How to Visit the Meiji Chocolate Factory

Producing huge amounts of chocolate daily, the Meiji Chocolate Factory is a marvel of productivity and design. Even though you unfortunately can’t taste it, you can go inside for a tour (and the chance to sample more appropriately sized treats). But, how does a person get inside this Willy Wonkan wonder?

Meiji is the mecca of chocolate in Japan. The logo is ubiquitous from convenience store shelves to locals’ pantries. Meiji’s signature milk chocolate is their most famous and beloved product, but the company manufactures other types of sweets as well as dairy goods like cheese and yogurt. The company was founded in 1916 and recently celebrated their 100th anniversary. The milk chocolate was introduced in the late 20s and the sweet and creamy taste has become such a staple that the recipe hasn’t changed much since then. Today, their products are consumed around the world.

The Meiji Chocolate Factory in Osaka isn’t the only of the company’s production centers in Japan, but it is the most unique. As a functioning factory, there are many limitations for visitors, so getting inside isn’t easy. You can only visit at certain times of the day, and you better not try to get in if you’ve got a cold or other contagious illness. The factory typically only gives tours to groups of children on field trips or bookings of 10 or more people. They also don’t accept bookings from overseas. However, if you are in Japan and have access to a phone, you can try your luck and give them a call. If they already have a tour booked for the day and it’s not too crowded, you may be able to jump in! If you’re staying in a hotel or with locals, you might want to ask a Japanese speaker to call for you since there is no guarantee the person taking reservations will speak English. There are instructions on how to book a tour here, but they’re in Japanese.

What’s in it for visitors? The whole factory smells like chocolate. You can see the manufacturing process up close and check out candy-themed exhibitions and more giant chocolates. The tour may not be for everyone, but for kids and chocolate lovers (so, pretty much everyone) it’s sure to be an exciting and rare experience.

If you’re staying in or around Osaka or Kyoto, the best way to get there is to take the JR Kyoto Line. You can hop on at either Osaka or Kyoto Station. Get off at JR Settsu-Tonda Station. The factory is about a 15-minute walk from there. You can’t miss it. Of course, you could just ride the JR Kyoto Line between Osaka and Kyoto and spot the factory out your window near Takatsuki Station. Grab a chocolate bar before you get on the train and enjoy the ride.

Meiji Chocolate Factory, 1-10 Asahimachi, Takatsuki, 569-1134, Japan +81 072-685-5031