Oh wow, I guess they have relaxed in recent years. When I visited as a youth, it was a white tie affair, with a tail coat and steel reinforced top hat required for men.

This answer is causing me to giggle uncontrollably

Wow, I'd get it if it's a suit, but a tux seems a bit extreme. Did you rent one there? Did they tell you when you signed up for the tour?

I made it up as a joke, sorry

As far as jokes about unusually stringent Japanese formalisms in workplace environments goes… it was a pretty good one. I certainly got a good chuckle once I realised it was a joke.

Ok good one. I'm not even mad, maybe a bit :)

Why would they demand this seemingly over the top attire to visit a factory?

I was attempting humor

Totally flew over my head… Japan is so foreign to me I thought maybe it’s just something you do there.