What is the Toyota Land Cruiser called in Japan?
In Japan, the Toyota Land Cruiser is called ランドクルーザー (Rando Kurūzā). The LC300 generation is referred to as ランドクルーザー300, and the Prado variant is named ランドクルーザープラド.
Japanese naming conventions and branding
In the domestic market, Toyota uses Japanese katakana for model names and adds numeric designations to indicate generations. This approach keeps branding consistent with local conventions while aligning with global product naming.
Here are the main Japanese name variants you’re likely to encounter.
- ランドクルーザー — the standard Land Cruiser name in Japanese, used for the flagship model and most generation references.
- ランドクルーザー300 — the LC300 generation, marketed in Japan with the numeric designation.
- ランドクルーザープラド — the Prado variant, marketed as Land Cruiser Prado in Japan.
- ランドクルーザー70系 — the 70-series lineage, still sold in Japan in certain commercial configurations.
These naming conventions reflect Toyota's branding strategy in the Japanese market and its global lineup.
International branding vs. domestic naming
Outside Japan, badges often display the English word “Land Cruiser.” However, for domestic customers, the Japanese katakana names appear in official materials and dealer communications. The Prado remains a distinct model within the lineup, internationally known as the Land Cruiser Prado and, in Japan, labeled as ランドクルーザープラド.
For clarity, the LC300 is the current flagship generation in many markets, including Japan, while older 70-series variants continue to be offered in Japan for commercial use.
Summary
In Japan, Toyota's Land Cruiser is called ランドクルーザー, with the LC300 designated as ランドクルーザー300 and the Prado as ランドクルーザープラド. The 70-series remains present in the domestic market for specific commercial applications. Globally, branding often uses English badges, but Japanese materials maintain the katakana naming conventions.
