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 factory tours are offered in four locations. They are in Hokkaido, Tohoku, Aichi, and Fukuoka Prefectures. *As of October 2024, the plant in Aichi Prefecture is not open for tours. In this article, we will introduce Toyota Motor Kyushu Miyata Plant. At the Miyata Plant, the latest Lexus models produced by Toyota Kyushu are on display in the PR Pavilion, which is the arrival and departure point for plant tours, and there is also a theater that introduces the production process and a corner where visitors can experience the craftsmanship that produces the highest quality. The Miyata Plant is also a rare plant that produces Lexus cars, making it a very rare experience!
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.
location
1 Kamiariki, Miyawaka-shi, Fukuoka
main production vehicles
Lexus ES, UX, RX, and NX. A wide range of vehicles from sedans to large SUVs are produced.
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
he Miyata Plant offers tours for the general public, but reservations are required. Specific details and schedule of tours can be found on the official website.
Reservations can be made here: https://www.toyota-kyushu.com/english/
fee
Free of charge
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
Civic Type-R, Step wagon, ZRV
plant features
The plant started operation in 2013 and has a production capacity of 250,000 units per year. It receives engines produced at the engine plant (Ogawa-machi) and performs everything from body stamping to finished vehicle inspection and shipping.
(From the official website)
The plant is capable of highly efficient production of everything from compact cars to SUVs, and plays a leading role in the world by horizontally deploying its technology overseas.
In addition, the plant is committed to becoming carbon neutral, which is Honda’s goal, and is a plant that is friendly to people and the environment and disseminates top-runner environmental technologies to the world.
tour information
- Saitama Manufacturing Center offers factory tours and reservations are required. 2 months or more in advance is necessary to make a reservation.
Official website (Japanese only): https://global.honda/jp/saitama/yorii/
- Time required: about 90 minutes.
fee
Free of charge
Nissan Tochigi Plant
About Nissan Tochigi Plant
The Tochigi Plant is a rare place where visitors can experience the production of Nissan’s high-performance vehicles, the GT-R and the Fairlady Z. If you are interested, please check the official website for the latest tour information and reservation procedures.
Official website:https://www.nissan-global.com/JP/PLANT/TOUR/ONLINE/TOCHIGI/
(As of October 2024, the tours have been suspended. They will announce the reunion on their website)
location
1-10-1, Sinsayama 1-chome, Sayama-shi, Saitama
main vehicles produced
GT-R, Fairlady Z, Aria
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
- Tours of the Tochigi Plant are available and reservations are required. The tour includes a look at the production line and an explanation of Nissan’s technology. There is also a virtual introduction to the world of painting.
- Duration: The tour takes about 2 hours and includes an introduction to the history of the plant and the manufacturing process. 5.
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
LEGACY, OUTBACK, CROSSTREK, FORESTER
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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