Discovering Japan’s 10 Best Factory Tours:

Japan is renowned for its dedication to craftsmanship, precision, and innovation. From traditional artistry to cutting-edge technology, factory tours across the country offer a behind-the-scenes look at how everyday items and iconic products are made. Whether you’re a curious traveler, a design enthusiast, or just looking for something different, here are Japan’s best factory tours that bring the nation’s unique manufacturing heritage to life.

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The 10 Best Factory Tours of Japan

Some of the factories that you can visit in Japan are small, some are enormous, but they’re all a fabulous experience worth traveling for.  You can take a visit to a car manufacturing factory or to a cup noodle factory.  There’s a huge variety of different factories to visit in Japan, and here are the best of them.

1. Toyota Commemorative Museum and Tour

Perfect for: Auto enthusiasts and future engineers

Toyota, the world’s largest automaker, opens its doors to the public with an impressive commemorative museum that showcases every step of its vehicle production—from welding to final assembly. Located near Nagoya, this tour includes a visit to the Toyota Commemorative Museum, filled with interactive displays and future mobility prototypes.

We visited the Toyota Factory, and our guide is here.  Sadly, this is currently closed, because it was amazing, but there is a lot to explore about the world of Toyota in Japan; their museum and alternative plant tour are available.

Or – take a tour of the Mazda Factory.

Tip: Really want to see the cars on the production line?  Go to the Mazda factory

2. Cup Noodle Museum & Factory (Osaka or Yokohama)

Perfect for: Families, foodies, and Instagrammers

Instant noodles are a Japanese invention that revolutionized quick meals around the world. At the Cup Noodles Museum, visitors can design and create their very own cup noodle flavor and packaging. You’ll also learn the fascinating history of Momofuku Ando, the inventor of instant ramen.

My guide to visiting the Cup Noodle Museum is here.

You can prebook a visit with a guide to a cup noodle museum in Yokohama or Osaka. 

• Here’s the Yokohama Cup Noodle Museum
• And here’s the Osaka Cup Noodle Museum

Fun Fact: There’s a noodle-themed playground for kids and a tasting room with global noodle dishes.

3. Asahi Beer Factory Tour (Various Locations)

Perfect for: Beer lovers and adults looking for a chill afternoon

Asahi Breweries offers free tours of several of its facilities across Japan (Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, and more). The tour covers the beer-making process from grain to glass and ends with a tasting session of freshly brewed Asahi Super Dry.  It’s a brilliant way to explore the world of beer in Japan. 

My guide to visiting one of the Asahi Breweries is here

Pro Tip: Most tours offer up to three glasses of beer—make sure to eat beforehand!

4. Ghibli Museum + Small-Scale Animation Studios (Tokyo/Mitaka)

Perfect for: Ghibli fans, animators, and creatives

While not a “factory” in the traditional sense, the Ghibli Museum offers a rare look into the world of Japanese animation. Some smaller studios nearby also offer occasional tours or events where fans can see how anime is brought to life.

Note: The museum is ticketed and reservations are required, usually through Lawson ticket kiosks – or you can buy directly here.

5. Shiroi Koibito Park (Hokkaido)

Perfect for: Sweet tooths and fans of whimsical design

In Sapporo, this Willy Wonka-esque chocolate factory is the birthplace of Hokkaido’s famous Shiroi Koibito cookies. The park combines a working factory with a storybook-style museum, European gardens, and hands-on baking experiences.  There’s a free part of the factory and a paid-for part.  It costs 800 yen for an adult ticket to get in.  If you want to take part in any of the tastings, then you’ll need to book in advance directly with Shiroi Koibito.

Don’t Miss: The tasting experience for the different types of chocolate.

6. Okamoto Towel Factory Tour (Imabari, Ehime Prefecture)

Perfect for: Design lovers and fans of slow living

Imabari towels are Japan’s most luxurious, known for their softness and absorbency. A tour of the Okamoto Towel Factory lets you witness the meticulous spinning, dyeing, and weaving processes that go into every towel.  I honestly never thought I’d be writing about a towel-making factory, but here you go.  There’s a towel museum here as well, and you’ll get to learn about the entire process of towel making as well as the history of towels.

Why Go: It’s a glimpse into Japan’s dedication to everyday quality.

7. Suntory Whisky Distillery (Yamazaki or Hakushu)

Perfect for: Whisky connoisseurs and history buffs

Step into the world of Japanese whisky at Suntory’s distilleries. These tours explore the craft of whisky-making, from the pure mountain water used to the aging casks. Tastings include limited-edition bottles you can’t find anywhere else.  Learn about visiting Suntory here.

Bonus: The Yamazaki Distillery also has a whisky library with over 7,000 bottles.

8. Sake Brewery Tour (Fushimi District, Kyoto or Nada, Kobe)

Perfect for: Culture lovers and sake newcomers

No trip to Japan is complete without experiencing its national drink—sake. The Fushimi district in Kyoto and the Nada area in Kobe are home to some of the country’s most historic and prestigious sake breweries. Many offer guided tours that walk you through the traditional brewing process, using rice, koji mold, and pristine spring water.

A top pick is Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum in Kyoto, where you can see old brewing tools, watch educational videos, and taste multiple varieties of sake (some only sold locally). Another great option is the Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum in Kobe, known for its interactive exhibits and generous sampling sessions.

What I recommend, though, is heading to one of Japan’s Sake towns – like Saijo, an entire town of sake breweries

• Take a sake tasting in Kyoto
• A sake tasting in Takayama
• Or visit all those 7 breweries in Saijo with this guided tasting trip.  It’s fabulous!

Tip: Pair your tour with a local meal—some breweries have on-site restaurants offering sake pairings.

10. Matcha Factory Tour

Perfect for: Tea lovers, wellness seekers, and cultural explorers

Matcha is more than just a trend in Japan—it’s a deeply rooted tradition. There are five main matcha-producing areas in Japan.  Uji, a picturesque town south of Kyoto, is considered the birthplace of Japan’s finest green tea. Several matcha producers here, such as Marukyu-Koyamaen and Tsujiri, offer factory tours or guided experiences where you can witness the journey of tea leaves—from harvesting and steaming to stone-grinding into fine matcha powder.

Alternatively, you can prebook a visit and learn all about Matcha here, in Nishio, easily reachable from Kyoto

Immersive tours include

• A visit to a working tea field (seasonal)
• Demonstrations of traditional stone mills
• A hands-on tea ceremony experience
• Matcha tastings paired with wagashi (Japanese sweets)

Why Go: You’ll leave with a new appreciation for the ritual, precision, and peace built into every bowl of matcha.

Final Words on Japan’s 10 Best Factory Tours

Japan’s factory tours are more than just educational—they’re immersive cultural experiences that show you the heart of Japanese craftsmanship and attention to detail. Whether you’re fascinated by food, cars, animation, or textiles, there’s a factory tour that will open your eyes (and taste buds) to something special.  Ready to book a tour? As with a lot of attractions in Japan, many factories require reservations, so check the availability ASAP!

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