Motorcar Museum of Japan, Transport museum in Komatsu, Japan
The Motorcar Museum of Japan is a transport museum housed in a red brick building with three floors spanning about 12,000 square meters. The collection displays over 500 vehicles ranging from early models to modern cars, arranged to show how automotive technology and design evolved.
Entrepreneur Shozo Maeda founded this museum in November 1978, creating Japan's first automobile museum. He started with his personal collection, which became the foundation for what would grow into a major institution.
The collection shows vehicles from Japanese makers like Toyota and Nissan alongside international brands, reflecting how local car culture absorbed and adapted foreign influences. Visitors can see how engineers from this region contributed to shaping both domestic and world automotive design.
The museum includes a restaurant and shop for refreshment and browsing, plus well-designed restroom facilities to support a comfortable visit. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended since the three floors contain extensive displays that require considerable time on your feet.
The collection includes rare vehicles spanning more than a century, some of which transported royalty or appeared in film and anime productions. These special cars offer a window into lesser-known stories behind notable automobiles.
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