Planning a trip to Japan with family? Find an array of fun and educational attractions that children will love in Aichi. Leading the manufacturing industry as the biggest producer of transport machinery in Japan, Aichi Prefecture offers children and adults alike exciting ways to learn more about how cars, trains and planes are made.

Being a major stop on the shinkansen route between Tokyo and Kyoto, making a stop-over in Aichi is easy to add onto any itinerary, and is worth your time when travelling in Japan with kids. Here are 5 of Aichi's exciting automobile, train and aerospace attractions that will keep the whole family entertained.

Toyota Automobile Museum
Aichi Prefecture is home to automobile giant Toyota's main headquarters, meaning you can find a selection of Toyota operated automobile attractions around Aichi. Visitors of all ages can revel in the history of cars at the Toyota Automobile Museum, showcasing the evolution of not only Toyota cars, but cars from Europe and America as well. The museum's systematically presented collection of automobiles ranges from the world first gasoline-powered car to modern electric vehicles, and includes classic must-sees such as the 1910 Rolls-Royce 40/50HP Silver Ghost and the 1918 Chevrolet Series 490. Aside from the cars on show, there is a kid's area in the museum library with a collection of picture books and colouring books, as well as a culture showroom showcasing a collection of 4000 historic and cultural car-related items such as books, posters, car mascots and an impressive collection of about 780 miniature cars and games.

Get there: The Toyota Automobile Museum can be accessed by a one-hour bus ride from Nagoya Station's Meitetsu Bus Centre. It can also be reached by taking the subway from Nagoya Station to Fujigaoka Station and transferring to the Linimo (another amazing Aichi attraction - Japan's only magnetic levitation train) line for a 9-minute ride to Geidaidori Station where the Museum can be reached by foot.

Toyota Kaikan Museum
For those future engineers out there, visitors can learn more about the engineering of the intricate machinery of cars at the Toyota Kaikan Museum. This interactive museum will leave you in awe of the manufacturing process with its impressive exhibitions on a wide range of topics from the latest
safety and environmental technology to the 'Toyota Production System', as well as the newest safety simulators and the manufacturer's various electric vehicles including the Mirai hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle which generates its own power on board. There is an exhibit area for children where
they showcase the various mechanisms for cars, provide information on how cars are designed and teach children traffic safety in a fun and interactive way through games. Visitors can also participate in a guided tour of the museum.

Get there: Reach the Toyota Kaikan Museum in under one hour from Meitetsu Nagoya Station by train and a short taxi ride.

SCMAGLEV and Railway Park
Train lovers will be in awe of the SCMAGLEV and Railway Park owned and operated by Central Japan Railway Company. From historic steam trains to the newest Shinkansen on the tracks, the SCMaglev (superconducting magnetic levitation train) that levitates above the tracks as it runs, this museum gives its visitors close up and personal experiences with the exhibits, highlighting some of Japan's greatest contributions to the global transportation industry. The Bullet Train simulator and the conventional train crew simulators are a fun way for kids to experience the life of a train conductor. In the learning and experiencing room, there is a wide range of interactive activities where kids can see how the laws of physics are applied in the world of trains – a guaranteed fun learning experience. Another wow factor is the railway diorama set reproducing the railway landscape of the Tokaido Shinkansen – the largest in Japan. Feeling hungry? Train themed bento boxes and other treats are available at the in-house dining facility, Delica Station.

Get there: Access the SCMAGLEV and Railway Park in under 25 minutes from Nagoya Station on the Aonami Line, getting off at Kinjofuto Station.

Centrair Airport and the FLIGHT OF DREAMS
Opened in 2005, Aichi's International Airport, Centrair has been ranked as the World's Best Regional Airport in the World Airport Awards 2020 for the 6th year in a row. Aside from its regular airport features, Centrair has an impressive selection of shops and restaurants, including a shopping area designed to resemble retro Japanese alleyways. Slow down and relax at the airport Relaxation Plaza, offering a range of facilities, including a public bath boasting views of the runway and Ise Bay in the distance. The Sky Deck is an observation area of the airport where you can also see the planes take off and land. If you are lucky, you can see the Dreamlifter - one of Boeings most rare planes. There are only four of these giant planes in the world, and Centrair is the only place in Japan where it can be seen.

While you are in the area, the FLIGHT OF DREAMS is an interactive indoors flight park dedicated to the first Boeing 787 is located near the airport and worth a visit. This Park is currently closed for renovations and exciting new features – so please check the website when planning a trip.

Get there: Centrair Airport can be accessed from Nagoya station on the Meitetsu Line in around 53 minutes.

Aichi Museum of Flight
After Centrair was opened, the old Nagoya Airport went under major renovations, including the international terminal being revitalised into a large-scale shopping centre and an array of other functions. One of the most exciting attractions here to visit with kids is the Aichi Museum of Flight which opened in 2017. It features a display of retired prop planes, jets and helicopters with history related to Nagoya Airport. Some of its most remarkable highlights being the 1960's Japan-made turboprop airliner YS-11 and exhibits such as the MH2000. The museum offers a range of entertaining and educational attractions, including flight simulators, plane mechanic activities, plane seminars that use projection mapping to educate children about plane engines and even a 4D theatre with moving seats where you can experience a flight from take-off to the air.

Get there: Take the shuttle bus from Nagoya Station to get to the Aichi Museum of Flight in 20 minutes.

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Aichi Prefecture, Japan
Known to locals as the 'heart' of Japan, Aichi Prefecture boasts a colourful past as a crucial point for traffic between east and west Japan. It is highly diverse and is a melting pot where were rustic Japanese charm meets innovation and technology.

How to travel to get to Aichi
By bullet train: One hour and 40 minutes from Tokyo, 50 minutes from Osaka and just 35 minutes from Kyoto to get to Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture's capital and Japan's fourth largest city.
By air: Aichi Prefecture's international airport, Chubu Centrair International Airport offers ease of access from other airports in Japan, as well as for those flying from Australia via South East Asia.

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