Toyota Amlux

This is another of Toyoto’a large presence in Tokyo. The Toyota Amlux is a bit more of a technical centre and museum than the more entertainment based Megaweb at Odaiba.

This centre is basically a cross between a huge dealership without the sales staff and a car museum. This four level exhibition area has dozens of current model Toyota’s to touch and sit in plus some very informative displays on current and future technologies.

The new fuel saving hybrid system that Toyota has developed into several of their vehicles is one of the bigger exhibitions at the Amlux. Step by step display boards, cutaway components, videos and interactive exhibits demonstrate in both Japanese and to some extent in English how this remarkable system works and helps conserve energy inturn helping our fragile environment.

Safety is another key message at the centre. There are many safety systems on display, air bags, seat belts, crumple zones, and other vehicle design that are now so important in our modern vehicles.

There is a quite a few places in the centre where the exhibits are geared expecially for the young, with plenty of big buttons and dials for them to play with. Theres colouring in areas and lots of fun to be had, even for kids not very interested in cars.

The centre of the centre is a huge chrome ball, looking a bit like a giant spaceship, it houses the Toyota Amlux theatre, its a state of the art theatre experience with suround sound, and quite worth taking a look at.

The Amlux is also a great opportunity for Toyota to show of its products, there are about 70 vehicles on display, some are special show cars or racing cars, but the majority are the products they sell. It is a very good chance to see some of the gadgets, gimics and great ideas that are in the modern Japanese car, many of these models and features never see the light of day outside Japan, and quite a few features are years ahead of models sold in our own country.

Admission to the centre is free and will easily fill in a good hour, even if you have been to Mega Web.

The center usually opens from 11:00 am to 7:00 6 days a week, being closed Monday or Tuesday if Monday is a Public Holiday.

Getting there by train is easy JR Station Go out of the East exit of the Ikebukuro JR Station and cross over Green Dori and Sunshine 60 Dori. Take the pedestrian underpass under the Metropolitan Expressway No.5 to the front of the building. (Approximately 7 minutes.)

Higashi Ikebukuro Station Go out the NO.2 exit of the Higashi Ikebukuro Station on the Yuraku SubwayLine.Follow the Metropolitan Express-way No.5 for approximately 400 meters.(Approximately 7 minutes.)

For more information visit: http://www.amlux.jp/english/floor/f1_f.shtml