Yanmar Museum

The Yanmar Museum in Nagahama centers on hands-on challenges where visitors operate a virtual backhoe, power engine pistons through body movement, and try digital farming and wake-surfing simulations. Each visitor gets a personal card that tracks points earned across the arcade-style exhibits, with totals displayed on a large screen. Yanmar was founded in 1912 by Yamaoka Magokichi, who grew up nearby and went on to build the world's first compact diesel engine, a technology now used in ships, agricultural machinery, and generators. The attached restaurant serves dishes made with sustainably farmed rice, and the second floor holds more traditional exhibits on the company's history.