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Hi,
I have a 2001 toyota Altezza that has a constant ticking noise coming from the engine during idle. If I accelerate (or rev) the sound is less noticeable (it is ticking so fast it blends in with the engine noise). It's loud I can hear it from inside the car with window down. The engine is a 1gfe with about 89900km on it. The cambelt has been replaced.
It sounded very much like these
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oul0ps1TDnw
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4ZELvXxijA

It's impossible to say what a noise might be without doing a proper diagnosis with the appropriate equipment for pinpointing the noise. We used to use a stethascope for pinpointing localised noises, but these days there is some very accurate electronic equipment available for this type of diagnosis.
Valve gear/lifters/camshafts can cause noises such as this, but so can variable valve timing systems. Some of these may be problems, others may be normal operation.
The best advice would be to take the car to a mechanic who can find the localised area of the engine causing the noise, and to determine whether or not it's a fault or a characteristic.

Im no expert my any means..but my dad mazda mx5 does this, usually when the oil is getting a bit older. Sporty engines like the altezzas often use lighter oils, and if it is thicker, then it may not pump properly to the cam of the valves. It doesnt cause any real damage to the engine, but check the correct oil weight recommendation, and the oil level and thickness and age of the oil already in your car