Has anyone been to Toyota City? We just found out that the tour of the plant starts at 11am. We are coming from Takayama and the earliest train leaves at 7:17am and arrives at 10:42am. From there we have to get from the station to the plant. I am wondering if this is feasible.
Thanks!

doesn't sound so

No, that is not feasible. Toyota is a pretty good distance from Nagoya. I think you would have to change from JR to a regional train company. Would be doing good if you boarded a train to Toyota before 11AM. No chance getting there.

A quick check at hyperdia.com confirms that it is about a 1 hour trip from Nagoya to Toyota-shi. That's on JR-subway-Meitetsu or subway-subway-Meitetsu.

Yes, so we would get into Toyota City(if I am understanding the train schedule correctly) at 10:42.

Depart Takayama - 7:17am
Arrive Nagoya - 9:39am
Depart Nagaya - 9:45am
Arrive Toyota City - 10:42

I just don't know how far the plant is from the train station? Am I making sense?

Oh, sorry, I see that you're scheduled 10:42 arrival is Toyota-shi, not just to Nagoya which I was assuming. You might have enough time but I think that I read that you do have to ride from the Toyota station to the plant somehow.

The 7:17AM is the earliest limited express train, but there are earlier locals. There is a 5:44 departure from Takayama that you could take and after three transfers arrive at Shin Toyota at 9:23. The total travel time of 3h 43m is not bad compared to the 3h 25min using the L'Ex.

yes, you are making sense...

Shin Toyota is a 4 min walk from Meitetsu Toyota station.

You might try www.jnto.go.jp for info about the visit. Look for the practical travel guide for Nagoya. I think Toyota is in Aichi prefecture.

Thank you, thank you!

Did a search at jnto for Toyota and got three hits:
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/s...a021_guid.html
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/sit/aichi/a021.html
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/arrange/tr.../chubuMap.html

Sounds promising, actually. The bus picks up at the Toyota Kaikan Exhibition Hall. If that "meeting hall" is close to the station then you can sleep in.

wonder if it's a Toyota bus?

We did the Toyota tour last year and husband has done it twice. When you register for the tour see mrwunrfl websites posted they will send you instructions on how to get there or if you call they speak English but you must speak slowly. The instructions got faxed to us immediately to confirm reservation for tour. Once at Toyota-shi station its easier to get a cab to the Kaikan Exhibition Hall. The cost according to the instructions from Toyota is 2400 yen and it takes about 20 minutes. There you convene with the guide and you leave on a bus to the factory exactly on time.
It is amazing-- a tour you do not want to miss. Toyota treats you like you are a stock holder--your names are on a lighted board when you arrive....hope you make it...aloha m