Production Process Stages
Seed & Culture Rooms
The process begins with culturing the Shirota probiotic strain in sterilized milk, incubated until it reaches optimal quality.
Mixing & Quality Control
Fermented culture is blended with syrup to balance flavor, then undergoes rigorous testing in a dedicated Quality Control room before bottling
Bottle Production
State-of-the-art machines mold polystyrene bottles at rates up to 8,000 units/hour per machine
Filling, Sealing, & Labeling
Bottles are aseptically filled, foil-sealed, and labeled at a rapid pace—approximately 40,000 bottles per hour.
Visitor Experience
Yakult is strengthening its supply chain by ensuring that key raw materials are sourced responsibly and ethically.
Guided Tours
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Tours are free, available Monday–Friday at multiple daily time slots. Each lasts about 1 hour, and is open to visitors aged 5+ (children must be accompanied by an adult) .
Virtual Option
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Some regions offer virtual tours, featuring live-streamed walkthroughs of production stages with interactive explanations
Interactive Features
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Tours may include short Q&A sessions, correlations to probiotic benefits, souvenir sampling, and branded keepsakes like keychains or magnets
How to Join
Reservations must be made in advance; walk-ins aren't accepted. Group sizes from 1 to ~40 are welcome, with free parking for buses and cars .
Booking Required
Visitors sign a waiver and adhere to hygiene protocols; mask usage is optional .
Health & Safety
Why Visit?
Yakult factory tours offer a captivating glimpse into a high-tech, sterile food production environment, showcasing every stage from culture to palletizing. Whether in-person or virtual, participants leave with a deeper appreciation for the scientific rigor, excellent hygiene standards, and environmental care that go into each bottle