Aside from its lovely food, sights, people, and other things you can imagine visiting in Japan, the car culture in the country is something worth seeing, whether it’s from the tuning car scene, the collection of classics and exotics, or even just how familiar brands are in their home countries.
To see Mazda’s museum, you’ll have to head all the way to Hiroshima for that. Fortunately, the brand has Mazda Trans Aoyama, a brand experience center and cafe that’s very accessible to most tourists who decide to visit Tokyo.
In fact, it’s super accessible as it’s located along the Ginza Line. Simply get off at the Omote-sando station via Exit B1, and it’s extremely easy to find the location as it’s right along the main road.
It’s a dedicated building with a very clean facade and modern architecture. Materials such as wood, aluminum, greenery, fabrics—some even shared with current Mazda vehicles, and large glass windows for a warm, inviting atmosphere that aligns more with the cafe found on the first floor. It’s operated by Itsuki Coffee, a Hiroshima-based roaster from Miyajima.
Specialties include Red Cheesecake (¥600 or roughly Php 230), a sphere that resembles Mazda’s Soul Red Crystal paint, the Financier or Lemon Cake (¥700 or roughly Php 270), little triangle-shaped cakes meant to mimic the rotors of the rotary engine, or the signature Mazda Trans Aoyama Blend (¥420 or roughly Php 163) coffee.
I tried the Hot Sandwich in Spicy Pulled Pork and Shrimp and Guacamole flavors (¥900 or roughly Php 348 each) and the Green Smoothie (¥800 or roughly Php 309). The sandwiches had surprisingly large servings and were crisp, warm, and flavorful, while the smoothie was refreshing with hints of various green-colored fruits.
When you’re done enjoying a cup of coffee or chowing down, you can either roam around the ground floor, where there is space for a car exhibition (or two), with the general area adorned with items relevant to the car on display, found mostly on the walls or by the seats.
There are even a couple of artworks on the pillars that feature textiles and paint swatches, specifically those used in the automaker’s vehicles.
Head upstairs and you see more artworks, a more spacious seating area with desks complete with charging ports, should you decide to pass the time and work there, and the always squeaky-clean toilets.
Also located on two pillars are scale models and badges of various cars, and the highlight is Mazda’s new corporate logo is seen hanging by the main window that overlooks the Tokyo Route 246.
You can also purchase Mazda’s official merchandise in-store here (as you need a forwarder to purchase them online) with various leather goods, bags, shoes, tumblers, food, and scale models on display.
Mazda Trans Aoyama is located at 5-6-19 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, and is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM. The first-floor cafe is accessible from 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM.
