【Kanto】Experience Japanese Craftsmanship! Factory Tours for Adults Selected by Travel Experts and Fun Factory Visits to Enjoy with Children

Would you like to experience Japanese “monozukuri” (craftsmanship and manufacturing)?

Across Japan, there are countless fascinating factory tours and hands-on experiences, from those that satisfy the curiosity of adults to interactive spots that families can enjoy together. In this article, a former tour conductor with 14 years of travel guide experience has carefully selected recommended beer factories and food factories in the Kanto region—spots that both adults and children can enjoy. Since many of these facilities are very popular and can be difficult to book, we have also included a ranking for how easy it is to make a reservation. Discover Japanese technology and culture through factory tours and hands-on experiences!

*In Japan, drinking alcohol under the age of 20 is prohibited.

*Please make sure to check the latest information yourself before visiting.

*If you purchase or book products introduced in this article, a portion of the sales may be returned to FUN! JAPAN.

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Recommended for Adults! 5 Factory Tours to Spark Your Curiosity

Factory tours are one of the most popular activities in Japan. As a result, some facilities have become so popular that it can be difficult to secure a reservation. In this article, we have ranked each facility by how easy it is to make a reservation.

Ease of Reservation Ranking

• ★☆☆☆☆ (1 star): Very difficult to book / Extremely popular! Booking depends on luck
• ★★☆☆☆ (2 stars): Somewhat difficult to book / Early reservation recommended
• ★★★☆☆ (3 stars): Relatively easy to book / Fairly accessible
• ★★★★☆ (4 stars): Almost always available / Easy to book
• ★★★★★ (5 stars): No reservation required

【Tokyo】YEBISU BREWERY TOKYO

This is the brand's experience facility where you can immerse yourself in the history and world of YEBISU Beer, opened in 2024 inside Ebisu Garden Place. The guided tour “YEBISU the JOURNEY” offers a deep dive into over 130 years of YEBISU’s history and brewing process. You can also enjoy a tasting of the freshly brewed “YEBISU BREWERY TOKYO” flagship beer, “YEBISU ∞ (YEBISU Infinity),” which is only available here.

🍺 Includes one glass of beer (or non-alcoholic beer or soft drink) and mixed nuts

Even if you don’t join the tour, you can freely explore the facility for free.

👉 Recommended by travel professionals

It’s just a 5-minute walk from JR Ebisu Station, making it an ideal spot to enjoy along with other nearby attractions.

• Those under 20 years old cannot participate in the tour alone.
• The guided tour is only available in Japanese.

【Kanagawa】Kirin Brewery Yokohama Factory

This is a recommended factory tour for beer afficionados. It’s a popular spot where you can observe the production process of Kirin Brewery, one of Japan’s leading beer manufacturers. With the theme “See, Learn, Taste,” you can enjoy discovering the secrets of delicious beer with all five senses. On the tour, you can sample malt, experience the aroma of hops, and even have the rare opportunity to compare the first wort and second wort before they become beer. At the end of the tour, you can enjoy a tasting of freshly brewed Ichiban Shibori. Factory-exclusive items are also available for purchase as souvenirs.

👉 Recommended by travel professionals

After the tour, you can enjoy dishes that pair perfectly with beer at the beer hall on the premises. A stroll through the lush, green factory grounds is also recommended.

• Reservations cannot be made by those under 20 years old alone; you must apply together with someone aged 20 or older.
• The tour is conducted in Japanese only.

【Tokyo】JAL SKY MUSEUM

A must-visit for aviation fans, this is a hugely popular facility where you can learn in depth about the history of JAPAN AIRLINES (JAL), one of Japan’s major airlines, and the various jobs related to aviation. Inside, there are extensive displays of actual historical items such as successive generations of cabin crew uniforms and rare flight bags. Both adults and children can try on uniforms and take commemorative photos in a cockpit mock-up, letting you feel like a pilot or cabin attendant.

The most popular part is the hangar tour, which is usually off-limits. Seeing the massive aircraft up close is truly impressive. During the tour, you can also visit the museum shop, where you can purchase original JAL goods.

👉 Recommended by travel professionals 

A special opportunity to see aircraft up close—an experience you can only have here.

• For safety reasons, children below elementary school age are not allowed to enter.
• Due to the high popularity of the tour, please check the official website one month before your desired visit date. 

For detailed notes, click here 👉 https://www.jal.com/ja/kengaku/en/

【Saitama】Mint Museum of Saitama Branch

 

This is a rare facility where you can observe the coin manufacturing process—something only available at three locations in Japan. At the factory, you can watch coins and medals being produced through glass windows, and at the museum, you can enjoy learning about the history of money through collections of old domestic and international currency, as well as valuable coins from the modern era onward. Highlights also include exhibits on the latest anti-counterfeiting technology, medals awarded at past sporting events held in Japan, and commemorative coins.

👉 Recommended by travel professionals

If you do not join a guided tour, you can visit without a reservation. However, the factory tour introduction video (guided tour) is available not only in Japanese but also in English, Chinese (subtitles), and Korean (subtitles), so joining the guided tour is recommended.

【Saitama】Kinbue Syoyu Park

Kinbue Syoyu (Soy Sauce) Park is a facility operated by FUEKI SYOYU BREWING, a long-established soy sauce brewery with a 230-year history, where you can “eat,” “learn,” “shop,” and “play.” On the factory tour “Kinbue Syoyu Gakko,” you can enjoyably learn about soy sauce making that has continued since the Edo period. At the soy sauce brewery’s restaurant, we recommend the homemade udon menu, where you can compare different types of soy sauce.

👉 Recommended Points by Travel Experts

At the restaurant, you can enjoy desserts made with soy sauce. Unique sweets such as Soy Sauce Roll Cake, Soy Sauce Dango, and Kinbue Soft Serve Ice Cream are highly recommended and can only be tasted here.

Enjoy with Your Kids! 5 Delicious Interactive Factory Tours

【Chiba】 Glicopia CHIBA

This is an ice cream factory tour facility of Ezaki Glico, a Japanese food manufacturer. It is a popular spot, often used for elementary school field trips. On the tour, you can enjoyably learn about the history and production process of ice cream, see the production lines for Papico and Seventeen Ice, and watch videos about Glico’s history. After the tour, you can sample “Papico,” making this a highly recommended factory tour to enjoy with children.

👉 Recommended Points by Travel Experts

At the shop, you can purchase region-limited snacks and a wide variety of Papico.

【Saitama】Akagi Nyugyo Honjo Senbon Sakura “5S” Factory

The factory tour of Akagi Nyugyo, known for the hugely popular ice candy “Garigari-kun” among children, is one of the most sought-after tours, with reservations being hard to get. You can observe the production lines for Garigari-kun and other ice creams, enjoy unique exhibits, and see Garigari-kun illustrations throughout the facility, making the experience fun from start to finish.

At the Garigari-kun Hiroba, you can freely choose and enjoy as many Garigari-kun and other ice creams as you like from the freezer for about 20 minutes. At the end, you'll also receive an original souvenir as a special bonus. Since reservations are made by lottery, you'll need some luck, but this is a highly recommended spot, especially during the hot summer months.

👉 Recommended by Travel Experts

You can make fascinating discoveries about ice, perfect for independent research projects. Be sure to check out the factory-exclusive merchandise as well.

• Children of elementary school age and younger are required to bring indoor shoes with heels.
• Guided tours are only available in Japanese. Inquiries in languages other than Japanese are not accepted.

【Gunm】 Konnyaku Park

This is a theme park dedicated to konnyaku (konjac), a specialty of Gunma Prefecture. No reservation is required, and you can tour the konnyaku production line at the factory.

The biggest attraction is the free konnyaku buffet, where you can enjoy as many varieties of konnyaku dishes as you like, including konnyaku jelly and noodles. In the paid, reservation-only "Handmade Konnyaku Workshop," you can try making your own konnyaku. Be sure to try the unique local specialty, konnyaku soft serve ice cream, as well. You can have fun learning about the deliciousness and traditional culture of konnyaku, making it perfect for a family outing. This facility is also highly rated by the FUN! JAPAN staff, with the konnyaku karaage at the buffet corner being especially popular.

👉 Recommended by Travel Experts

If you get tired, relax in the foot bath inside the facility. There is also the Untama Shrine, where you can pray for health and good fortune.

【Kanagawa】CUPNOODLES MUSEUM YOKOHAMA

This is a hands-on food education museum where you can enjoy learning about the "creative thinking" of Momofuku Ando, the inventor of the world's first instant ramen, Chicken Ramen. Many children from across Asia also visit this museum. At the "My CUPNOODLES Factory," you can design your own cup, choose your favorite soup and toppings, and create your very own original Cup Noodles (500 yen per serving).

Inside the museum, you'll find a variety of attractions where you can see, touch, and taste—such as exhibits on the history of instant ramen and a section where you can sample noodle dishes from around the world. It's a hugely popular spot where both children and adults can experience the fun of invention and discovery.

👉Recommended by Travel Experts

The exhibits are extensive, and the Instant Ramen History Cube, which displays a wide variety of Cup Noodles released over the years, is especially impressive.

My CUPNOODLES Factory

※2: A separate admission fee is required (Adults: 500 yen, Free for high school students and younger).

👉[kkday] Yokohama｜Cup Noodles Museum and Chinatown Guided Tour

【Kanagawa】Kiyoken Yokohama Factory

This factory offers a behind-the-scenes look at the production of Yokohama’s famous “Shiumai” dumplings and bento lunch boxes. During the guided tour, you’ll learn about the history of “ekiben” (train station bento), uncover the secrets behind Shiumai Bento,and watch as Shiumai are made one after another by machines, while each Shiumai Bento is carefully assembled and packed by hand.

At the end of the tour, you’ll get to sample freshly made Shiumai, along with side dishes from the Shiumai Bento, and sweets specially made by Kiyoken. You can also shop for adorable merchandise featuring Kiyoken’s iconic soy sauce dispenser and official mascot “Hyo-chan”

👉Recommended by Travel Experts

Don't miss the exclusive displays of limited edition and collaboration Hyouchan figures — each one with a unique expression that’s sure to bring a smile.Even just browsing the collection is fun and photo-worthy! 

Visitors aged 15 or younger must be accompanied by an adult to join the tour.

By learning about the behind-the-scenes aspects of manufacturing that you don't usually get to see, you're sure to discover something new and inspiring. Popular facilities may fill up quickly with reservations, but that just shows how worthwhile these spots are to visit. We encourage you to experience the depth of Japanese technology and food culture through a factory tour.