buy - Convenience stores, super markets and drug stores
4. Nisshin-men Nippon Hachioji Onion Shoyu Ramen (From Nisshin Shokuhin)
Source: Nisshin
Nisshin-men Nippon Tokyo Hachioji Onion Shoyu Ramen (日清麺Nippon東京八王子たまねぎ醤油ラーメン) features a soy sauce broth based on chicken stock with the aroma of simmered dried fish and the richness of oil, and medium-fine straight noodles that have a supple, fresh noodle texture.
The aroma of soy sauce wafts through the soup with just the right amount of fat, and the crunchy onions on top of the soup give it a special flavor. The soup has a refreshing and elegant flavor unique to soy sauce, but it is also full of richness.
Where to buy - Convenience stores, super markets and drug stores mainly in Tokyo
5. Maruchan Seimen Cup Hojun Koku Shoyu (From Toyo Suisan)
Source: Toyo Suisan
Maruchan Seimen Cup Hojun Koku Shoyu (マルちゃん正麺カップ
芳醇こく醤油) has smooth, firm, fresh noodles and a strong soy sauce broth with a hint of niboshi (dried sardines).
The soup has a rich lard aroma and a strong sense of richness. It can be recommended for those who prefer a rich soy sauce soup. Although it has a strong flavor, it is not peculiar and is easy to drink.
Where to Buy - Convenience stores, super markets and drug stores
How to Prepare Cup-type Instant Noodles
For those who are new to Japanese cup noodles, here is a simple and easy-to-follow explanation of how to eat them. Japanese cup noodles are easy to prepare and delicious, so please give them a try.
Preparing cup noodles First, get cup-type instant noodles. You can easily find them at convenience stores, supermarkets, and drugstores.
Check what you need - Cup noodles - Boiled water (some convenience stores and supermarkets provide free boiled water) - Chopsticks or fork
Open the lid of the cup of noodles. Open the lid halfway. Remove the bag containing the seasonings. If there is none, please go to the direction #5.
Add the seasonings. Pour the seasonings over the noodles. If there are multiple bags, check all the bags and follow the instructions. It may be added after the boiled water is poured in.
Pour hot water. A guide line is drawn on the inside of the cup. Pour boiled water up to this line.
Close the lid After pouring, put the lid back on and close it. Some noodles may have a seal to close the lid tightly.
Wait Wait for the time indicated on the lid (usually 3 to 5 minutes). During this time, the soup and noodles will be fully submerged in the hot water and become delicious.
Open the lid and eat After the time has elapsed, open the lid completely. Stir well with chopsticks.
Enjoy Use chopsticks to eat the noodles.
Cup Noodles Museum Yokohama
Source: Cup Noodles Museum
The Cup Noodles Museum is a hands-on museum where visitors can learn about the history and development of instant ramen. The workshop where visitors can make their own original "Cup Noodles", the only one of its kind in the world, is a particularly popular spot. There are two such museums in Japan: the Cup Noodles Museum Yokohama in Yokohama City and the Cup Noodles Museum Osaka in Ikeda City, Osaka Prefecture.
The Cup Noodles Museum Yokohama is about a 40-minute train ride from Tokyo Station to the nearest station, either Minatomirai Station or Bashamichi Station, and from there it is about an 8-minute walk. It is conveniently located, so why not visit the museum in conjunction with other tourist attractions?
Museum Hours
10:00 – 18:00 (Last admission is at 17:00)
Non-Business Days: Tuesday (in case Tuesday is a National Holiday, the following day will be a non-business day), Year-end through New Year Holidays
Admission Fee
Adults: 500 yen
High school age children and younger admitted free
Attraction Fees
Chicken Ramen Factory
Make Chicken Ramen by hand in the factory. Enjoy the entire process of kneading, spreading, steaming and seasoning the wheat flour and drying it with the flash frying method.
Elementary school students 600 yen
Adult (Junior high school students and older) 1,000 yen
My CUPNOODLES Factory
Create your own completely original CUPNOODLES package, which is unavailable anywhere else in the world. For the cup that you design, select your favorite soup from among four varieties as well as four toppings from among 12 varieties.
500 yen for each CUPNOODLES
CUPNOODLES Park
The huge athletic facility offers the virtual experience of being a noodle in a huge factory, and going through the entire manufacturing process from making the noodles to shipping them.
Sessions are scheduled in 30 minute time slots: 500 yen
NOODLES BAZAAR –WORLD NOODLES ROAD
At this food attraction, taste many different kinds of noodles from around the world like Momofuku Ando did while traveling the “noodles road” in search of the origins of noodles.
500 yen per serving (half size bowl), 250 yen for Mini-Chicken Ramen, 400 yen for dessert from various countries, 200 yen for juice from various countries, 250 yen for the free refills
Exhibitions and attractions other than the above are free of charge.
All fees include tax.
Map
Why You Should Try Cup-type Instant Noodles
The convenience and variety of flavors make cup noodles an excellent choice for both everyday and emergency meals. The wide variety offered by popular manufacturers and their affordability are also attractive. They are readily available at supermarkets and convenience stores, so we encourage you to try a few during your travels. You are sure to find your favorite flavor. Have a pleasant trip to Japan!
If you found this information useful, please share it with us. We hope you enjoy your wonderful cup noodle experience in Japan!
Patia’s Jiro-style Ramen Making Class in Tokyo
We run Japanese cooking classes in Tokyo. We also offer a Jiro-style Ramen making class with an English-speaking instructor. In this class, participants can go to a grocery store in Akihabara to buy ingredients, make Jiro-style ramen from scratch, and eat it. We are hoping you to enjoy Japanese food experiences and create unforgettable memories in Tokyo.
We share more behind-the-scenes moments, cooking tips, and beautiful photos from our classes on Instagram! Be sure to follow us and join in the Tokyo food adventure.
Check us out at @patiajapanesecooking
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If you have any questions or would like to learn more about our cooking classes, please feel free to reach out! We are here to help you create memorable culinary experiences during your stay in Japan.
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