From Bicycle Motors to F1: The Heart of Honda in Tochigi

In the quiet hills of Tochigi, the recently renewed Honda Collection Hall at Mobility Resort Motegi captures the relentless curiosity that drives Japanese engineering. Far from a stiff museum, this is a space where you can climb inside a HondaJet Elite II or test the mechanics of a UNI-ONE personal mobility device. From the humble bicycle motors that helped a nation get back on its feet to the high-pressure world of F1 racing, every floor highlights the technical evolution of Japanese craftsmanship. You are seeing the actual machines that transformed a small town Hamamatsu factory into a global powerhouse.

We sat down with the team at the Collection Hall to learn more about the grit behind the gears and how you can make the most of a visit to this Tochigi landmark.

Hi, could you share a bit about your role at the Collection Hall and what your day-to-day looks like?

I share Honda’s history of dreams and challenges with guests through guided tours and also manage the exhibited vehicles. During race events, to enhance the visitor experience, I also perform engine-start demonstrations of vehicles that are maintained in operational condition.

Could you tell us about the history of the museum? How did Soichiro Honda’s original vision in a small factory evolve into the massive technical legacy we see in the museum today?

Honda Collection Hall was opened in 1998 within Mobility Resort Motegi in Tochigi Prefecture. Its purpose is to systematically preserve and exhibit Honda’s products, racing machines, and technological achievements since the company’s founding.

At the core of this facility is Honda’s strong belief that the history of technology and challenges should be passed on to future generations. A defining feature is that it is not simply a static exhibition space, but one where vehicles are preserved in running condition.

The history of the Honda Collection Hall is best understood not merely as the development of an exhibition facility, but as a reflection of Soichiro Honda’s philosophy and the evolution of Honda itself.

Since then, Soichiro Honda’s vision has developed in the following ways:

Product evolution: Expansion from motorcycles to power products, and eventually automobiles guided by the philosophy of “better products at lower cost for more people”

Motorsport challenges: Participation in the world’s top racing series (such as the Isle of Man TT and Formula 1), aimed at advancing technology and strengthening the brand

Global expansion: Bringing Japanese technology to the world, with overseas production and development across multiple countries

All of these initiatives are rooted in Soichiro Honda’s philosophy of “continuing to dream and to take on challenges.”

His vision evolved from improving everyday life through technology, becoming a company that takes on global challenges, and ultimately preserving its history for the future as a cultural legacy.

The Honda Collection Hall serves as a place that visually communicates all of these accumulated technologies, philosophies, and challenges. It is not merely a museum, but can be described as a “living archive of engineering and innovation.”

While the museum itself is free to enter, could you explain the general admission for the Mobility Resort Motegi and what else visitors can do there?

Admission to the Honda Collection Hall itself is free of charge. However, entering Mobility Resort Motegi requires an admission fee (2,000 yen for same-day tickets) and a parking fee (1,000 yen per vehicle). *Prices may vary depending on the season or events. Discounted advance tickets are also available.

In addition to the Honda Collection Hall, Mobility Resort Motegi features a racing circuit that hosts some of Japan’s most popular motorsport events, including the MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix, SUPER FORMULA, and SUPER GT.

This circuit also offers programs where visitors can experience driving on the track themselves.

The resort further includes a wide range of attractions and activities designed for families, as well as the “Hello Woods” nature area. For those looking to relax, there is also a hotel and glamping facilities available on site.

Could you walk us through the most popular path for visitors, starting from the first floor entrance?

Yes. In the first-floor lobby, there is an installation shaped like a piston ring featuring the word “Dream” in Soichiro Honda’s handwriting. This piece symbolizes the starting point of his passion for manufacturing and serves as an iconic representation of his philosophy.

Behind this installation, you will find displays of Honda’s representative racing machines, production vehicles, the HondaJet Elite II, and a sustainable rocket experimental vehicle.

The North Wing on the first floor presents a historical exhibition covering Soichiro Honda’s life, from his early years through to his retirement from Honda.

Starting from the second floor South Wing, Chapter 1 introduces Honda’s founding period. The exhibition is divided into Chapters 1 through 4, arranged in chronological order:

Chapter 2: around 1970 to 1985

Chapter 3: around 1985 to 2000

Chapter 4: 2000 onward

The central areas on the second and third floors are dedicated to special exhibitions, which are updated approximately three times per year.

The 2024 renewal introduced the Library and Design Gallery. How does this new space help visitors connect with the people and ideas behind the machines?

The Library is a space where visitors can gain a deeper understanding of Honda’s development history, philosophy, technical materials, design sketches, and books. Through these resources, guests can explore:

• What kinds of challenges led to the creation of specific technologies
• What engineers and founders were thinking and what kinds of challenges they undertook
• The processes of failure, trial, and error behind innovation

Rather than simply providing information, the Library functions as a “learning space” where visitors can interpret and think independently.

In the Design Gallery, exhibits focus on the process leading up to a finished product, including concept development, sketches and mockups, and the designers’ thought processes. This allows visitors to experience the “creative story” behind products, such as why a certain form was chosen and what kind of user experience it was designed to achieve.

Together, the Library and Design Gallery play a central role in visualizing both:

The knowledge and philosophy behind technology (Library)

The ideas and creative process that bring it into form (Design Gallery)

In doing so, they convey Honda’s manufacturing philosophy as a “story of people and ideas.”

Although held on an irregular basis, the Design Gallery also hosts special exhibitions and hands-on workshops, including events designed for families to enjoy.

For our international guests, what languages are supported for the audio guides and are there any scheduled tours led by staff?

Staff-led guided tours are not available in English. However, visitors can access an audio story guide directly on their smartphones.

The audio story guide can be listened to in both English and Simplified Chinese.

Beyond the cars and bikes, are there any “hidden” items in the collection that always surprise guests?

Power Products: Technology that supports everyday life

From its founding, Honda has prioritized making life more convenient for people, and this philosophy is reflected in its Power Products. These include generators, lawn mowers, snow blowers, and tillers. Although they may seem unrelated to cars or motorcycles at first glance, they share a common foundation in small engine technology and represent Honda’s origins, making them a key exhibit that reflects the company’s roots.

Robotics: A challenge toward the future

One of the most memorable areas for visitors is robotics. This includes the two-legged walking humanoid robot “ASIMO” and research exhibits on technologies designed to coexist with people. These developments extend Honda’s philosophy of “mobility” and “supporting human life” into the future.

Aviation and advanced mobility: Expanding into the skies

Another surprising field is aviation, featuring exhibits related to the small business jet “HondaJet.” This demonstrates Honda’s ambition beyond being simply a ground vehicle manufacturer. The HondaJet is also available as a cabin mock-up experience, allowing visitors to step inside and experience it firsthand.

Sustainable rocket: A challenge toward space

In terms of unexpected developments, a sustainable rocket was installed in the entrance hall starting in March 2026. This symbolizes Honda’s entry into space-related mobility, going beyond the traditional framework of a mobility manufacturer.
The “surprise” of the Honda Collection Hall lies not only in the wide range of exhibit categories, but in the realization that they are all connected by a single underlying philosophy. Visitors experience both the surprise of “Honda even makes this?” and a deeper understanding of Honda’s core approach to manufacturing.

Finally, is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

The Honda Collection Hall offers a variety of interactive and experiential programs, and our staff looks forward to welcoming you on your visit.

We really appreciate you sharing these insights and the history of such an iconic Japanese brand with us. For anyone traveling through Tochigi, we highly recommend carving out some time to see this impressive resort and collection of machines in person.

Read more about the Honda Collection Hall on:

Website: https://www.mr-motegi.jp/eng/collection-hall/

Featured Photo Credit: Honda Collection Hall

Ready to explore the incredible evolution of Japanese engineering for yourself? Head over to the Honda Collection Hall website to plan your visit. To smoothly weave this immersive Tochigi landmark into your larger vacation, let our experts design a custom itinerary on our Tailored Travel Page today!