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• The Grand Tour of Japanese Automotive – Honda Kumamoto

Introduction

A major earthquake in Kumamoto in April 2016 damaged the plant, and it reopened and scaled up production again during the summer of 2016.

The plant includes casting, welding, stamping, machining, and painting operations, but my visit focused on the engine and final assembly lines. There are around 3,300 employees in the plant, 8% of them being women.

Honda Kumamoto has multiple assembly lines for engines and motorbikes. The main lines are dubbed the “ Fun Line ” for the big motorcycles and the “ Multi Line ” for the small vehicles and scooters. It also has a line for the generators and other products.

All lines produce in lot sizes of around thirty to fifty vehicles. The takt time is around 2:30 minutes for vehicles, and around five minutes for the other products (generators, power garden tools, etc.). Each motorbike line has a capacity of around four hundred bikes per day. The motorcycle lines had powered carts on tracks going around.

The Fun Line was around 150 meters long with thirty workstations. This line also had fancy monitors at each station tracking process time and often also had details like counting the number of screws tightened to prevent a missed screw. The other lines did not have these digital displays. The Fun Line was actually split into two loops with different types of carts. The first segment had around sixteen workstations and the second segment around twenty to twenty-five stations. They used an overhead crane to move the parts from one segment to the next. The Multi line had only one segment. They use a running changeover , where they simply keep two carts empty for the five-minute changeover process.

Overall Impression

The plant was squeakily clean. Quite a contrast to Honda Sayama . In Kumamoto, the white uniforms were actually white! It was much more organized and seemed to have much less material. The different shifts and functions were indicated by pins and labels on the sleeves and caps. For example, the first shift had an orange “1,” and the second shift a blue “2” label on the hat or sleeve. Also, while the workers in Honda Sayama were in a good mood, the workers at Honda Kumamoto were outright cheerful!

Information Flow

While Sayama did not use kanban, all material in Kumamoto was kanbanized and they used pull systems . Very good! However, like Sayama they also have no andons or andon stop lines or buttons. The only visual indicators were red/green stack lights on some selected machines. Hence it was difficult to understand how much was produced, or if they were on track.

Unlike Toyota, Honda does not stop the line in case of problems. All quality issues continued to be assembled and moved through the lines to be sorted out at the end. These issues were fixed in a separate repair area. This repair area was about half as large as the entire line. When I visited, there were about sixty motorcycles in the repair area, or around two hours’ worth of production, on top of another forty or so motorcycles that were also parked around there, blocking walkways. Altogether, the repair area was the most chaotic section of an otherwise reasonably well-organized plant. Toyota does this much better.

Material Flow

The material flow was overall good. All of the carts with frames were height adjustable and adjusted their height to match the ergonomic height of the particular assembly. For the smaller Multi Line, they could also be rotated. One particularly short employee also had a raised platform about 10 cm high, 4 meters long, and 1.5 meters wide to work more comfortably.

Honda uses kitting extensively, where workers prepare a kit of parts for the motorcycle. Some material is also supplied by shelves along the line. They said that they do not have issues with mixing up the kits (i.e., not a kit too much or too little during the batch changeover).

The interesting part, however, was the line layout. This line had lots of zigzags as shown below in a top-down view. The advantage of this is that due to the curve the rolling shelf and the cart with the motorcycle are closer together. Thus it is less walking distance for the operator to go and get a cart. This also meant that operators were working on both sides of the line. Please note that if my Japanese serves me right, they told me that they patented that idea.

The second part of the Fun Line also used kits, but these were prepared on the floor above. These kits were provided hanging from an overhead railing on both sides moving along with the cart. There was always one shelf hanging, and a separate hanger for the larger front module. These hanging kits were also height adjustable separate from the motorbike carts. Hence, the parts in the kit were always at an ergonomic height for the operator. This is illustrated below. Please note that these hanging kits were actually on both sides along the motorbike (about 1.3 meters away so the worker could move between kit and bike), rather than between the bikes as shown below.

Besides these hanging and pulling kits and the carts themselves, all of the material transport that I have seen was by hand, pushing movable shelves around the factory. There was not too much material around, and the ratio of material and assembly area was good (except of course for the rework area, and one spot where seventy Goldwing fronts – three hours of production – were waiting).

In some spots they also used karakuri kaizen tricks. I also noticed that all the power tools hanging from overhead were hanging quite low, almost at knee height of the operators. Here they sacrificed ergonomics for quality, to prevent these hanging tools from banging into, scratching, and denting the product.

Shift Change

I was also able to observe the shift change. The plant runs in two shifts from 7:00 AM to 3:45 PM, and from 3:35 PM to 12:00 AM, and yes, there is a ten-minute overlap.

• Most workers from the second shift arrived shortly before 3:30.
• At 3:30, music starts to play for the typical exercise that is very common in Japan. It is called “Rajio Taiso” （ラジオ体操) for radio calisthenics, which was introduced in 1928. Every kid in Japan learns these. Most but not all of the employees of the second shift participated, although some did it very sloppily, moving only the hands rather than the entire arm. The exercise ends at 3:35.

• From now on, it is paid time. Between 3:35 and 3:40, the team leader has a meeting with his team. A team leader at Honda Kumamoto is in charge of around ten operators (Toyota: only four), and the team leader I observed had a team of twelve people.
• At 3:40, the second shift walks to the line.
• Between 3:41 and 3:43, the line stops completely for the handover. The workers of the first and second shift exchange information.
• At 3:43, the line starts again. From now on the second shift is working.
• At 3:45, the work time of the first shift is over, and people were leaving (although some put in a few more minutes to count and arrange materials).

If You Want to Follow in My Footsteps …

… then you would need to speak Japanese or at least have an interpreter. They do tours also for individuals (in my case, I was the only one on my tour). You also need to apply through their website , but it is much less hassle than for Sayama. I got a very personal tour and was able to influence what I could see. Many thanks to Honda for the tour! Their address is 1500 Ozu-machi, Kikuchi-gun, Kumamoto Pref. , Japan .

Also many thanks to Honda for allowing me to visit and observe their plant. In both cases, I got a very personalized tour, and the tour guides were able to accommodate the special requests of curious me to see this and see that.

I learned a lot and got quite a few ideas especially from Kumamoto. I hope writing about this also gives inspiration for your work. Now, go out, get your material flow in order, and organize your industry!

Series Overview

• The Grand Tour of Japanese Automotive – Overview and Toyota
• The Grand Tour of Japanese Automotive – Nissan
• The Grand Tour of Japanese Automotive – Honda Sayama
• The Grand Tour of Japanese Automotive – Mitsubishi
• The Grand Tour of Japanese Automotive – Mazda
• The Grand Tour of Japanese Automotive – Suzuki
• The Grand Tour of Japanese Automotive – Subaru

6 thoughts on “The Grand Tour of Japanese Automotive – Honda Kumamoto”

I really wanted to get my dad into a tour but I was told they need a group of a minimum of 10 people with a translator.

Could you share how and/or what application you used to do the tour alone?

Any information would be soooo appreciated!

HI Cynthia, i do speak Japanese, hence I was able to book a tour for 1 person. Language is often a problem in Japan. Only Toyota and Mazda offer english tours.

Could you please share an email to contact the factory. We would like to visit the factory.

Hi Pirjo, the website is in Japanese, and could be translated using google translate. However, you would need to speak Japanese or have a translator in order to visit.

I live in US and love Honda bikes, I do have 4 of them and plan to ship all in Europe, the problem is that EU custom ask for emission numbers, actually which EURO category EURO I,II,III,or IV these bikes fell (cause they will charge me for that) can you help me I can e mail to you VINs and models (GOLD WING, FURRY,SHADOW,VFR 1200)

I have had over 40 motorcycles in my life and still got 10, the goldwing is a fantastic bike for long trip, i just wanted to know where it was manufactured. long range fuel-comfortable-handling is above average. funny enough i had a honda 4 (750) in 1975 and never had another honda until 2021..

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iN HAMAMATSU.COM | Factory Tour | Honda Transmission Factory Tour

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Honda Transmission Factory Tour ホンダ トランスミッション工場見学

The manufacturer of transmissions that boasts high-accuracy in a micron unit

ADDRESS 1-13-1 Aoi-Higashi, Chūō-ku, Hamamatsu-shi 433-8501 TRANSPORT From Hamamatsu Station [BUS] Take the all of the line bus (30 minutes ride) at bus stop #15 of the bus terminal to "Aoi-cho" Take the "Takaoka Keiyu Hanakawa undo koen" line bus (30 minutes ride) at bus stop #16 of the bus terminal to "Honda giken Koujou mae" [TAXI] 30 minutes [CAR] Around 6 minutes from the Tomei Expressway Hamamatsu Nishi I.C. 2015.8.31 update Content may be subject to change after publication. Please also note that we are not accountable for loses and damages that may occur as a result of said changes.

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Date 2018.10.13 sat .

【gate open: 9:00 ~ / event time: 10:00 ~ 16:00】.

The Kumamoto Factory is the mother factory which manufactures Honda Motorcycles for the entire world. This event is welcome to all who use Honda motorcycles.

Thank you for joining us. The next event is planned for October 12 th, 2019!

Donation Report of the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake Disaster Relief

We have donated a portion of the “Cutlet Curry Udon Noodle” sales to Kumamoto Prefecture through the Japanese government. Thank you very much for your contribution.

Donation amount: ¥59,250

Event Overview

The entrance has changed to the Main Gate. Please be sure to enter from the Main Gate.

Honda motorcycle users will be guided through the mother factory of the world’s Honda motorcycle products, the Kumamoto Factory. The production line will not be in operation, but please look forward to a tour program which will show you the different points of the assembly process!

You can test ride various Honda motorcycles. You may also be able to meet and communicate with our product LPL(Large Project Leader for product development) there.

• Gold Wing Tour Dual Clutch Transmission
• CRF1000L Africa Twin Adventure Sports Type LD Dual Clutch Transmission
• CRF1000L Africa Twin Adventure Sports Type LD
• CBR1000RRSP
• CRF250 RALLY Type LD
• SUPER CUB C125
• CROSS CUB 110

※LPL of the product listed in red are scheduled to attend. Please note that they may not be present depending on time.

Takaaki Nakagami, who is currently challenging to the Moto GP under Team LCR Honda Idemitsu, will make an appearance. He will speak of his determination for the 2018 Japanese MotoGP, which will be held in the following week, and other subjects you won’t be able to hear elsewhere!

A special talk show with Asuka Futatsumata and Tsuyoshi Kobayashi, both of whom have traveled the world on Honda motorcycles over the course of one year and three months, will be held.

In commemoration of your visit, various memorial photography spots are prepared including photography spots limited to Honda Motorcycle Users.

The exhibit will include many of Honda’s most famous motorcycles. You can be impressed our Honda's craftmanship by exposing historic motorcycles, by mingling with Engineers.

Limited sale of the most popular menu at the Honda Factory cafeteria！

※Image is for illustration purposes.

Homecoming T-Shirts

¥3,780 （Tax Incl.）

Homecoming Key-holders

¥1,620 （Tax Incl.）

Homecoming Face Towels

¥1,940 （Tax Incl.）

Homecoming Pin Badges

¥100 （Tax Incl.）

About event information / program

About participation / admission, about services, about transportation method / venue access.

Admission of tampered vehicles to an event held by Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is strictly prohibited. In particular, vehicles with improperly modified muffler installations will be inconvenience by all people in the vicinity, and it will affect the holding of the event itself. In addition, severe penalties may be imposed when conducting tampering acts that do not conform to the law. We would like you to enjoy a wholesome bike life through safe riding and appropriate vehicle maintenance based on the law.

Photographs and images taken at the venue may be used by Honda Motor Co., Ltd. or Honda Motorcycle Japan Co., Ltd. for websites and other media as advertisements.

The Honda Motorcycle Homecoming Office will answer any questions regarding Honda Motorcycle Homecoming.

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Top 20 factory tours in Japan

There’s nothing worse that getting stuck on a guided tour going through room upon room of humdrum displays while a sleepy-eyed guide rambles on about nothing important. To save us all from making the mistake of going on a boring tour, Trip Advisor Japan compiled a list of the best factory tours in the country. Results are ranked according to the most talked about museums and factories on their website. As you might expect, over half of the best tours involve alcohol.

1. Instant Ramen Museum (Osaka)

Visitors can not only view the history of instant ramen, but also try their hand at making Chicken Ramen from scratch in a 90-minute workshop that costs only 500 yen. Visitors can also choose to make their own Cup Noodles for 300 yen. English audio guides are available for videos shown in the Research Shack and Cup Noodle Drama Theatre.

2. Nuchi-masu Salt Factory (Uruma City, Okinawa)

Nuchi-masu is a salt made in Okinawa that is so rich in minerals, it was in the Guinness World Records in 2000. Nuchi-masu is made entirely of Okinawan seawater taken from the Pacific Ocean and visitors of the salt factory can view and experience the making of this natural seasoning.

3. Nikka Whiskey Distillery (Yoichi City, Hokkaido)

Self-guided tours and guided-tours in Japanese are conducted daily. The best part is that visitors can taste three different types of whiskey for free.

4. Orion Beer Factory (Nago City, Okinawa)

Lesser known Orion beer can be sampled during your visit to Okinawa at the Orion Beer Factory.

5. Kawasaki Good Times World (Kobe City, Hyogo)

With a name like that, it’s got to be a good tour. Visitors to Kawasaki Good Times World are treated to a showcase of technology made by the Kawasaki Heavy Industries Group including ships, rolling stock, aircraft, and motorcycles.

6. Suntory Musashino Factory (Fuchu City, Tokyo)

Enjoy free samples of beer here…and tours and other stuff, but mostly free samples.

7. Suntory Yamazaki Distillery (Shimamoto Town, Osaka)

Enjoy free Yamazaki Whiskey here.

8. Chateraise (Hokuto City, Yamanashi)

Chateraise is a natural sweets and gifts company in Yamanashi Prefecture. Enjoy a tour of the ice cream making facilities as well as sweet samples.

9. Toyota Technology Museum (Nagoya City, Aichi)

The Toyota Technology Museum boasts over 4,000 exhibition pieces in their Nagoya-based building.

10. Suntory Kyoto Beer Factory (Nagaokakyo City, Kyoto)

Enjoy those free samples.

11. Asahi Beer Factory (Fukuoka City, Fukuoka)

This isn’t even the last alcohol-based tour on our list…

12. Suntory Tomi No Oka Winery (Kai City, Yamanashi)

For wine lovers.

13. Kirin Yokohama Beer Village (Yokohama City, Kanagawa)

Keep scrolling for more beer tour options.

14. Unagi Pie Factory (Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka)

Unagi Pies are a famous Hamamatsu City confectionery. After touring the factory, visitors are invited to try original ice cream creations using Unagi Pies.

15. Sapporo Beer Museum (Sapporo City, Hokkaido)

16. Suntory Hakushu Distillery (Hakuto City, Yamanashi)

17. Tokachi Winery (Tokachi City, Hokkaido)

18. Shiroi Koibito Park (Sapporo City, Hokkaido)

Enjoy sampling Hokkaido’s famous treat at the Shiroi Koibito Park.

19. Royce Chocolate World (Chitose City, Hokkaido)

Royce Chocolate World is in the New Chitose Airport. It is the first chocolate factory and museum located in an airport. 20. Cup Noodle Museum (Yokohama City, Kanagawa)

View 3,000 different packages of ramen and enjoy making your own at the Cup Noodle Museum.

There you have it, the top 20 factory tours in Japan starting and ending with ramen. Of the 20 factories listed, 11 are related to alcohol and five are located in Hokkaido. Suntory seems to hold great tours if the company’s five spots in the top 20 are any indication. But the lesson to take away from this list is that no matter where you go in Japan you’ll be able to find a factory tour giving out free alcohol. Happy drinking!

Source: NariNari

Read more stories form RocketNews24. -- Instant Ramen #1 on Favorite Japanese Factory Tours, Field Trips -- Free Admission – Twelve of Tokyo’s Best Kept Secrets -- Top 20 Japanese Travel Destinations For Foreign Visitors

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6 Comments Login to comment

Harry_Gatto June 6, 2013 08:42 am JST

Suntory and Nikka make whisky, not whiskey.

nicolls June 6, 2013 10:00 am JST

it's all food.

JetSpeed June 6, 2013 11:05 am JST

Bunch of damn drunks.

davestrousers June 6, 2013 11:37 am JST

Asahi Beer Factory (Fukuoka City, Fukuoka)

There are 8 Asahi Beer factories offering tours dotted around Japan. Any particular reason this one makes the top 20?

nath June 11, 2013 02:39 pm JST

@ dave because Kyushu was ill represented in this list.

Matt McCormick Oct. 1, 2013 06:50 am JST

The Sapporo beer museum doesn't do tours anymore. I was there two months ago and was disappointed going there. Basically it's just a room where you can see a couple vats and read about the history (only in Japanese)

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Honda News Alerts

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• Most recently published results first (Latest First)
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Japan -- Overview

The continued growth of Honda's 6-region global strategy has resulted in two separate and distinct roles for Honda's Japan operations - meeting the needs of local customers and strengthening the growing autonomy of overseas operations.

Facing stiff competition and a difficult economy in Japan, Honda has focused considerable attention on developing unique products for its customers in Japan, while continuing to focus on the flexibility and efficiency of the production facilities that produce these products and the sales networks that market them.

Further, in line with the strategy of making the most efficient use of global resources, Honda continues to play a vital role as a "global headquarters" - developing product and production technologies and coordinating their distribution and implementation to best serve each region's needs.

Sales/Product

• Honda earned "Japan Car of the Year" honors with the all-new Legend (Acura RL), Honda's flagship luxury performance sedan, with a 300-horspower engine and the world's first Super Handing All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system.
• Honda continues to import products made at Honda facilities outside Japan as part of the on-going strategy to make most efficient use of global resources.
• Honda became the world's first automaker to supply a fuel cell vehicle to private corporations in 2003, an important step for data collection both for fuel cell vehicles and the hydrogen infrastructure. Honda also started leasing FCX with Honda's original fuel cell stack, which is capable of starting in sub-freezing temperatures.
• Honda continues to expand the application of the world's first electronically controlled fuel injection system ('PGM-FI') for use in 4-stroke, 50cc motorcycle engines. The PGM-FI system offers improved fuel economy and a reduction in emissions below levels required by Japanese government regulations. All Honda scooters for sale in Japan will be converted to PGM-FI by 2007.
• Production of some ATV models was transferred from the U.S. to the Kumamoto Factory to strengthen the leader function of Japan in supporting the expansion of Honda's overseas operations.
• The casting and machining of diesel engines is being transferred from Honda's production engineering operations in Japan to the Suzuka Plant to increase mass production to meet greater demand in Europe and to serve as a leader function for the start-up of diesel engine production in the U.K.
• Honda's flexible New Manufacturing System is in place at all of Honda's auto and motorcycle plants in Japan - using standardized equipment and processes to minimize model-specific investment. Part of Honda's "Green Factory" initiative, the new system also reduces waste and energy use.

Research & Development

• Honda R&D was established as a separate company in 1960 to provide Honda engineers the freedom to pursue the best technologies for Honda customers. Even as Honda continues to localize R&D activities in each region around the world, Honda R&D in Japan remains at the core of the company's research efforts and product development - developing fundamental technologies, powertrains and platforms.
• Honda R&D established a new research facility in Tochigi focused on research into advanced technologies for next generation engines.

Public Tours

Heritage center self-guided tour.

A self-guided tour of the Honda Heritage Center Museum is available for individuals, families and groups. We welcome your visit during our open hours listed below.

• Thursdays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m
• Visit is free of charge .
• This visit is a self-guided tour of the museum and does not include an auto plant tour .
• Walk-ins are welcome.
• Guests under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
• Adults will need a government issued photo identification (driver’s license, passport, etc.) for check-in upon arrival.
• School groups, clubs and other community groups are welcome and require one adult per ten children.
• For groups larger than 60, please contact the Honda Heritage Center at 937-644-6888.
• Ample free parking.
• Allow 45 to 90 minutes for your visit.

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It looks like Honda factory at Kumamoto prefecture is the only factory that gives a motorcycle factory tour, but I don’t think there is a tour offered in English. Also, the tour is temporarily discontinued at this moment because of the transfer of control; I don’t know when they re-start the tour.

http://www.honda.co.jp/kumamoto/

Thanks for the info, I will go to the Toyota factory tour anyway.

This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity.

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10 Best Factory Tours in Japan

Bryce was born in California, but raised from the age of 3 near Seattle, Washington. He’s been living in Tokyo for about 7 years, and graduated from Temple University, Japan with degrees in economics and international business. He loves traveling of course, but also cooking, snowboarding, some video games as well. His biggest interest is songwriting/music production, more specifically electronic music… think Skrillex, Marshmello, Daft Punk, etc. He also has terrible humor as you’ll notice, but he hopes you’ll enjoy it!

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Japan is a country of innovation and meticulous craftsmanship, where the art of manufacturing is revered. If you’re a curious traveler eager to delve into the heart of Japanese culture, factory tours offer a unique and immersive experience. From tea plantations to whiskey distilleries , and even a knife factory, Japan’s factory tours showcase the nation’s dedication to quality and precision. In this guide, we’ve handpicked the best tours that provide an insightful glimpse into Japan’s industrial prowess. So, let’s grab our safety goggles and embark on an adventure through the fascinating world of Japanese manufacturing!

1. Matcha Green Tea Plantation and Matcha Factory Visit

2. special food & sake factory tour in takayama, 3. learn about and try the production of tatami, 4. soy sauce making experience tour, 5. whiskey distillery and beer factory tour in chitose and naganuma, 6. shizuoka tea picking private experience, 7. full day mud dyeing experience & hydrangea flowers viewing, 8. knife factory and craft walking tour, 9. ramen cooking class at ramen factory in kyoto, 10. exploring nada sake breweries kobe private tour with government-licensed guide, japan wonder travel tours , other articles you might enjoy.

Nestled in the serene city of Kyoto , this tour takes you to the enchanting world of Matcha green tea at one of the oldest plantations in the country. Immerse yourself in the lush green tea fields and witness the intricate process of Matcha production. From the cultivation of tea leaves to the finely ground powder, you’ll learn the secrets behind Japan’s iconic tea. Enjoy sampling a variety of freshly brewed cups of Matcha as well as some traditional sweets as you admire the picturesque surroundings. 

Enjoy a pleasant tour to learn about the production of sake as well as senbei (rice crackers) in the history-rich area of Takayama ! Visit a sake distillery as well as a rice cracker factory. Japan is well known for rice , of course, and for a good reason. There are many different delicacies that can be made from rice, and this tour is perfect for learning in-depth about a couple of them. This tour is a great balance between history, walking, snacks, and sake!

For a truly immersive cultural experience, head to Saitama Prefecture and explore the world of Tatami. Witness the craftsmanship behind these traditional woven mats and discover the significance they hold in Japanese homes . Engage in a hands-on experience, learning the art of Tatami making from skilled artisans. Enjoy a nice cup of tea included at the end of the tour, which is also a great time to shop for souvenirs!

Venture to Shizuoka Prefecture and uncover the savory secrets of Soy Sauce production. This tour takes you through the production process, allowing you to make your own bottle to take home and enjoy! Immerse yourself in the rich aromas and taste the authentic flavors of this beloved condiment. This tour is also great for those fascinated by history as the store, Meijiya, has been around for more than 100 years! What’s more is that the master of the store will be the one to guide you on the tour.

Calling all whiskey and beer aficionados! Embark on a journey to Hokkaido , more specifically  Chitose and Naganuma and explore the world of Japanese spirits. Visit a renowned whiskey distillery in the Maoi area of Naganuma, where master blenders create exquisite blends using time-honored techniques. Discover the intricate process of brewing beer at the Kirin brewery in Chitose and indulge in a tasting session of their Ichiban shibori. There’s also a tasty meal included in the tour to keep your palate ready for more refined beverages! 

Escape the city bustle and embrace the tranquility of Shizuoka’s tea fields. Engage in a private tea-picking experience, plucking fresh leaves under the guidance of tea masters. Immerse yourself in the peaceful surroundings as you learn about the various tea varieties and the traditional cultivation methods. Afterward, enjoy and savor the delicate flavors of freshly brewed tea, as well as take home a variety with you to enjoy!

If you plan to stay in Shizuoka any longer, especially in the summer, be sure to check out the beaches !

Unleash your creativity and try your hand at the intricate mud dyeing techniques. Join this hands-on workshop in Tokyo, where you’ll learn the art of mud dyeing, known as Dorozome. Create unique patterns on cloth using natural pigments and take home a one-of-a-kind souvenir. In addition, explore the enchanting beauty of 10,000 hydrangea flowers in full bloom on Mt. Hydrangea (yes, translated from Japanese, that is actually the name!), adding a touch of nature to your cultural experience. You’ll also be able to enjoy a traditional Kaiseki-style lunch!

Discover the ancient craft of knife making in Sakai, a city renowned for its exceptional blades. This walking tour takes you through the process of forging and sharpening traditional Japanese knives. Meet skilled craftsmen who have honed their craft for generations and witness their meticulous attention to detail. You’ll have the chance to order your own custom blade and watch it be prepared in front of you! Visit the local museum afterward to learn more about knife history, as well as more about Sakai. Also, you’ll be able to enjoy the regionally famous sweet, Yatsuhashi , which also makes for a great souvenir . 

Delve into the world of Japan’s most beloved comfort food— Ramen ! Or is it just our favorite? Let’s not argue… anyways, Join a cooking class at the Ramen Factory in Kyoto and learn to make this iconic dish from scratch. Under the guidance of experienced chefs, craft your own noodles, simmer flavorful broths, and assemble your personalized bowl of Ramen. Unleash your culinary creativity as you experiment with toppings and seasonings. Savor the satisfaction of devouring a steaming bowl of your own creation. Slurp away! 

Complete your manufacturing tour adventure in the city of Nada, the sake capital of Japan, where sake breweries teem and await your exploration. Embark on a private tour with a knowledgeable guide and dive into the world of Nada Sake. Learn about the intricate sake brewing process and discover the nuances that define each brew. With a variety of 8 different breweries to choose from, it will be no problem to savor the flavors of different sake varieties through tastings and gain insights into the rich cultural heritage of sake production. 

Japan Wonder Travel is a travel agency that offers guided tours throughout Japan.  From private walking tours to delicious Food and Drink tours, we can help you organize the best tours just for you! If you want to explore Japan and learn more about the history and backstories of each area you are visiting, our knowledgeable and friendly English speaking guides will happily take you to the best spots!  In addition, we can provide you with any assistance you may need for your upcoming trip to Japan, so please feel free to contact us if yu have any questions or need some help! 

▶ Tokyo Fish Market Tour @Tsukiji – Enjoy Local Food and Drink Explore the most lively and popular fish market in Tokyo and try some of the local’s favorite street foods and sake with one of our friendly and knowledgeable English speaking guides! 

▶ Tokyo 1–Day Highlights Private Walking Tour (8 Hours) There’s no better way to explore an area than taking a tour with a knowledgeable local guide. You will have the chance to learn about the history and interesting background stories of Tokyo, as well as discover some hidden gems which can be hard to do without a guide.

▶ Mt. Fuji Day Trip Bus Tour from Tokyo Experience the breathtaking views of Mt. Fuji by visiting the highlights of the area on our guided sightseeing bus tour! Departing from Shinjuku in central Tokyo, you can travel comfortably to all of the best spots in the area by bus.

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Some foreign-made cars might be delayed as auto companies figure out port deliveries

Camila Domonoske

Cars exit from the Baltimore Port after the cargo ship Dali ran into and collapsed the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Md., on Tuesday. Two people were pulled alive from the water, two bodies were recovered and four people were presumed dead. The men were working on the bridge at the time of the collision at 1:30 a.m. Kena Betancur/Getty Images hide caption

Cars exit from the Baltimore Port after the cargo ship Dali ran into and collapsed the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Md., on Tuesday. Two people were pulled alive from the water, two bodies were recovered and four people were presumed dead. The men were working on the bridge at the time of the collision at 1:30 a.m.

When the Francis Scott Key Bridge was struck by a cargo ship and collapsed, it was a shocking disaster that took the lives of six men working on the bridge at the time.

It also blocked off much of the port.

That raised alarm bells in the auto industry — because the Port of Baltimore handles more cars and light trucks than any other port in the U.S., and clearing the debris could take months .

Automakers were quick to emphasize that they were adapting . GM says it is rerouting deliveries. Stellantis is working on "contingency plans." Mercedes says it has options. Mazda says it has yet to finalize alternatives to this "vital" port. But it's not easy.

What we know and don't know about Baltimore's Key Bridge collapse

More from WYPR in Baltimore:

• Construction worker says friends, colleagues missing in bridge collapse
• Federal government pledges full support to rebuild FSK bridge, reopen port

For the latest from member station WYPR in Baltimore head to wypr.org

Imported cars travel in special ships

That's because rerouting an imported vehicle is a lot more complicated than redirecting a shipping container . Not all ports are equally equipped to unload the vessels that carry vehicles — a special "roll-on roll-off," or ro-ro ship.

And once unloaded, vehicles need to be inspected for damage and often need to have accessories or electronics installed. There's important paperwork after a car comes off a ship before it can can go to a dealer.

That all happens at a port facility that's typically built right next to where the ships unload, and it's a big reason why the vessels can't be sent just anywhere — even if you can get them off the ship at another port, who's going to install the subwoofers and finalize the window sticker?

Still, companies have several options, even though these might cause delays.

Part of the Baltimore port can still accept vehicles

First, part of the Baltimore port that handles vehicles is still operational.

The Tradepoint Atlantic terminal is located at the mouth of the harbor, before the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Volkswagen and BMW operate there, and as a result, those two automakers expect no impacts from the disaster. On Wednesday, a ship with Volkswagens arrived and was able to dock like normal.

Tradepoint Atlantic says its operation is "well equipped to handle additional levels of [vehicle] cargo. Plans to accept redirected cargo are underway, including the ability to handle the increased capacity."

Unload cars at a different port and drive them to Baltimore

Second, automakers could unload vehicles from a ship at a different port altogether and then drive them to their Baltimore facilities for those crucial processing steps, like inspections and part installations.

The Port of New York and New Jersey says it would be able to take vehicles off a ship and put them immediately on a car carrier truck bound for Baltimore, three hours away.

"Our thoughts are with all of those impacted by this collapse," Bethann Rooney, port director, said in a statement, adding that the port "is proactively working with our industry partners to respond as needed and ensure supply chain continuity along the East Coast."

Those two options would also have a benefit for Baltimore as the city reels from the loss of a crucial bridge. They would allow at least some port jobs to continue, boosting the local economy, while the waterways are blocked.

Cars can also go to vehicle-focused ports farther away

As a third option, automakers could use a port farther afield, where they are already processing other vehicles.

For instance, Brunswick in Georgia is the second busiest port for vehicles after Baltimore — and Mercedes and Subaru, which import many vehicles through Baltimore, also have large processing operations there.

Officials at Brunswick say that the port has been contacted by companies as an interim solution while the Baltimore port is partially blocked, and that the port has unused capacity to process another 200,000 vehicles per year.

So that one port could absorb a significant chunk of the vehicles normally routed through Baltimore, which processed just shy of 850,000 vehicles last year. Other ports are also home to vehicle processing centers.

However, using a more distant port would mean a longer journey to dealerships. On the upside, because many vessels carrying vehicles make multiple stops up and down the East Coast, it might not require a detour at sea; that ro-ro ship would just unload more vehicles than originally planned at other ports, to make up for what it can't drop off at Baltimore.

Automakers and logistic companies could use a combination of strategies to address this shipping disruption.