As delightful as it was to see pictures of the Cup Noodles mascot shoveling snow in chilly Tokyo, I was most surprised to notice the building behind him and discover there was actually a Cup Noodles Museum. Who knew? And boy does Lipton Cup-A-Soup have egg on its face. No soup museum for you, Lipton!

Cup Noodles Museum (or Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum) opened in 1994. It’s not only designed t0 teach the 40 year history of Ramen, as it has evolved over the years, but also tries to recreate the look of Tokyo in the 1950s, when the Ramen craze first sprouted, educating visitors on the development of Japan following World War II.

Operated by Japanese food company, Nissin, the museum boasts 3000 different kinds of Cup Noodle products and replicates founder Ando Momofuku’s research lab. You can taste noodle varieties on the third floor, where vendors even offer noodle selections from countries, or make your own in the noodle factory, experimenting with over 5,460 choices.

Children can make their own personalized noodle bag, while adults can appreciate the building’s intricate, spacious architecture and resist the lure of the souvenir shop.

Aside from the written noodle history decorating the walls, the museum is mostly interactive. If you aren’t fluent in Japanese, you’ll probably want to rent the audio guide.

The pride of Yokohama, the museum is usually crowded, especially since it’s adjacent to a shopping mall and amusement park (possessing the tallest tower in the city). You can easily spend several hours (and yen) here and, entrepeneurs, that’s what they call using your noodle.