Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry — Textile Looms to Automobiles

**Demonstration timing:** The museum operates 30+ working machines on demonstration schedules throughout the day. The Textile Pavilion's main demonstration (showcasing looms from 1890s–1950s) runs 10:30, 13:00, and 15:00 (20 minutes). The Automobile Pavilion's robotic assembly demo operates 11:00, 13:30, and 15:30 (15 minutes). Arrive early for the 10:30 textile demo to understand Toyota's origin story before progressing to automobiles. **Textile hall value:** Most visitors rush through the Textile Pavilion to reach cars, but this section provides crucial context. Toyoda Sakichi's innovations in automatic looms (which stop when thread breaks, preventing defects) introduced the 'automation with a human touch' philosophy that later defined Toyota Production System. Watch the 1924 Type G Automatic Loom demonstration — the machine's intelligence and efficiency were revolutionary for the era and funded Toyota's entry into automobiles. **Car enthusiast highlights:** The Automobile Pavilion displays Toyota's first passenger car (1936 Model AA, only 6 exist worldwide), the 2000GT sports car (Japan's first supercar, ¥238 million auction record), and cross-sections of engines showing internal components. The stamping press demonstration uses a 1,200-ton press to shape sheet metal — the sound and power are visceral. The museum also displays failures: experimental rotary engines, abandoned designs, and prototypes that taught lessons. This honest approach distinguishes it from typical corporate museums.