Vithalapur: In the dusty industrial hinterland of Vithalapur, a small town 75 kilometers east of Gandhinagar, an unusual cultural transformation is taking place. Hotels with names like Osaka Palace and Mizuki Ryokan are now serving ramen, tempura, and sushi catering specifically to Japanese expatriates who have relocated here to support India’s expanding automotive industry.

The town’s evolution from farmland to an industrial hub has been driven largely by foreign investment, a key element of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s manufacturing push. Honda’s motorcycle plant, operational for nearly a decade, and Suzuki’s eight-year-old electric vehicle facility have drawn Japanese engineers and managers on multi-year assignments, creating a need for accommodations and services that reflect thei

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