History Garage
If you are in Odaiba and need to fill in some time or are a car lover, go to the History Garage. Though Toyota runs it, it isn’t only about Japanese cars. You can see vehicles from different countries, companies, and periods. There might be bigger and better museums of this type in Japan, but this might be the best in Tokyo.
The museum has a vibrant sixties theme (Japan’s Showa Period) for the most part. Some areas have a definite continental feel, though. Everything will grab your eye.
There are two floors with most cars on the second. The first has the Alessandra Nannini cafe. It has a well-stocked gift shop, stacked with models to look at or buy. There is also a working garage.
Displays change regularly, which can be good and bad. It depends on what you like. For example, in 2016, I saw American muscle cars from the 1960s. But in 2018, there were Japanese vehicles. Petrolheads will love it.
Photography at the History Garage
Take your camera with you! When I visited the History Garage in June 2020, some of the displays were:
- Cadillac Series 62
- Chevrolet Impala
- Datsun 16 from 1937
- Delorean DMC-12
- Ford Mustang 1964
- Honda s800
- MG-TC 1945 (1945 model)
- Nissan Skyline GTR 2000
- Toyopet Crown RSD
- Toyota 2000GT
- Toyota Celica GT-Four rally car (1985)
- Toyota Celica Twincam Turbo (TA64)
The only problem I have encountered is that some areas are dark. That can cause issues if your camera doesn’t have good low-light capabilities.
Where was the History Garage?
The History Garage was inside the Venus Fort shopping center in Odaiba. Two stations were nearby, Aomi on the Yurikamome Line and Tokyo Teleport on the Rinkai Line.
Opening hours
The History Garage is permanently closed.
Admission costs
None.
Photo spots in the area
Conclusion
The History Garage was a great place for car lovers (and people on dates). It was the perfect place for anyone in Odaiba needing something to kill some time. Many Tokyoites will miss it for sure.
Rohan Gillett
Rohan has lived in Tokyo for 30+ years. He loves photography and plans to capture the entire city.
More museum articles
External related websites
- History Garage (official retired website)