Taiwanese-Japanese businessman Momofuku Ando was 48 and bankrupt when he happened upon the idea for instant noodles as a tastier—albeit more expensive—solution to post-war rationing. His ramen was a hit in Asia, but it wasn’t until 1971, when Momofuku introduced his Cup Noodles, notable for its polystyrene cup with the peel-off lid, to market that the product rocketed to world fame. Learn about the history of the company and the man behind the flavor packets at the Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum in Osaka. Displays are in Japanese, with English audio guides available. Admission is free, but set aside ¥300 ($2.70 USD) for the Cup Noodles Factory, where you decorate your own cup and then customize the ramen that goes inside it, choosing from four flavors (original, seafood, etc.) and more than a dozen freeze-dried toppings. The finished cup gets professionally shrink-wrapped for easy portability; if you’re hungry on the spot, there are vending machines selling instant ramen and a cafe in which to eat it.

8-25 Masumi-cho, Ikeda-shi, Osaka, Japan; +072-752-3484.