How to Take the Free Mazda Factory Tour Japan

Japan is famous for its factory tours.  One of the best that we visited was the Mazda Factory Tour at the head office in Hiroshima.  The Mazda Factory is located just a 6 minute train ride from Hiroshima and is very easy to get to.  The Mazda Tour includes a guided tour around the Hiroshima Mazda Museum, then a bus trip through the plant.  The visit also includes a tour of active production lines.  All in all it’s a superb visit and a great free thing to do in Japan, for us it was the best of the Japan car factory tours.

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How to Book the Mazda Factory Tour Japan

Tours of the Mazda Japan Factory occur daily in both English and Japanese.  There are no tours on weekends or company holidays.  Tour times do change, but as of August 2023 the Japanese tour begins at 09:15 and the English tour begins at 14:15.  Both tours will take about 2 hours.

The Mazda Hiroshima tours are free, but you must book in advance as there are limited tickets.  You can make Mazda Museum Reservations via telephone or email Mazda Museum reservations on the Mazda website.

How Many People Are on a Mazda Factory Tour?

At the Mazda Hiroshima plant the maximum capacity is 45 per tour.  Groups of more than 11 will get their own tour.

Mazda Factory Tour Times

At the Mazda plant Japan, English tours happen at 14:15, Japanese tours are at 09:15.  Pre registration is a requirement on the Mazda website.

Where Is the Mazda Factory Japan?

The Mazda Factory in Japan is located 5 minute walk from the JR Mukainada Station, close to Hiroshima.  This is Mazda’s head office building.

The Mazda factory Tour is one of our essential things to do in Hiroshima – find out the other Hiroshima Essentials here.

How to get to the Mazda Factory in Hiroshima

Mazda Factory Japan Map

How to get a Train to Hiroshima Mazda Factory

• Take a train from Hiroshima Station.
• The train should be eastbound on the Sanyo or Kure line.
• Trains depart every 15 minutes. Express trains do NOT stop here.
• Disembark at Mukainada Station.
• The train journey is about 6 minutes.
• Walk 5 minutes from the south exit.  There are signposts.
• The train is covered on the JR Pass or costs 190 yen.

The best way to travel around Japan is by train – and you can save a fortune on train travel in Japan by buying the JR Pass BEFORE you get to Japan. You can buy the JR Pass from a number of outlets. We recommend:

Get your JR Pass from KLOOK here. – estimate 2 weeks for delivery of the exchange order

Buy a JR Pass from JRAILPASS here – get it Fedexed within 24-48 hours to any location including a Fedex office or your hotel in Japan.

How to get a Bus to Hiroshima Mazda Factory

• From Hiroshima Station take bus 11, 12 or 13 via Mukainada-eki mae (Mazda-honsha mae).
• Disembark at Mukainada-eki mae (Mazda-honsha mae).
• The bus journey is about 15 minutes.

Mazda Museum Hiroshima History

Since 1931 Mazda has been producing automobiles in Hiroshima. Born the Toyo Cork Kogyo company in 1920, the company’s main plant is here in Hiroshima.  It has 3 plants and 4 proving grounds in Japan.  There are a further 15 sites worldwide that produced a total of 1.29 million cars in the 2021.

Mazda Factory Tour – What to Expect.

There were about 25 of us on the English speaking tour and the excellent Ms Yamamoto took us on the 90 minute trip.  The Hiroshima Mazda Factory tour also includes Mazda museum access.

First of all there’s a bus, which is an Isuzu, as Mazda don’t make buses. It takes you on the 10 minute journey from the head office to the Mazda car museum.

Mazda’s plant is huge, and runs 33 buses for employees and visitors across the plant.  The plant includes its own energy generating plant and four waste water treatment plants.  There’s housing for single workers, plus there’s a bridge that is used ONLY by Mazda.

We start with a 10 minute corporate video that tells us that the founder didn’t celebrate his 70th birthday as it fell on 6 August 1945, the day the Atomic Bomb dropped.  We also learn that following the dropping of the atomic bomb, the plant was up and running with production of three wheeled trucks within 4 months.

It’s a lovely corporate video with history, corporate information and a vision that has me drinking the Kool Aid as we head into the museum. There are other groups here including lots of school groups.  However, while we’re in the museum and in the assembly line, there’s only our group, so you don’t feel crowded.

Then as we’re given a little of the history of Mazda, we get to see some of the historic models.

What to see at the Mazda Car Museum Hiroshima

There’s a three wheeled truck produced in 1935 – the first was produced in 1931.  We see the first four seater car, the R360 Coupe, to the glorious Cosmo Sport 110S and the ubiquitous MX5.

The First Japanese Car to win Le Mans

We get to see the actual first Japanese car – the 787B – that won the Le Mans race in 1991, with a rotary engine.  There’s the history and development of the rotary engine, produced between 1967 and 2012.

It’s not been copied by any other auto manufacturer says Mazda. It’s no longer in production, but research continues, Ms Yamamoto tells us.

Production Displays at the Mazda Museum Japan

There’s a display on the clay models that are made, and a full size plastic model. We get to see the stamping process as a display.  Then we see the painting steps and then the bit that we’ve all been waiting for – the final assembly line. We’re not expecting much, but WOW.

The Mazda Factory Japan Assembly Line

We get to spend around 20 minutes in the final assembly area.  There are no photos allowed to be taken here.  While it’s nowhere near long enough, it’s a lot longer than we were expecting. First of all, we are above the production line and we’re seeing cars move slowly below us, having boot liners and ceiling liners fitted. One worker isn’t happy with the fitting of the roof aerial and spends time calling over a supervisor and sorting it out.

Then we move on and we see the glue attached (by robots) to the windscreen and the rear windscreen. Then as we move (as slowly as possible) we can just see the windscreen being lowered in and pressed firmly onto the car.

We’re alongside a gorgeous dark blue colored MX5 that we’re seeing being put together as she slowly trundles along the line. We arrive at the end of this row and she’s lifted up by a hoist under the bodywork.  Four-wheel cradles slide under the wheels.  The hoist moves so that she’s sitting in the wheel cradles.  She turns the corner as we do, and hangs above another worker, who immediately takes to her underside.

The production line is for up to four different models of cars, so there are Mazda 3’s on here and our lonely, lovely MX5. The production line here is up to 1.2km long and a car can go from end to end in 15 hours.

Completed Cars at Mazda

We move on and see the buildings where up to 7,000 finished cars can be stored before they are loaded onto a ship sitting here at Mazda’s own port.  Cars are shipped domestically and around the world from here.  Then we head back down the stairs, to say goodbye to the MX5 and we head back into the museum area.

Here now, where we’re again allowed to take photos, as we weren’t either on the bus, or in the assembly line, we see the Takine concept car.  There’s also the dual fuel RX7, ready for gasoline or hydrogen, and a Mazda electric car.

Leaving Japan with Our Own Mazda

We have a final few minutes in the museum assembly area.  The groups of kids show off their English and wish us all a hearty ‘Hello”.  Finally, as we board the bus to return to Head Office we’re given our own Mazda car to assemble.

Like Factory Tours in Japan?

If you’re a fan of factory tours and are in Japan, then you should also take a look at:

• The Toyota Factory Tour – HISTORIC OVERVIEW, currently closed
• The Cup Noodle Tour
• The Asahi Brewery Tour

Book your Mazda Tour (English language website)

Where to Stay to visit the Mazda Factory Tour Hiroshima

It’s easy to base yourself in Hiroshima and visit the Mazda Tour Hiroshima – stay near the train station for easy access, or grab a budget option in the city centre.  Here are our recommendations.

APA Hotel Hiroshima-Ekimae Ohashi

732-0828 Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Minami-ku Kyobashicho 2-26, Japan

Very close to the train station (there is a covered walkway) there’s  24 hour reception and luggage storage here.

• Great location
• Flat Screen TV with BBC World News
• Fridge & Kettle in each room
• Private bathrooms and spacious public baths too
• Free Wi-Fi in all rooms

Book your room now and lock in this fabulous location

Hotel Granvia Hiroshima

732-0822 Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Minami-ku Matsubaracho 1-5, Japan

Directly connected to the train station, this hotel gives you 6 restaurants, all rooms with Wi-Fi and air conditioning.  There are also karaoke rooms if you want to indulge.

• Buffet breakfast available
• Laundry and dry cleaning
• Flat Screen TV
• Wi-Fi in all rooms.
• Fridge and private bathroom in all rooms

Get a great price and book your room now!

Hostel Mallika

730-0811 Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Naka-ku Nakajima-cho 9-5, Japan

Great location by the Peace Memorial Park, this is a superb location close to the city centre.  There’s free Wi-Fi throughout this budget option which has shared bathrooms.

• Shared bathrooms
• Wi-Fi throughout
• Slippers and Free toiletries
• Beds have reading lights, table, electric socket and fan.

There’s a kitchen and coffee machine as well as a shared lounge plus a free breakfast is served here too.

Great budget option in the city – book your bed now!

Travel Tips for Exploring Japan

• Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation, and more.
• Get online immediately with an eSIM for Japan
• Take the right POWER ADAPTER to Japan
• Download and install a VPN BEFORE you travel to Japan > discount coupon here
• Read our guide to the Japan Rail Pass here
• Buy your Japan Rail Pass before you arrive in Japan
  • You can buy JR Passes from Klook > check details here
  • Or buy JR Passes from JRailPass here with delivery in 24-48 hours (including to your hotel in Japan)
• Book the best tours and guides in Japan on, GetYourGuideand Klook
  • Want to know what its like at a Maid Cafe?
  • Read about experiencing Sumo Practice in Japan
  • Read about staying in a Ryokan town in Japan
• Learn to cook Japanese food in Chef’s kitchens in Japan
• Read about ATM fees in Japan here.
• Save money in Japan with a Wise debit card
• Find the right accommodation for you via Booking.com
• Book an incredible ryokan experience in Japan

Final Words on the Free Mazda Factory Tour in Japan

We had factory tours on our Japan bucket list and doing this free Mazda Factory Tour was a fabulous way to check that off. It was a fabulous factory tour. And so, so easy to get to, just a few minutes train ride from Hiroshima. The tour guide we had was fabulous, and the factory itself was fascinating. It’s well worth coming to, and a great place to visit.

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