Looking for something free, educational, and actually fun to do with the kids? Forget another trip to the playground – it’s time to explore what’s happening inside Australia’s only Yakult factory.
Yep, this is where those iconic bottles of goodness come to life, right here in Dandenong South, Victoria, and trust us, it’s not just about probiotics. The Yakult Factory Tour is part science lesson, and 100% worth adding to your family bucket list.
Whether you’re a local looking for a fun day out, an interstate mum heading to Melbourne for the holidays, or a teacher planning an excursion, this is one stop that’ll have everyone walking away saying, “That was actually awesome!”
What do I need to know about Yakult?
Yakult is a probiotic fermented milk drink made with the unique Lacticaseibacillus paracasei Shirota (LcS) strain. Each 65ml bottle contains at least 6.5 billion live LcS strain, which works out to around 100 million per millilitre!
The LcS strain (which has scientific research supporting its benefits and efficacy) can support digestive balance and intestinal health.
Digestive balance and intestinal health can be supported by the unique Lacticaseibacillus paracasei Shirota (LcS) strain, by three main evidence-based qualities:
- The LcS strain survives the gut to reach the intestines alive, which is essential for gaining its benefits.
- The LcS strain can alter and increase the number of beneficial bacteria in the intestines.
- The LcS strain encourages regular bowel movements by improving stool consistency.
Consistency is Key!
To experience the benefits of Yakult, consistency is key! Probiotic bacteria do not stay in your gut long-term, so drinking one bottle of Yakult daily is the best way to ensure you obtain and maintain the benefits of LcS.
It is recommended to consume Yakult daily for at least 2-3 weeks, along with a healthy, balanced diet, to support the key health benefits mentioned.
Step Inside the Home of Australia’s Favourite Bottles
It may have been discovered and developed in Japan, but every single bottle sold across Australia and New Zealand is made right here in Dandenong South, Victoria, Australia. In fact, this is the only Yakult factory in the country!
From the moment you step inside, the team guides you through large viewing windows to see how each bottle is made, filled, sealed, packed, and shipped to stores.
Science, But Make It Fun
The tour features an education room that’s perfect for curious kids, adults and school groups.
They offer education programs for a variety of students, including early learning/kinder, primary, secondary and tertiary!
Some of the school holiday programs and school tours play a fun interactive game where kids throw a ball at a giant screen to help the LcS strain multiply – a surprisingly engaging way to learn about gut health. The walls are plastered with colourful diagrams and fun facts, and yes, enjoy a complimentary Yakult.
If you’re a teacher organising an excursion and can’t visit in person, no worries. You can also tap into Yakult’s education programs which include virtual factory tours and incursions for schools and kinder groups within 65km of the factory. They even tailor the content to fit the school curriculum, making it an A+ option for teachers looking to bring learning to life.
See the Yakult Factory in Action
A Yakult Factory Tour is a great opportunity to get up close and see the real working factory in action — the actual place where Yakult is made from start to finish. You get a front-row view of the entire seven-step production process, learning how the drink comes together using at least 99% Australian ingredients in Yakult Original and at least 88% Australian ingredients in Yakult LIGHT before it hits supermarket shelves.
The tour kicks off at the bottle-making room, and this bit will blow your mind. Their bottles aren’t delivered from a supplier; they’re made right there on-site. These machines crank out a total of 33,000 bottles every hour!
If you hear rattling overhead, that’s the bottles zipping through metal vacuum pipes to the filling room.
Once there, the bottles are organised and filled with Yakult, sealed with foil, labelled, and packed.
The best part? Watching the bottles travel down the conveyor belts that split into two lines … one way for the 10-packs and the other way for the 5-packs. It’s mesmerising.
Chill Out, Literally
After packaging, the bottles take a trip to cold storage, where a robotic arm stacks them neatly onto pallets, three slabs at a time, before heading off to stores around Australia and New Zealand.
The attention to detail is mind-blowing, too. Yakult should always be stored at 4°C or below. High temperatures can cause the Lacticaseibacillus paracasei Shirota strain to weaken and even die. Further, it’s not recommended to freeze Yakult as the bottle may crack, and the Yakult will leak out as it thaws.
FUN FACT: Each Yakult bottle guarantees at least 6.5 billion live Lacticaseibacillus paracasei Shirota (LcS) strain all the way to the end of its 45-day shelf life. Yep, billions.
Yakult Quality Control
Before, during, and after every single batch, their quality control team performs over 100 quality tests to ensure every bottle meets their strict standards.
They test for:
- Quantity: To make sure there is at least 6.5 billion LcS strain by the use by date.
- Consistency: To ensure each batch has the same sensory attributes, such as taste and mouth feel.
- Safety: Make sure the product meets hygiene and safety standards.
You’ll even see the LcS in action under the microscope. It’s a total “wow” moment for kids to see the science behind Yakult.
A Little Bit of History
Yakult’s story goes way back to the 1930s when Dr Minoru Shirota, a Japanese microbiologist, discovered that lactic acid bacteria could help suppress harmful bacteria in the intestine. After painstaking work, he finally isolated a hardy strain that could survive stomach acid and digestive juices and make it to the intestines alive.
This probiotic became known as Lacticaseibacillus paracasei Shirota, or LcS for short, and in 1935, Yakult was officially commercialised.
His philosophy, known as Shirota-ism, is built on three core beliefs:
1️⃣ Preventive medicine. Emphasis is placed on preventing illness rather than treating disease. 2️⃣ A healthy intestinal tract leads to a long life. Strengthening our intestines with beneficial bacteria leads to improved health and a long life.
3️⃣ A price anyone can afford. Good health should be accessible to as many people as possible, at a price anyone can afford.
90 years later, Yakult is still living by that mission, and sold in 40 countries and regions, with around 38 million bottles enjoyed every single day worldwide. 38 million!!
Perfect for School Holidays, Home Schoolers (and Teachers, Take Note!)
If you’re already planning the summer school holidays, get ahead of the game and book early as the Yakult School Holiday Program fills fast!
Each program is different, with five unique programs run across each year (so you’ll never repeat the same program in a year). There’s hands-on fun, craft, worksheets, and the ultimate celebrity appearance, Yakult Man himself, who pops up during morning sessions to greet the kids.
And if you’re a teacher, you’re homeschooling your kids or a parent on the hunt for an affordable excursion, it’s a no-brainer. You can choose from onsite and virtual tours on topics including:
- Food Manufacturing (business practices, careers, factory overview)
- Science (bacteria and quality control)
- Health (digestion, food studies, probiotics and healthy eating)
In fact, over 20,000 people visited the Yakult factory in 2025, including Victorian school students and NSW students who joined virtually. These sessions brought the factory experience straight into classrooms, giving students a fun and interactive way to learn! As long as you’re less than 65km from their factory, they can send out their team to educate your students and even do free taste tests! Interstate schools aren’t forgotten either. Yakult caters to school groups nationwide via their virtual online tours, so be sure to get in touch and find out how your school can participate.
The factory tours are free, interactive, and tick all the curriculum boxes for science, sustainability, and health education.
Visiting from Interstate? Plan It In!
Heading to Melbourne for the holidays? Add this to your itinerary! Their factory is an easy day trip from the city, and the tours are Monday to Friday, but they book out fast, especially during school holidays, so you’ll need to plan!
It’s the perfect blend of learning, laughing, and seeing how one of Australia’s most beloved products is made — plus, it’s an awesome rainy-day option that’s completely free. Bookings are essential.
The Final Sip
Whether you’re a mum looking for a free educational outing, a family visiting Melbourne for the summer holidays, or a teacher planning your next excursion, the Yakult Factory Tour is a total winner.
It’s fun, it’s fascinating, and it’s proof that science can be seriously cool.
So go on, book ahead, grab your curious kids, and say “Kanpai!” (cheers) to a day of learning and laughter.
You might also like:
- REVIEW: 5 Families Trialled Yakult LIGHT for a Month. Here’s What it Did for Their Digestive Health
- Here’s Why Japanese School Lunches are Transforming the Way Kids Learn About Food
- Banana Mango and Chia Pudding featuring Yakult LIGHT’s Probiotic Goodness
This is a sponsored article for Yakult Australia
