How to beat the crowds at the Instant Ramen Museum in Ikeda, Osaka

When I went to Osaka last year with Ady's friends, we visited the Instant Ramen Museum in Osaka, where the entrance is free, and you get to make your very own Cup Noodles to bring home for your family and friends.

The only catch is, the lines are long and it literally takes hours! On our first visit, we even ended up eating crackers in line to ward of hunger, because we were at the museum way past lunch time. You can read my post on our first visit here.

When we went back last April, I knew Sofia would want to go to the Instant Ramen Museum, so we worked it into our very tight itinerary. But because we had so much to do and so little time, we had to strategize. 

At the Hankyu Ikeda Station

People normally walk around the small museum, then they line up for the Make You Own Cup Noodles activity, which has around 30 minutes to an hour wait. Since Ady and I have been there before, we rushed to the line before taking any pictures (outside or inside the museum), while Sofia and the grandparents looked around. This saves you at least 30 minutes to an hour wait. If you're all first timers, just leave half the group in line while the other half go around, then change places. Take your group photos before leaving instead.

Sofia and her grandparents enjoyed walking around the museum while we were in line.

We just called Sofia when it was almost her turn to Make Her Own
Cup Noodles.

You normally get seated at the decorating area once there is a free table. Then you need to line up again to fill the cup that you just decorated (which takes another 30 minutes to 1 hour). The fast way to do this is to make at least 2 cup noodles, then 1 person can line up already, while the other person is decorating the cup. Then you can just change places, then the second person can just join you in line. I guess, if you're a big group, half should line up while the other half decorates, so it's not too embarrassing for the person in line to let a big group join.

Sofia really takes making her own cup noodles seriously.

We also made one for my office mate because we weren't
able to buy him the limited edition shoes he wanted.

Sof joined me in line when it was almost our turn.

Sofia's Cup Noodles Easter Sunday Edition

Once it's your turn, you go through the process of making your own cup noodles, and choosing what you want in it.

They always have a special ingredient (lower right). On this visit it was
mushrooms.

I think we chose Curry Broth with Mushrooms, Cheese, Meat and the cute
thing for JV.

Sof picked out what she wanted in hers, which she ate as soon as we got
to Manila. Hahaha. Gone in no time.

This time around, we were smart enough to pump up the bags when we got
to Manila.

Voila! I think this time we were done in an hour or so.
We got out of the museum in time to have an early lunch.

We took our pictures outside the museum before leaving instead.

Can you spy the Cherry Blossoms in the background?

Our second visit visit to the museum was so efficient, we managed to do everything that we planned to do in our tight itinerary. However, if you have time to spare, I suggest you enjoy the Cup Noodles Museum without rushing, like we did the first time. Just make sure you plan your day to spend a lot of time there, and don't forget to bring snacks to munch on if you get hungry while in line, like we did. just saying.