1-Day Tour: Nagoya’s Industrial Legacy and Toyota's Innovation

Nagoya is known as the “Heart of Japan” for not only its central location and historical significance but also for its great contributions to industry and innovation in Japan. The industrial prominence of the region had led it to become the home to manufacturing giants such as Toyota, Brother, Noritake, Ibanez, Buffalo, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

This journey through Japan’s center of commerce will provide you with a glimpse into Nagoya’s industrial past and its dreams for a technological future as you are led by a professional guide on this full-day tour.

Highlights

• Visit both the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology to learn about the company’s unique beginnings as well as the Toyota Automobile Museum to see its extensive collection of automobiles. 
• Shop for tableware or simply appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship of the porcelain artisans at Noritake Garden Gallery and Museum. 
• Travel stress-free as you are lead by our professional guide throughout the city by trains, including a trip on the only magnetic levitation linear motor car in Japan.
• The small group size allows you to experience these beautiful locations up close and personal.

*For those looking to join the tour from Tokyo, please see the FAQ Section below

Review

Description

This tour will start at Nagoya Station at 9:00 A.M., where your guide will meet you in front of the Silver Clock tower near the Shinkansen Gates. You will have the opportunity to put your belongings in a coin locker at the station if you feel the need. Your guide will handle navigation by train to our fist location and provide you with a ticket which you can use for a full 24 hours from the start of the tour to travel around Nagoya.

After a short walk from the station, your guide will lead you through the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology as you view the actual machinery used by Toyota as well as real-life demonstrations of the car manufacturing process. You will also learn of the company’s unique beginnings and direction for the future. 

Continuing our journey on foot, we will make our way through Nagoya’s bustling city center towards Noritake Garden. Famed throughout Japan and around the world as Japan’s premier manufacturer of porcelain and china tableware, Noritake originated in Nagoya over 100 years ago and maintains an impressive museum and gallery which your guide will lead you through.

You will then have the opportunity to dine on Noritake chinaware, shop for your own collection, or simply soak up the scenery of the garden as we stop for a bit of free time and lunch.  Noritake Garden has a cafe offering pasta, galettes and coffee.

Additionally, Noritake Garden's mall offers a much wider selection, including sushi, tempura, ramen, Korean and Indian food, curry, burgers, Italian dishes, cafés, and bubble tea, so there should be something available for everyone.

After lunch, we will head to the Toyota Automobile Museum by riding two trains, including the first magnetic levitation linear motor train in Japan.

The Toyota Automobile Museum showcases the history of automobiles and automotive culture around the world. You will be able to view its impressive collection of vehicles ranging from the birth of gasoline-powered automobiles to present day models as well as its displays of approximately 4,000 automotive-related cultural materials, including posters, toy cars, and hood ordainments.

Your guide will provide you with an overview of the museum and explain the history of some of the most interesting cars on display before providing you with free time to get a closer look at some of your favorite vehicles or shop for souvenirs in the gift shop.

From here, we will return to the station to say our goodbyes. Feel free to ask the guide for dinner recommendations or instructions back to your hotel.

Meetup Points

NAGOYA STATION @ 9:00 A.M.

The meetup point is at the base of the SILVER clock tower outside of the Shinkansen gates. 

If you are arriving via Shinkansen, the clock tower should be located directly in front of you as you exit the gate.

If you are arriving via a JR line, please look for signs directing you towards the Taiko-Dori Gate. The silver clock is located inside the station just before the Taiko-Dori exit.

For those coming from outside the station, you will most likely be entering through the Sakura-Dori gate (the side with the gold clock). In this case, please walk straight through the station towards the Taiko-Dori Gate. The silver clock is located inside the station just before the Taiko-Dori exit.

You may wait nearby there until the tour begins at 9:00 A.M. Be sure to look for the guide holding a SNOW MONKEY RESORTS tour sign. We highly recommend arriving early as Nagoya station can be quite crowded. 

Notes

Included

• (your choice of) English, Spanish, French, or Chinese speaking guide
• Entry fee at Noritake Garden
• Entry fee at Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology
• Entry fee at Toyota Automobile Museum
• Transportation by during the tour via train
• 24 hr subway pass which you can use after the tour

Excluded

• Lunch
• Accommodation
• Transportation to/from your accommodations to the meeting point

Other Information

• This tour involves several hours of walking outdoors. We recommend that you wear shoes and clothes which are easy to walk in. Please check the weather forecast before you head to the meetup point and prepare an umbrella or raincoat if necessary.
• This tour uses public transportation (included). In the even of unexpected delays, the itinerary may be amended.
• In the summer, temperature highs are around 35 °C (95 °F) and above with extreme humidity. We recommend wearing something light and airy while minding sunburn and heatstroke. A parasol is highly encouraged.
• Winter the temperatures in Nagoya average between 0℃-10℃ (32°F-50°F). Please wear warm clothing and footwear appropriate for cold conditions.
• There will be free time along the way for guests to purchase souvenirs to remember their trip.