If you are a car enthusiast, you will definitely be excited to visit an automobile factory. From frame building to engine and interior installation, painting, and inspection, the sight of new cars being built one after another is breathtaking. Each manufacturer has its own way of making cars, so even if you have been to one factory before, you may discover something new by visiting another! In this article, we will introduce you to four manufacturers whose automobile factories you can visit in Japan. Please read to the end of this article to find out which factory you would like to visit!
Toyota (Lexus) Miyata Plant
Toyota offers factory tours at four locations across Japan: Hokkaido, Tohoku, Aichi, and Fukuoka Prefecture. Note that as of October 2024, the Aichi plant tours are temporarily suspended. Among these facilities, the Miyata Plant in Fukuoka stands out as Toyota’s premier Lexus manufacturing site. Here, visitors can witness the production of luxury vehicles up close, making it a must-visit destination for automotive enthusiasts. The facility showcases Toyota’s most advanced manufacturing processes and is the only Lexus factory that welcomes public tours in Japan.
Miyata Plant Tour
This plant is a valuable place to learn about Toyota’s advanced technologies and production methods. It is also a rare opportunity to see how Toyota’s luxury brand, Lexus, is produced, so if you are interested in learning more, please visit.
Access Information
How to Get There
- From Fukuoka Airport: 90 minutes by taxi or rental car
- From Fukuoka City: Take the JR Kagoshima Line to Keisen Station (40 min), then taxi (15 min)
- From Tokyo: 2.5 hours by plane to Fukuoka Airport + local transport
Parking
Free parking available on site. Follow signs for visitor parking.
Note
While public transportation is possible, we recommend using a rental car or taxi for easier access. The plant is located in an industrial area not directly served by public buses.
main production vehicles
The Miyata Plant specializes in Lexus vehicle production, manufacturing some of the brand’s most popular models:
- Lexus ES (Luxury Sedan)
- Lexus UX (Compact Luxury Crossover)
- Lexus RX (Luxury SUV)
- Lexus NX (Compact Luxury SUV)
This facility is unique as it produces both Lexus sedans and SUVs under one roof, showcasing Toyota’s flexible manufacturing capabilities. Each vehicle is crafted with the legendary attention to detail that Lexus is known for, making this plant a cornerstone of Toyota’s luxury vehicle production.
features of the plant
- Environmentally friendly: In addition to engines, hybrid systems are also produced.
- Highly efficient production: The plant features efficient production lines based on the Toyota Production System (TPS).
Tour Information and Booking
The Miyata Plant welcomes visitors with guided tours that showcase Toyota’s luxury vehicle production. During your visit, you’ll explore the PR Pavilion featuring the latest Lexus models on display, watch an informative theater presentation about the production process, and experience special demonstrations of the craftsmanship that creates these high-quality vehicles.
While the tours are free of charge, advance reservations are required. For the most up-to-date tour schedules and to make your booking, please visit the official Toyota Kyushu English website: Toyota Kyushu English Website
fee
Free of charge
(Option）Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology
For those who cannot go to Kyushu but can go to Aichi Prefecture, we recommend the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology.
location
4-1-35 Noritake-shinmachi, Nishi-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture
Description
Exhibits allow visitors to learn about Toyota’s history and technology, and to observe actual production lines and automobile manufacturing processes.
Features
Not only Toyota automobiles, but also loom technology is on display, allowing visitors to experience Toyota’s diverse technological capabilities. In addition, the museum is the birthplace of the Toyota Group, and a factory from the Taisho era has been preserved as an industrial heritage site!
fee
| Adult | Over 65 | Uni students | Jr. Senior High | Elementry | |
| General | ¥1,000 | ¥600 | ¥500 | ¥300 | ¥200 |
| W/ Toyota Museum | ¥1,800 | ¥980 | ― | ¥640 | ¥460 |
You can also visit the Toyota Museum for a good price! You can read more about the Toyota Museum in our previous article “5 very famous car museums in Japan”.
Honda Saitama Plant
About Honda Saitama Plant
Located less than an hour from Tokyo, it is very easy to get to. If you are interested, please check the official website for the latest information on the tour and how to make a reservation. it is a rare opportunity to experience Honda’s technology and production site firsthand, as they also make Vtec vehicles.
location
1-10-1, Sinsayama 1-chome, Sayama-shi, Saitama
main vehicles produced
Three main vehicles roll off the production line at Honda’s Saitama Factory. The Civic Type R, Honda’s thoroughbred performance car. The Step WGN, a spacious family van. And the ZR-V, a modern crossover SUV. Each vehicle represents a different facet of Honda’s automotive expertise, all manufactured under one roof
Tour Information & Booking
The Honda Saitama Factory offers guided tours lasting approximately 90 minutes. Plan well ahead for your visit – reservations must be made at least 2 months in advance due to high demand. Currently, tour information and bookings are available through the official website, which is only in Japanese: Honda Saitama Factory Website
Note: If you don’t speak Japanese, we recommend asking your hotel concierge or a Japanese-speaking friend to help with the reservation process.
fee
Free of charge
Nissan Tochigi Plant
About Nissan Tochigi Plant
Nissan’s Tochigi Plant is the company’s largest manufacturing facility in Japan, famous for producing some of Nissan’s most iconic performance vehicles. While factory tours are temporarily suspended as of October 2024, this facility normally offers visitors an exciting glimpse into high-performance vehicle production.
location
1-10-1, Sinsayama 1-chome, Sayama-shi, Saitama
main vehicles produced
Three main vehicles are manufactured at the Tochigi Plant. The legendary GT-R, Nissan’s ultimate supercar. The iconic Fairlady Z, continuing the heritage of Nissan’s famous sports car lineup. And the innovative Ariya, representing Nissan’s next generation of electric vehicles.
plant features
- Largest area: The plant boasts the largest area among Nissan’s plants in Japan.
- Technological innovation: Nissan has introduced advanced manufacturing technology and quality control to produce high quality vehicles. 4.
Tour Information & Booking
Tours are temporarily suspended as of October 2024. Please check the official website for updates.
When available, the facility offers comprehensive two-hour tours featuring:
- Production line observation
- Technical exhibitions
- Virtual painting demonstration
- Plant history presentation
Tours are free of charge and require advance reservation through the official website: Nissan Tochigi Plant Tours
fee
Free of charge
SUBARU Visitor Center and Factory
About Nissan Tochigi Plant
The SUBARU Visitor Center opened on July 15, 2003, and is a facility that introduces to factory visitors successive generations of SUBARU cars, SUBARU’s unique technologies and safety initiatives. After touring the facility, visitors are guided on factory tours by a full-time guide. There are no tours of the Visitor Center exhibit only, which is a privilege only for those who tour the factory!
location
1-1 Shoya-cho, Ota-shi, Gunma
main vehicles produced
Four main vehicles are crafted at the Subaru Gunma Plant. The versatile Legacy sedan, the adventure-ready Outback wagon, the compact Crosstrek crossover, and the popular Forester SUV. Each model embodies Subaru’s commitment to all-wheel drive technology and safety, all built under the same roof.
plant features
The SUBARU Visitor Center opened on July 15, 2003, and is a facility that introduces to visitors to the plant successive generations of SUBARU cars, SUBARU’s unique technologies and safety initiatives. After touring the facility, visitors are guided on factory tours by a full-time guide. There are no tours of the Visitor Center exhibit only, which is a privilege only for those who tour the factory!
tour information
- SUBARU Visitor Center (viewing of a video explaining the plant, exhibition hall), production plant tour (final assembly process), video tour (pressing process, body welding and assembly process, painting process)
- Advance reservations are required for factory tours. Reservations can be made through the official website.
- Official website: https://subaru-factory.resv.jp/#ippan
- Time required: about 1 hour and 45 minutes
fee
Free of charge
The SUBARU Visitor Center is a very attractive place for those who are interested in SUBARU cars and its technology. After all, the fact that you can enter the SUBARU Business Center, which is exclusively for plant visitors, is very attractive! We recommend checking the official website for the latest information on tours and events.
Summary
Have you decided which manufacturer’s automobile factory you would like to visit? Most manufacturers offer factory tours free of charge, and it is nice to be able to enjoy and learn for free! All manufacturers always require reservations, so be sure to make plans in advance. Also, many sites are only available in Japanese, so you will need to use Google to translate and make reservations.
If you have any questions, please feel free to message me through the contact section!
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