yamaha factory tour japan

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YAMAHA Piano Factory Tour ヤマハピアノ工場見学

Observe the finest Japanese craftsmanship at the piano factory with the aroma of wood

ADDRESS 1480 Ryouke, Kakegawa-shi 436-0038 TRANSPORT From Hamamatsu Station [TRAIN] JR Tokaido Shinkansen Kodama or JR Tokaido Line "Kakegawa" station then take a taxi (15 minutes) Or Tenryu Hamanako Railroad "Sakuragi" station then walk ( 8 minutes) [CAR] Around 20 minute from Shin Tomei Expressway Mori Kakegawa I.C. Around 20 minute from Tomei Expressway Kakegawa I.C. or Fukuroi I.C. 2021.4.30 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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Yamaha Corporation – Factory Tour

Yamaha corporation is one of the world’s leading musical instrument manufacturers. founded in 1887 in hamamatsu city, yamaha started its journey as a piano and reed organ manufacturer through its founder mr torakusu yamaha. yamaha also manufactures high-quality audio and video equipment, semiconductors and other electronic components. the company is the largest shareholder of yamaha motor which started as an affiliated company but later became independent..

Corporate Information

• Company : Yamaha Corporation
• Foundation : 1887
• Location : Shizuoka Prefecture
• Main Business : Manufacturing of musical instruments, audio equipment and industrial machinery/components

Yamaha Corporation – Lean Characteristics

Quality management, 5s, visual management.

Yamaha Corporation is synonymous around the world for manufacturing quality musical instruments. The company has established a system to efficiently manufacture and supply products globally. Today, the company has its production and sales bases over 30 countries and regions around the world. Yamaha operates three factories in Japan for the production of musical instruments – all within Shizuoka Prefecture.

Yamaha is guided by the corporate philosophy of “Sharing Passion & Performance” and the company aspires to fulfil this mission by consistently providing high quality products and services that exceed their customers’ expectations.

The company controls the quality of its products based on its quality management system. The Quality Committee made up of quality control managers from different divisions including business and sales divisions deliberates on the corporate-wide quality policies, objectives and measures and deploys them to all business divisions as the directions of the president. Each division then sets its own quality objectives in line with the quality policies and objectives set by the president. The Corporation Quality Assurance Division checks the monthly quality reports submitted by each division and conducts quality audits to ensure every effort is made so that the target set by each division is fulfilled.

The company also has a good 5S implementation and visual management practices in place.

Life changing experience. The tour was extremely well prepared: 1. In terms of logistics and schedule, everything was organized to provide enough time for full day efficiency without putting too much physical or cognitive strain. 2. In terms of quality of information, the senseis’ knowledge is world-class level and they were more than willing to… read more

A high quality, professional and first-hand experience of how just-in-time and lean are mastered. Great for professional development and a genuine motivator to go further using the lean tools available. A marvelous cultural experience. read more

I personally believe that an understanding of lean as a holistic concept combined with lean tools is necessary for all managers in any business. Shinka Management introduced us to the origins of lean production and provided a great opportunity to observe real companies where TPS principles are both implemented and being polished daily. Important parts… read more

I enjoyed every aspect of this extremely well organised kaizen tour including: factory visits, translations by Paul and Ben, TPS training, sightseeing, accommodation, transportation, and meals. This tour is a must for anyone trying to understand / implement LEAN into their business or organisation. I hope the tour continues for many years to come as… read more

The fact that you can go past all the books and see the Toyota Production System in action first hand is fantastic. It is not sold in a complicated form by those involved but rather the opposite. The training room was found to be hands on and simple allowing us to touch and feel examples… read more

Amazing experience, exceptional learning. If you want to learn about Lean go on this tour! read more

The Shinka Management Lean Japan Tour is a professional development program run several times annually. The program includes a mix of lean and kaizen seminars, hands-on lean training and visits to several benchmark lean companies. For further information and program dates, see the lean tour overview page.

Tour Inquiries

Interested in joining us in Japan? For additional information prior to registration please fill in the form provided or contact us .

The above form is for inquiries related to the Lean Japan Tour program, Shinka Management consulting and training services, and lean manufacturing software products. Shinka Management does not represent Yamaha. For Yamaha-related product and service inquiries, please contact Yamaha directly.

YAMAHA FACTORY TOUR – Manufacturing that produces memorable experiences

MT series, including the MT-09 and MT-07, which became very popular by the torque engine to light the body. New YZF-R1, which swept the racing world while debut year, such as the Suzuka 8-hrs Endurance Race, All Japan Road Race and BSB. Anyway, YAMAHA motorcycles are very powerful and on many people's mind recently.

At that time, I received a invitation "Do you come to the factory tour?" from YAMAHA　Motor Co., Ltd.,. The staff of Webike news editorial department went to YAMAHA Co.Ltd., while excitement.

YAMAHA Co.Ltd. manufacture approximately 600 million motorcycle in the world. In which, JAPAN IWATA Factory manufacture approximately 22 million motorcycle. The motorcycle to be produced in JAPAN is mainly a high-performance sports vehicle. In overseas factories, they mainly produce a small engine displacement commuter.

We were able to visit a building so called BUILDING 7. On that day, they produced multiple of models such as BOLT, TMAX, SR and Off-road competition models such as YZ250 and PW50 in the same factory.

If you notice ""Does YAMAHA factory has many production line that is possible to produce the various models at the same time?"" you're very smart.

In fact, Most of those models are produced at the same production line. Then, when reaching a certain number, it will be switched model to be produced.

It means that the BOLT and TMAX530 are produced in the same production line.

This production method that produce one after another motorcycle in the flow production in one of the line is called ”line-type”. It would be helpful to you to image such as automobile manufacturing process.

However, If I say a impression of the line-type manufacturing process of Yamaha Motor Co.,Ltd without fear of misunderstanding, there are many workers.

They assemble a motorcycle with approximately few meters interval side by side towards another person.

I was surprised at all these number of people was engaged to assemble a single motorcycle. That was beyond my expectations, because I expected more automated factories.

In a line type production line, it switches several line each day. It can produce roughly 6-model (!) on the same day.

Unlike automobile vehicle, each motorcycle has different engine and body depending on the model. There are many kinds of motorcycle that only have small lot production/manufacturer. It is courteously and efficiently done by the large number of skilled personnel who are being mentioned above.

On the other hand, Some motorcycle that have been manufactured for many years, and the production volume is not so many such as SR and PW50 were produced by method with two person that is called a cell type.

This method is referred as the efficiency for better work in pairs when attaching each part, but there is also another advantage to pass on motorcycle manufacturing technology and educate the newcomer.

Each motorcycle is built up carefully by an employee of YAMAHA with cell type and line type, and taken complete inspection finally.

Only the person who have special qualifications that are familiar with all of the manufacturing process can be carried out a complete inspection.

They check from the mounting of the exterior and parts, starting the engine, opening the accelerator and changing shift gear.

I saw they checked with all senses such as feel and sound obtained from one of the motorcycle.

YAMAHA motorcycles are produced carefully one by one, and those are delivered to Japanese and foreign users.

They would be based on sincere attitude to make things by a lot of people who work at the factory. There were many photos of the employee that enjoying the tour by own motorcycle in the factory area.

YAMAHA Motorcycle, which is produced by motorcycle enthusiast seriously.

I am very proud and purely glad that my motorcycle is one of that motorcycle.

The YAMAHA Factory Tour was a splendid experience that let me feel such a enjoyable feeling.

*The photo is provided from YAMAHA Motor Co.,Ltd because taking picture in the YAMAHA Factory is prohibited. *Currently, it does not seem to accept the YAMAHA Factory Tour towards the general.

See YAMAHA Moto Index Page

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Yamaha Corporation Kakegawa Factory Harmony Plaza

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Grand Piano Factory Tour, Yamaha Kakegawa Factory

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GRAND PIANO FACTORY TOUR, YAMAHA KAKEGAWA FACTORY - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Visit Japan’s Big Four Motorcycle Museums

The Big Four Museum Tour. Welcome to Japan and our virtual walk around of Japan’s Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki motorcycle museums.

Japan’s Motorcycle Museums

Japan’s bike boom in the ‘60s was so loud it nearly wiped out both the British and American motorcycle industries with one punch.

Japanese production skyrocketed. Their rapidly advancing technology, innovative design and affordable price tags continuously obliterated overseas competition until they crumbled, leaving only four manufacturers standing – the Big Four: Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Suzuki.

The two-wheeled titans still dominate today’s markets, selling millions of motorcycles worldwide every year. Japanese bikes are now so intrinsically woven into British motorcycling’s fabric that we forget their roots.

So, we visited each of the Big Four museums for a peek at their humble beginnings, pivotal machines, legendary race bikes and eclectic mix of exotica.

Visiting Japan’s motorcycle museums is like walking around a bank of jewels, these machines are exquisitely preserved slices of history, and here’s the best of the bunch…

Honda Motorcycle Museum

As the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer, King Honda takes the Big Four crown and has the most impressive castle (museum). And it’s not just hiding away in some back-alley trading estate either. Honda lovingly built the museum in their Twin Ring Motegi race track facility. Spend a tenner to enter the grounds and you can stroll round the museum for free.

Like a sweet cake, the museum is brimming with layer upon layer of deliciously preserved treats. Walk through the front door and you’re met by the stunning 1959 RC142. It was the first Honda to compete in the Isle of Man TT races, where Naomi Taniguchi took the bike into sixth place, won Silver Replica and helped Honda win the Manufacturers’ Team Award in their first ever race.

Keep going and it just gets better with specials like Honda’s first auxiliary engine powered bicycle and their first ever motorcycle – the D Type. It’s not all meticulously preserved old-school show pieces though. Head upstairs and you’re met with a prestigious HRC line-up, including rows of Freddie Spencer’s and Wayne Gardner’s bikes, two-stroke GP machinery, a selection of RC212Vs, Dakar racers, off-roaders, Formula 1 race cars (including Sir John Surtees’ car), scooters, tourers, sports cars and even lawnmowers! Hundreds of beautiful motorcycles are shown off under spotlights, all delicately wrapped in gorgeous paint. Honda’s Collection Hall is seriously impressive and a must-do pilgrimage for motorcycle lovers.

Did you know…

Soichiro Honda built his first bike in 1948 by strapping a modified WWII radio generator engine to a bicycle to help his wife on her long bicycle rides for the weekly shop. He ended up buying a batch of them to sell on and quickly sold out. So, he began developing his own engine instead – the Honda A-Type. Honda bought a small factory and set up shop, calling it Honda Motor Company…

Yamaha Motorcycle Museum

Nippon Gakki (now known as Yamaha Corporation) was originally a musical instrument manufacturer. During WWII, the firm built aircraft propellers and the end of the war had to put its metal work machinery and expertise to use elsewhere, deciding on the motorcycle business in 1955. The YA-1 was the company’s first bike, its director, Genichi Kawakami, created Yamaha Motor Co. as a spin-off and set to work in a small wooden factory with 150 employees.

The YA-1 was immediately entered into and won Japan’s two most prestigious races. Kawakami knew he was onto a winner, cemented Yamaha’s place as a formidable newcomer in the motorcycle scene and pushed Yamaha into the forefront of sports models like the YDS-1 (nicknamed Japan’s first sports model).

Yamaha’s pristine museum is set-up to showcase its sporting lineage. Mint racers line the three floors with a complete timeline of proud YA-1s all the way up to Rossi’s YZR-M1. And to top it off, the pianist on the centre piece Yamaha piano complete with mini orchestra playing Mozart’s Seventh Symphony is a nice touch.

Suzuki Motorcycle Museum

Michio Suzuki started up a loom company in 1909, and like Honda, started building clip-on bicycle engines after the War. And, like Yamaha, was late to the game with its first motorcycle in 1953 – the Diamond Free.  The firm’s museum showcases its beginnings in the looming industry all the way through to its first motorcycle and car manufacturing facilities.

Kawasaki Motorcycle Museum

The Kawasaki Heavy Industries museum is an eye-opener… but not for its bikes. The motorcycle section is tiny compared to what else the firm showcases. While Kawasaki is the oldest of the Big Four, (dating back to 1878) it was the latest to join the motorcycle scene (in1962). The firm has always been rather busy manufacturing a long list of heavy goods, including: planes, trains, industrial robots, spacecraft, submarines, ships, tankers, helicopters, defence equipment, energy plants and so on. Luckily, they managed to find time to squeeze in the original H1, which shot Kawasaki to success… literally.

How to Visit Japans Motorcycle Museums

Honda Collection Hall Stars: 5 Where: Motegi. Click here for the exact location. Entrance fee: £10

Yamaha Communications Plaza Stars: 4 Where: Hamamatsu. Click here for the exact location.  Entrance fee: Free

Suzuki Cultural History Museum Stars: 3 Where: Hamamatsu. Click here for the exact location.  Entrance fee: Free

Kawasaki Good Times World Stars: 2 Where: Kobe. Click here for the exact location. Entrance fee: £5

Read more on motorcycle travel in Japan

Thanks for checking out our Motorcycle Travel in Japan Guide. We hope you enjoyed it! Here’s a few more articles on motorcycling in Japan that we recommend you read next. 

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• Motorcycling in Japan

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2 thoughts on “visit japan’s big four motorcycle museums”.

Thank you for this excellent article on the Big 4 Motorcycle Museums. I will do my best to see as many as I can in a few weeks when I visit Japan.

Hi Martin, Thanks for your comment and I’m really glad to hear you found this article helpful! And that’s brilliant to hear you’re off to Japan – what a beautiful country! My favourite was the Honda museum – so don’t miss that one! Please report back on here with how you got on 🙂 Cheers and all the best, Andy

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Grand Piano Factory Tour, Yamaha Kakegawa Factory

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GRAND PIANO FACTORY TOUR, YAMAHA KAKEGAWA FACTORY - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

A visit to Yamaha Japan

on October 7, 2015

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There currently is a late burst of near summer weather. So I went for a ride to visit Yamaha in Shizuoka.

Mostly highway but I detoured a couple of times to try my luck at two highly rated Mt Fuji view locations to break it up. I would not call myself a fanboy of any one brand of car or bike or phone but I do genuinely find some makers producing things I like more than others the last 10 years.

I really wanted the MT-01 when it came out but in Australia it was $21K at the time so I ended up on a Buell followed by a few other bikes when my mate instead went ahead with the MT-01 (negotiating a better deal I might add) and still has it now and can service it at home (pushrods) and says it might be last bike he buys which is high praise from someone who was a hardcore Kawasaki fan.

Anyway I seem to like a lot of what Yamaha have been doing in recent years so I decided to go for a trip to see them. I visited Kawasaki in Kobe some years back when passing by and they had a rather small display but the Yamaha visitor centre or Communication Plaza as it is called is much better.

First up I had to escape the metropolis of greater Tokyo and leaving at 7am not riding inbound I still wound up grid lock in the outer areas but eventually got out to Ebina where I took a break to settle my nerves at a highway service area. Mt Fuji soon came up on my right and was clear however there was no snow at it’s peak at all despite already being October. By the time I got to Shizuoka and my first stop Miho Beach unfortunately haze had taken a strong hold on the horizon and the view was to be frank lousy so I tried a few HDR shots but gave up then rode on to my second destination the Nihondaira Parkway.

Lots of bikes, the local racetrack it seems with one persons bike crashed on a curve. There is a cable car to the top of the mountain but I decided with the haze it was not worth it this time. This is photo on the way back down which is 5 exposures merged to try de-haze the scene. (unsuccessfully)

The communication plaza has a large number of motorcycles on display, most of Yamaha’s significant models from their beginnings as well as many beautiful and famous race bikes. I will just post a few.

There is a lot of bikes, two floors of historic models and a limited number of the current range. Some are setup for you to sit on and try as there is also a R1 simulator. My knees and shoulder were ready to get off the R1 after just a short spell, ha-ha been 20 years since I crunched my body up to fit on a race bike.

Another section for concepts and an off road bike area too with some Dakar stuff. Then there is a small Yamaha marine and engine section. I knew Yamaha had a couple of times in the past contributed to cars from Toyota from when I went to the Toyota museum in Nagoya (which is excellent) but that collaboration seems to have been much bigger going by the number of Toyota/Yamaha car engines here. Just the two cars on display but one just happens to be perhaps my favourite car ever the 2000GT which no doubt would be worth far more than the Lexus LFA sitting next to it (a millon dollars one in USA recently).

A surprise was the on site library, free for guests which was huge and I wish I had allowed more time since it held 1000’s of interesting motorcycle books. Maybe I will go back another time when I have completed Japanese studies and spend the day in there.

There is a good cafe and a merchandise shop on site although the prices of the shirts and apparel were a bit high for me. Perhaps I would have enjoyed more audio visual, especially of their racing history, maybe it was there and I missed it. I wish Yamaha (or any of the big four makers) had a ride centre to test ride a bike like how Toyota offers you to test drive any car on private road at their Tokyo display centre. I guess dealers do this sort of thing but I am not aware of such being not able to read the language but I still loved the Toyota centre and think it must go some way to getting people to think well I have tried that model and it worked for me so why gamble with another brand that I was not able to sample.

I sat on a few models and also could examine the true kerb weight of the bikes fully fueled which I wish magazines would publish rather than dry weight which is really meaningless. My FJR fully fuelled and ready to ride is a significant 296kg, no wonder I struggle at times. I guess my skill is lacking as the police here ride these like they are 250cc bikes although for me I still think it is the high COG that I find difficult in U-turns etc. Race type bikes excluded, the true light bike in the current road bike range is the MT07 with a kerb weight of just 186kg. That just happens to also be another of the current bikes I like at the moment. Well to be precise the yard build version Yamaha are calling the XSR700 which was not on display.

Basically a Yamaha take on the current shed built scene, it naturally has the same MT-07 270 degree 700cc twin which makes ample power for me on the street and I think it would be a lot of fun to ride in the country roads here however whenever I look at other bikes I am back to my old dilemma. I want the comfort of the FJR with it’s cruise control and electric screen but I also want the nimble smaller bike and more classic looks. For now I keep looking and thinking. Well I really enjoyed visiting Yamaha today, what a great day out.

10 Comments

Wow thanks for sharing that Warren. What a blast that would have been to wander around and look at all those sexy Yammys. I'd like to have a go of the R1 sim…what I don't need to hahahha I already have the real deal. My knees must be in better condition than yours as mine don't hurt after even hours on my bike.

Did they have tours of the factory where they build the stuff? Again excellent post mate.

Dirt bike crashes to blame for my knees. Especially the left which will freeze up if leg is rearwards on peg leaving me unable to change gears. Ah the folly of youth.

No factory tour unfortunately. I stopped at the gate and took a photo of my bike back at it's home but strictly no entry. However it was a nice day out, lots of wonderful bikes, many I had never seen before.

It's a long ride from Tokyo. Would really be better spread over two days and see some more of the area. Or take the bullet train which at 300kph makes it a easy day trip. But then that would have been a Yamaha owner riding a Kawasaki (who make the bullet trains) to visit Yamaha. 🙂

That look alike a great place to spend a few hours and maybe do a little drooling over bikes as well as learn some history.

Although we have two Yahama's in the garage we are not too brand centric also having a Suzuki, Triumph, and then the Kawasaki KZ900 project bike.

Thank for sharing.

That sounds like a nice garage 🙂

this is a great place for bike lover. this is truly a sacred place for bike lover. I like this place and its route.

Awesome post. Thanks for sharing. Love the photos too and I aim to visit there one day.

Thanks, it is worth visiting!

Thanks Warren, Great descriptions and info. I wld love a sim ride. My MT 07 Tracer is great but thinking of upgrading to MT 09. Any sim for 09? Will be in Japan April without bike. Is bullet train return to Tokyo and Yamaha visit doable in 1 day? Thanks mate.

New MT-09 Tracer looks a very impressive bike.

Yes you can get to Hamamatsu and back in a day from Tokyo.

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Tohoku motorcycle tour..

Headquarters (Hamamatsu)

10-1, Nakazawacho, Chuo-ku Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka, 430-8650, Japan

Tokyo Office

2-17-11, Takanawa, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8568, Japan

Osaka Office

Namba Tsujimoto Bld., 1-13-17, Namba-naka, Naniwa-ku Osaka-shi, Osaka, 556-0011, Japan

Kakegawa Factory

1480, Ryoke, Kakegawa-shi, Shizuoka, 436-0038, Japan

Toyooka Factory

203, Matsunokijima, Iwata-shi, Shizuoka, 438-0125, Japan

Tenryu Factory

283, Aoyacho, Chuo-ku Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka, 435-0037, Japan

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