The second installment of the Toyota Automobile Museum’s special exhibition series on 1980s and 1990s Japanese vehicles shifts focus from the machines themselves to the individuals who envisioned them. This curated presentation examines the engineering minds behind Japan’s golden age of automotive performance—a period when domestic manufacturers produced machines that defined a generation.
The exhibition, running from Friday, April 10 to Sunday, July 12, 2026, brings together eight companies—both automobile and motorcycle manufacturers—to display authentic four-wheeled and two-wheeled icons simultaneously. This collaboration marks a rare opportunity to witness the full spectrum of Japan’s bubble-era mobility revolution under one roof, capturing the relentless passion that drove engineers to advance performance technology during this transformative period.
Exhibition Vehicles
The display features seventeen vehicles representing the pinnacle of 1980s and 1990s Japanese engineering, from rotary-powered sports cars to the genesis of hyper-sport motorcycles.
Four-Wheels
| Vehicle | Year |
|---|---|
| Mazda Savanna RX-7 | 1985 |
| Eunos Cosmo | 1990 |
| Honda NSX | 1991 |
| Toyota Supra | 1993 |
| Mitsubishi GTO | 1996 |
| SUBARU Legacy Touring Wagon GT-B | 1997 |
| Nissan Skyline GT-R V·spec II | 2000 |
Two-Wheels
| Vehicle | Year |
|---|---|
| Kawasaki GPZ900R (North American model name: Ninja) | 1984 |
| Kawasaki ZXR400R* | 1989 |
| Kawasaki ZZ-R1100 (North American model name: Ninja ZX-11) | 1990 |
| Suzuki GSX1100S KATANA | 1984 |
| Suzuki RG400Γ* | 1985 |
| Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa | 1999 |
| Honda VFR750R (RC30) | 1987 |
| Honda CBR900RR Fireblade | 1992 |
| Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird | 1996 |
| Yamaha RZV500R | 1984 |
| Yamaha VMAX | 1990 |
| Yamaha YZF-R1 | 1998 |
*Exhibited at Cultural Hall Entrance
*Exhibition vehicles are subject to change.
Special Events and Programs
2nd Classic Car Meeting ’80s-’90s Japanese Cars ~part 2~
This gathering features in-house parades, commemorative photo sessions, and ride-along test drives. Details are available here.
- Date and Time: Saturday, May 16, 2026, 10:00–16:30
- Location: P1 Parking Lot, etc.
Special Lecture “Director Sakakibara Listens!”
Director Sakakibara hosts intimate conversations with the engineers responsible for developing era-defining models.
First Session
- Guest: Mr. Kozo Watanabe, former Development Manager for the R33/R34 Skyline at Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
- Date and Time: Saturday, May 16, 2026, 13:00–14:00
- Location: Cultural Hall 1F
Second Session
- Guest: Mr. Nobuhiro Yamamoto, former Development Manager for the ND Roadster at Mazda Motor Corporation
- Date and Time: Saturday, June 6, 2026, 13:00–14:00
- Location: Cultural Hall 1F
Concurrent Special Exhibitions
That Supra is coming
- Date and Time: Thursday, April 23 – Sunday, May 24, 2026
- Location: Cultural Hall 1F Entrance
- Exhibited Vehicle: The Supra donated by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to Nara Toyota
Toyoda Model AA 90th Anniversary Exhibition
- Date and Time: Tuesday, May 26 – Sunday, July 12, 2026
- Location: Car Hall 1F Entrance
- Exhibited Vehicles: Toyota AB Phaeton (1938), Toyota Model AC Passenger Car (1947)
Driving Demonstration
Witness pre-war Japanese automotive history in motion with the Toyoda Model AA Passenger Car (1936), Toyota AB Phaeton (1938), Datsun Model 16 Sedan (1937), and more.
- Date and Time: Saturday, April 18, 2026, 11:00–11:30 / 14:00–14:30
- Location: P1 Parking Lot
- Note: Canceled in case of rain; vehicles are subject to change without notice.
Car Library Programs
I want to talk about car manga!
Join discussions spanning mainstream automotive manga to obscure titles featuring exquisite supporting vehicle roles.
- Date and Time: Sunday, April 26, 2026, 15:00–16:00
- Location: Cultural Hall 3F Car Library
I want to talk about car models!
Bring handmade models to share techniques and appreciation with Toyota Museum modelers.
- Date and Time: Sunday, June 7, 2026, 15:00–16:00
- Location: Cultural Hall 1F TINY STUDIO
“Engineers Who Create Enthusiasm — ’80s-’90s Japanese Cars and Motorcycles” Details Page
Visitor Information
Toyota Automobile Museum
The Car Hall chronicles automotive history from the dawn of gasoline-powered vehicles in the late 19th century to the present, displaying approximately 150 vehicles across historical eras. The Cultural Hall contains the “Car Culture Archive,” showcasing roughly 4,000 cultural materials including posters, toy cars, and mascots. The research library includes a “Vehicle Picture Book Library” for younger visitors.
Exhibition Dates: Friday, April 10 – Sunday, July 12, 2026
Closed: Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a public holiday)
- Open on Monday, May 4, Tuesday, May 5, and Wednesday, May 6
- Closed on Wednesday, May 7
Hours: 9:30–17:00 (Admission until 16:30)
Venue: Toyota Automobile Museum, Cultural Hall 2F Special Exhibition Room
Admission:
- Adults: 1,200 yen
- Seniors (65+): 700 yen
- Junior/Senior High Students: 600 yen
- Elementary Students: 400 yen
Group discounts available; some periods are excluded from discounts
Contact: Toyota Automobile Museum
TEL: 0561-63-5151
Homepage: https://toyota-automobile-museum.jp/
Access:
By Public Transport:
Disembark at “Geidai-dori” Station on the Linimo. Approximately 5 minutes walk from Exit 1.
By Car:
0.4km west from “Nagakute IC” on the Nagoya Seto Road (via Tomei Expressway Nisshin JCT)
Parking: Free
What is the Toyota Automobile Museum?
The Toyota Automobile Museum opened in Nagakute, Aichi Prefecture, in 1989. The collection includes more than 140 vehicles from Japan, Europe, and the United States, ranging from early twentieth-century European touring cars to the high-performance Japanese sports cars that emerged during the late 1980s and 1990s.
The museum occupies two distinct buildings. The Main Building displays the chronological development of automotive technology worldwide, showing how engineering solutions evolved from brass-era mechanics to electronic fuel injection and computer-controlled systems. The Cultural Gallery examines the societal impact of mass mobility through period artifacts, contemporary advertisements, and rotating exhibitions on specific themes or manufacturers.
Although Toyota operates the museum, the collection deliberately includes significant models from competitors such as Nissan, Honda, and Mazda alongside European and American landmarks. This approach places Japan’s automotive history within an international context rather than presenting a single corporate narrative. Visitors can walk among the actual vehicles, comparing how domestic manufacturers adapted existing technologies during the country’s period of rapid growth and how Japanese engineering developed its own distinct priorities regarding reliability and packaging.
The institution treats automobiles as cultural artifacts, presenting them as physical records of the economic conditions and manufacturing capabilities of their respective eras. The exhibits trace specific technical and aesthetic shifts that occurred during the 1980s and 1990s, documenting how Japan’s automotive industry moved from emulation to innovation within the span of a few decades.
