HAKONE ~ The Japanese love their noodles so much that some of them are literally ready to dive in to their bowl of ramen.

A Japanese spa opened special baths at the weekend meant to resemble ramen, complete with bath salt shaped like the dangling delicacy, a giant pair of chopsticks overhead and water the aroma of pepper.

Ramen lovers in bathing suits turned into ingredients in the broth, jumping into the three tubs shaped like ramen bowls underneath noodle decorations hanging over their heads.