Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology
Photo: Own work — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Explore the evolution of textile and automobile technologies through dynamic exhibits and live demonstrations in a historic red-brick factory.
Planning your visit
Toyota began as a loom company. Sakichi Toyoda invented an automatic loom that stopped itself when a thread broke — the principle the firm later called jidoka and applied to car production — and sold the patent to finance his son's move into automobiles in the 1930s.
The museum occupies the original red-brick mill in Nagoya and is divided accordingly. The textile hall runs working machinery from hand spinning through to modern air-jet looms, with operators demonstrating each, and it is genuinely absorbing even for visitors with no interest in cloth.
The automobile hall covers metalworking, casting, forging, press and assembly, with robots at work and cutaway vehicles.
The Toyota Production System — just-in-time, kanban, andon — is explained where it was developed.
Allow three hours. Bookable options include guided tours. Current availability is listed below.
Before you book
Where is Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology?
Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology is in Nagoya, Japan. The map on this page marks its exact location.
How long should I allow for Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology?
Allow three hours. That is the time the collection itself takes at an unhurried pace, before any queue.
Do I need to book Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology in advance?
Guided tours run to a fixed schedule and small group sizes, so they are usually booked ahead.
