Toyota
Introduction
Toyota is a city in Aichi Prefecture, within easy reach of Nagoya — roughly 50 minutes away via the Meitetsu Toyota Line. Once known as Koromo, it spreads across a large area of about 918 square kilometres.
Before you go
Before you go, it helps to know that Toyota is a city in Japan, and that the local tourist association maintains a multilingual guide site. That site is the practical starting point for planning your trip, since it can supply the orientation and local details you will want before you arrive.Getting there
Toyota is served by Nagoya's two airports, Centrair and Komaki. From Centrair, Meitetsu Bus runs frequent services that take about an hour and a half and go to Toyota-shi Station; the buses use one of two routes but all end at the same place, and this is easier than the train, which requires two changes. If you fly into the domestic-only Komaki Airport, take the bus into Nagoya, then get off at Fushimi-chō for a direct train to Toyota-shi, or change at Sakae for the highway bus. By train, Toyota's two main stations are Toyota-shi on the Meitetsu line and Shin-Toyota on the Aichi Loop Railway. The Meitetsu Toyota Line is essentially an extension of Nagoya's Tsurumai Subway Line, with roughly four trains an hour to Toyota-shi; note that some Tsurumai Line trains stop short at Akaike, and the line serves neither Sakae nor Nagoya Station. Alternatively, from Nagoya or Kanayama take a Meitetsu Limited Express or Rapid Limited Express to Chiryū and change to the Mikawa Line towards Sanage. Toyota is not on the JR network, but Japan Rail Pass users can reach it via the Aichi Loop Line from Okazaki to Shin-Toyota, or Meitetsu from Kariya to Toyota-shi with a change at Chiryū; going through Okazaki is the best approach from Toyohashi, while from the Chūō Line the Aichi Loop Line runs from Kōzōji. Long-distance buses also serve the city. JR Tōkai Bus runs the overnight Dream Toyota between Shin-Toyota Station and Tokyo Station, and Meitetsu Bus connects Toyota-shi with Nagoya several times a day. Other services stop at Toyota Interchange on the Tōmei Expressway, including the Tōmei Highway Bus between Tokyo and Nagoya and between Shizuoka and Nagoya, an overnight bus from Tsukuba, Mito and Hitachi, and an overnight bus from Tochigi and Fukushima Prefectures. From Toyota Interchange, Meitetsu Bus runs a limited number of services to Toyota-shi; more frequent options are to walk north to the Toyota-Tōshinchō bus stop or south-east to Tsuchihashi Station on the Meitetsu Mikawa Line.Getting around
Toyota is unusual for Japan: it is a car city, built around a strong road network with comparatively sparse public transportation. Rather than expecting a dense urban rail grid, think of it as a place where a handful of key stations and bus routes anchor the city, and where you will often combine train, bus, and taxi to reach your destination.
Two stations form the backbone of rail travel. Toyota-shi Station, run by Meitetsu, is the main gateway into the city; Shin-Toyota Station is on the Aichi Loop Railway, also known as Aikan. The principal rail route in is the Meitetsu Toyota Line, which functions essentially as an extension of Nagoya's Tsurumai Subway Line and is generally the best way to travel between Toyota and most of Nagoya. One caveat: some Tsurumai Line trains stop short at Akaike, so check that your train continues through to Toyota-shi. Note also that the Tsurumai Line serves neither Sakae nor Nagoya Station, which can be inconvenient if you are arriving with luggage. An alternative from Nagoya or Kanayama Stations is a Meitetsu Limited Express or Rapid Limited Express to Chiryū, then a change to the Mikawa Line towards Sanage. Toyota is not on the JR network, so Japan Rail Pass holders should connect from JR lines: from the Tōkaidō Line, use the Aichi Loop Line from Okazaki to Shin-Toyota, or Meitetsu from Kariya to Toyota-shi via Chiryū. Going through Okazaki is the best approach from Toyohashi. From the Chūō Line, the Aichi Loop Line from Kōzōji brings you to Toyota.
- Local buses: Meitetsu Bus runs regular services between Toyota-shi and Nagoya, stopping at Meitetsu Bus Center, Fushimi-chō, Nishikidōri-Honmachi, and Sakae Oasis 21.
- Overnight buses: JR Tōkai Bus runs the overnight Dream Toyota, connecting Shin-Toyota Station to Tokyo Station.
- Highway buses: several operators serve Toyota Interchange on the Tōmei Expressway (sometimes called Tōmei Toyota). JR Tōkai Bus, JR Bus Kantō, and JR Bustech run the Tōmei Highway Bus between Tokyo and Nagoya, and between Shizuoka and Nagoya. Ibaraki Kōtsu runs an overnight bus from Tsukuba, Mito, and Hitachi, while Meitetsu Bus and Fukushima Transportation run one from Tochigi and Fukushima Prefectures.
- From Toyota Interchange: only a few Meitetsu Bus services a day connect to Toyota-shi. More frequent alternatives are to walk north to the Toyota-Tōshinchō bus stop and take the bus to Toyota-shi, or walk south-east to Tsuchihashi Station on the Meitetsu Mikawa Line and continue by train.
- From Centrair: Meitetsu Bus runs direct buses to Toyota-shi Station, which is easier than the train, as that requires two changes. The buses take one of two routes, but all go to Toyota-shi Station.
- From Komaki Airport (domestic only): take the bus into Nagoya. For a direct train onward to Toyota-shi, get off at Fushimi-chō; for the highway bus, change at Sakae.
Toyota is not a walker's city in the way dense Japanese urban centres often are, though walking can be a practical link between modes in specific spots, such as the connector walks from Toyota Interchange. Beyond those, expect to rely on trains, buses, or taxis for most journeys, and build in extra time for gaps in coverage.
Where to stay
Accommodation in Toyota is practical rather than plush, with the main options clustered around the station and the city's industrial landmarks. At Plaza Hotel Toyota, a simple property across from Toyota headquarters — visible from the hotel itself — you can choose between capsule, single, and double rooms, and soak in an artificial hot spring during your stay. It sits a short walk from Mikawa-Toyota Station and a short drive from the Toyata Higashi Interchange.
- Plaza Hotel Toyota — simple rooms ranging from capsules to doubles, an artificial hot spring, and a location facing Toyota headquarters.
- Hotel Route-Inn Tyota Jinnaka — an artificial hot spring, a small mall across the road, and restaurants nearby; reachable from the Toyota and Toyota Higashi interchanges, or by the hotel's free shuttle bus from Toyotashi Station.
Food & drink
The source material for Toyota contains no information on where or what to eat and drink, so there is nothing to describe here.What to see and do
If you're looking for a pleasant way to spend an afternoon, head to the bridge that resembles a structure built from dinosaur bones — it makes for interesting photographs and a fine place for a stroll. The Toyota Municipal Museum of Art is also worth a visit. Note that the Toyota Automobile Museum is in Nagakute City and the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology is in Nagoya City, so neither is found here. The Toyota Kaikan Museum, a short walk or brief bus ride from Mikawa-Toyota Station, is where you can see cars made by Toyota and try out some small vehicles. For sport, Toyota Stadium is the home ground of the Nagoya Grampus soccer team.Three days in Toyota
Day one: Arrive via Centrair or Komaki Airport and make your way to Toyota. From Centrair, take the Meitetsu Limited Express or Rapid Limited Express toward Nagoya, then connect at Nagoya Station or Kanayama to the Meitetsu Toyota Line; alternatively, use the Tsurumai Subway Line to Akaike and transfer to the Meitetsu Toyota Line. From Komaki Airport, the Meitetsu Bus and the Meitetsu Toyota Line connect you onward. Once in Toyota, settle in and explore the city centre around the station before an early evening, since the next two days cover more ground.
Day two: Use the Meitetsu Toyota Line and the Aichi Loop Railway to move between neighbourhoods and nearby stops. Ride toward Sanage or along the Mikawa Line and Chiry, and consider a day trip to Okazaki, Kariya or Toyohashi on the JR network; a Japan Rail Pass can help if you are travelling further afield. In the evening, head to Nagoya for Fushimi or Sakae, both reachable via the Meitetsu Toyota Line and the Tsurumai Line.
Day three: Spend your last morning in Toyota before departing. If you are returning to Centrair, take the Meitetsu Toyota Line to Nagoya and connect to the Meitetsu Limited Express; for Komaki Airport, use the Meitetsu Bus. Before you leave, revisit Koromo and the area around the station for any last stops.