Although Japanese car manufacturers have made a point of designing and building cars specifically for the US market, it’s still common for many to bring models from their domestic market over the American shores.Yet, cars going the other way across the Pacific isn’t all that common. American automakers don’t have much of a presence in the market, and Japanese brands rarely see fit to sell US-built cars on their own territory.However, owing to loosened regulations introduced in 2026, US-made passenger vehicles can now be sold in Japan provided they meet US certification. Manufacturers have been quick to take advantage of this new ruling, like with some of the cars below, and a few examples of when reverse-imports have happened before. Acura Integra Type S Acura Acura Integra Type S Specs Acura launched as a North American-exclusive brand in 1986 as a Honda luxury spin-off, starting a trend that would see the arrival of Lexus from Toyota and Infiniti by Nissan.Early models sold under the brand were simply rebadged versions of global Honda models that either stood above the offerings of the Japanese manufacturer in luxury or performance. For that latter point, the US market Acura Integra Type R introduced in 1997 was a rebranded DC2 Honda Integra Type R seen elsewhere.Today, though, the current Acura Integra is only built and sold in the US and without a Honda equivalent. Something that doesn’t seem to be changing, given Honda has decided to begin importing the US-spec Acura Integra Type S to Japan from the second half of 2026.It will be the first time an Acura-branded product has been sold in Japan, offering a more luxurious equivalent to the hardcore Honda Civic Type R, just as it’s positioned in the US.That does mean its 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder K20C engine will carry over with 320 horsepower, and paired up exclusively with a six-speed manual gearbox. Brembo brakes and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires will be fitted as standard.However, expect it to be a niche prospect for buyers in Japan, given right-hand drive vehicles are the default in the country, and the Integra Type S will be imported exclusively in left-hand drive. It’ll also likely be significantly more expensive than its US asking price of $53,400. Honda Passport TrailSport Elite Honda Honda Passport TrailSport Elite Specs Alongside the Acura Integra Type S, the Honda Passport TrailSport Elite will be reverse-imported to the Japanese market. Again, these will all be in US spec and exclusive in left-hand drive.Built in Lincoln, Alabama, Honda says it’s taking the Passport to Japan to “meet the diverse needs of customers” in the market, which sounds to us like there’s demand for a tough Honda 4x4 in the market.That last point would at least explain why the TrailSport Elite will be the only trim level sold in the country. Its most exciting feature, aiding its impressive off-road ability, is a TrailWatch multi-view camera that helps with safely and effectively placing the car when taking on tough surfaces. Oh, and of course, the extra-tough looks that come with the Elite.It’ll use the same 3.5-liter V6 seen on all versions of the Passport, paired up exclusively to a 10-speed automatic transmission. As with the Integra, expect pricing in Japan to be notably higher than its US $52,650 MSRP. Toyota Tundra 2023 Toyota Tundra 1794 Edition Toyota Tundra Specs The Japanese market has an affection for pick-ups, but the country is significantly denser than the US and with much tighter roads, making full-size trucks that are so common in the US a real rarity in the country.As a result, the Tundra has never been officially sold in the country, with any examples previously in the country grey imported. However that will soon change, as Toyota will take advantage of those looser regulations and take the US-built Tundra to Japan in the summer.This is another US-built model that will exclusively be sold in left-hand drive and will remain a niche offering. Toyota has stated it expects to sell 80 units of the Tundra a month, and it’ll retail for the equivalent of $75,000 in its sole 1794 Edition specification. For context, it currently retails in the US for $64,380.Its 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 powertrain will remain untouched for the Japanese market, and remain paired to a 10-speed automatic transmission. We are a little sad that Japanese truck buyers won’t get the opportunity to buy a TRD Pro, though. Toyota Highlander Toyota Toyota Highlander Specs Along with the Tundra, the Highlander is also heading to Japan. The three-row SUV will be offered exclusively as a Limited ZR Hybrid, retailing for the equivalent of around $54,000.Truthfully, the Highlander doesn’t have a huge amount of enthusiast appeal and its presence in Japan will be extremely limited, with just 40 units a month of the left-hand-only model expected to be sold.However, it’s notably not the first time the Toyota Highlander has had some presence in Japan. The first- and second-generation models were sold in the country as the Toyota Kluger, and built in Japan too. However, the third generation was never marketed in the country, and now the fourth generation will be a US-built offering. Nissan Murano 2025 Nissan Murano side9 Nissan Murano Specs Nissan will follow Honda and Toyota in bringing a US-built model to the Japanese market, with left-hand-drive US-spec Muranos heading across the Pacific for the first time.Sales of the model are set to start in 2027, though Nissan has remained quiet on which specification of Murano will be sold in Japan. It’ll arguably be the least interesting of all the models heading to Japan under new regulations, though, as a mid-size five-seater SUV.No word on how many examples of the Nissan Murano will head to Japan, but pricing will likely rise on its $41,670 US MSRP. Honda Element Honda Honda Elements Specs Now, long before these new agreements to bring US-made cars to Japan without the need to meet JDM regulations, there was an example of a reverse import.The Honda Element was a quirky, boxy compact SUV with suicide doors, a durable interior and easily removable rear seats. It became a hit in the US with campers, adventurers and pet owners. So much so on that last point, that a special edition for dog owners was made at one point.The Honda Element was primarily intended for the North American market and was built in Ohio, although some did find their way to Japan. Worth noting too that those export models were built as right-hand drive examples in the US factory. Honda NSX Honda NSX Second Generation Blue Honda NSX Specs This is the one that’s the most interesting of all on the list. Although the first-generation Honda NSX was designed and built in Japan, its second-generation, which came in 2016, was a product of the USA.Sold in North America as the Acura NSX, Japan and Europe got the model as the Honda NSX, although every example of the 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 hybrid sports car continued to be built in Marysville, Ohio, at the Honda Performance Manufacturing Center.That didn’t stop Japan taking to the model, though, lasting five years on the market. It’s unclear if a potential replacement would continue to be US-built or return to Japan, though.Sources: Honda, Toyota, Nissan