Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan Inc. is the company that develops, manufactures and sells popular soft drinks worldwide, such as Coca-Cola products, and even Aquarius (sports drink), Sokenbicha (a Japanese tea), and Georgia Coffee. Aside from the Tama Plant, which I visited this time around, there are several other locations, including ones in Zao (Miyagi prefecture), Tokai (Aichi prefecture), Kyoto, Komatsu (Ehime prefecture), and Ebi (Miyazaki prefecture). In each of these factories you can take a free guided tour. (Note that reservation is required, and tours are given in Japanese only.)

You can't miss this giant factory. It is about 30 minutes from Ikebukuro Station to Seibu Ikebukuro Higashikurume Station, or 8 minutes by bus from Kiyose Station. It is a 3 minute walk from the bus stop when you arrive. After confirming my reservation at the entrance, I went inside right away.

The landmark sign indicating the visitor's entrance to the factory.

The tour was soon underway! From the entrance, to the carpet, to the whole interior, everything was red! This is Coca-Cola. The order of the tour may vary depending on the number of people attending and the day, but this particular day and time found us advancing to the theater room on the second floor first.

In the theater room, we watched a slide show and short videos explaining the story of how Coca-Cola was formed, how the bottle and can products are made, and about the factory itself. Altogether it was about 10 minutes in length, and I learned many new things I had never heard before. It was very interesting.

Coca-Cola was born in 1886, more than 130 years ago, the creation of Dr. Pemberton, a pharmacist in Atlanta, Georgia, in the southern part of North America. From its day of creation to the present, the taste has not changed, nor does it include any preservatives or artificial flavors. A surprising 1.9 billion cups plus are enjoyed daily in more than 200 countries around the world.

We learned various answers to questions about Coca-Cola, such as "Why does the bottle have that shape?" and "What is the best temperature to enjoy Coca-Cola?" One of these answers in particular I found very interesting. It was said that the taste of Coca-Cola could be experienced in full when poured into a glass of ice cooled to 3℃. During sampling time, I was able to confirm this taste for myself.

Coca-Cola is said to have the same quality of taste around the world regardless of location. This is because while water quality and taste may vary by location, it is manufactured with the same raw ingredients in the factories. Because the same standard water is used, a common taste can be created all around the world. So I was convinced that indeed, "Regardless of country or region, Coca-Cola products share the same taste."

From the theater room we headed to the actual factory tour, where we are able to view select areas of the 74,000 square meter factory. We learned how the drinks are packaged in bottles and cans while watching the process through a window. Several unusual machines of various shapes and sizes package the products in large quantities at tremendous speed. This was one of the most fun parts of the tour to watch! The lines were moving at different speeds depending on the time zones, but at the time of this tour I could see the Canada Dry ginger ale being bottled at an amazing speed. Watching the movements of the bottles from one to the next, I felt as if I was watching a video.

There are several exhibition booths that you can view inside the factory. This one explains the changes these containers go through, including "What plastic bottle prototype shape do you have,” "Why are recent plastic bottles so light and easy to crush," and "What happens to containers after drinking?" In fact, even this t-shirt was recycled from plastic bottles. The explanations are easy for children to understand, and interesting to learn and re-learn for adults.

After the factory tour, next up was the Coca-Cola Experience Booth.
Here you can enjoy fun Coca-Cola related experiences, such as taking the Coca-Cola quiz, and watching old historical Japanese Coca-Cola commercials.

What are the secret ingredients that make up Coca-Cola? Would you guess that that black color actually seems to be caramel? If you know that much about Coca-Cola, you are ready to level up and try the advanced quiz.

But wait, there's more! Coca-Cola World!

Behind the theater room the world of Coca-Cola expands even further. Here you will find a place which reproduces a Pop-Culture Photo Booth, also popular in the World of Coca-Cola attraction in Atlanta. First up were exhibits of various Coca-Cola related goods. There are posters and panels, gold and silver Coca-Cola bottles on display, and amazing décor - a must-see photography spot. You can even relax on the sofa for a nice photo!

Next is a screen that when approached, the graphics change so that it appears as if you yourself are swimming inside a bottle of Coca-Cola. As you move, so do the bubbles of the carbonate, for a really interesting experience.

Next to it is a try-on booth where you can wear staff uniforms. You can really enjoy a fun experience by trying them on and taking pictures in them!

During the factory tour, you will be able to taste bottled Coca-Cola for yourself (for children and people who do not drink carbonated beverages, tea and juice is also available), and receive original branded Coca-Cola goods. You can even receive a guidebook as a gift. There even seems to be a popular event carried out when there is a large number of participants, in which everyone lines up dozens of bottles to pop the cap off at the same time. There are also original logo goods that are only available for sale here (souvenirs are subject to change but at the time of this tour, these souvenirs were hand towels).

This factory tour offers a plentiful insider's look at the world of Coca-Cola. From the fascinating large-scale machinery inside the factory, to the powerful, rarely seen manufacturing process of the products. And the Coca-Cola you get to enjoy is exceptionally delicious after learning all the secrets during the tour. I was also happy to get my hands on the limited souvenirs that are only available here. I found this tour to be very enjoyable for adults and children alike, and if you get the chance, by all means, please try to check it out for yourself!