Ajinomoto Umami Science Square

For those not in the know, Ajinomoto is a huge Japanese food and condiments manufacturer that was founded by Kikunae Ikeda—the inventor of Monosodium Glutamate—better known as MSG.

Umami is now recognized as one of the five basic tastes, along with sweet, sour, salty, and bitter. As the name indicates, the concept originated in Japan.

If you take the factory tour (which needs to be booked in advance), you can fill up your own little souvenir bottle of MSG to take home with you!

To get to the museum, take the Keikyu Kawasaki Daishi Line from Keikyu Kawasaki Station and alight at Suzukicho Station. The museum is just across the road. One of the largest Book Offs in the Kanto area is also nearby, as is the Kawasaki Daishi temple and Kanayama Shrine.