Lean Japan Tour – May 2024 – Shinka Management Kaizen Study Mission
The May 2024 Lean Japan Tour will be held on Sunday 12th through to Saturday 18th May. The kaizen study mission will include lean seminars, practical kaizen training and visits to factories for meetings with senior management.
*Please note new dates as follows*
Tour Dates: 12 May 2024 - 18 May 2024
Location: Tokyo, Japan
For further details of the tour and to read about past visits see our Lean Japan Tour page.
Contact us to express your interest in participating or download the registration form to sign up now.
The May 2024 lean study tour is targeted at English-speaking professionals from across the globe.
Example Itinerary (subject to change)
Sunday: Arrive Tokyo
- Tokyo sightseeing / free time
- Orientation & Japanese business etiquette seminar
Monday: Nagoya – Site Visits & Training
- Lean leadership in Japan
- Toyota facotry tour – Toyota Body Seiko
Tuesday: Nagoya – Site Visits & Training
- Lean implementation in Japan
- Toyota final assembly plant tour
- Standard work seminar
Wednesday: Nagoya – Training & Site Visit
- Suzaki Industries factory tour (Toyota Supplier)
- Metal One Isuzu factory tour
- Sightseeing to local castle
Thursday: Nagoya – Practical Training
- Hands-on kanban simulation
- Standard work and kaizen practical
- Karakuri Kaizen Examples
Friday: Nagoya – Site Visit & Debriefing
- Site visit or Toyota Commemorative Museum
- Final seminar and tour debrief session
- Return to Tokyo
Saturday: Tokyo – Recovery and Sightseeing
- Free morning in Tokyo for sightseeing
- Departure
Learn more about our kaizen study missions
The Lean Japan Tour is Shinka Management’s flagship lean professional development program. For further detail about our kaizen study tours, see the Lean Japan Tour page, or read more about past participants’ Lean Mission Testimonials.

What our lean study mission participants have said…
I was a part of the November 2013 Lean Japan Tour and would highly recommend it for anyone who is serious about Lean Manufacturing. Ben and Paul are well organised and have put together a great tour. The tour is very enjoyable and a great insight into Lean manufacturing. I have come back with a…
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I was very impressed with the professionalism and preparedness of the Shinka team. The support both before and during the tour was fantastic. It was the right mix of culture and personal development. There were lots of learnings I will take with me.
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This tour was recommended to me by our VP Operations who undertook the tour the previous year. Both Ben and Paul provided an excellent tour of the Japanese manufacturing industry and the program was both well run and highly focused towards the practical implementation of lean strategies. There were plenty of opportunities to ask questions…
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A great mix of Japanese Business Etiquette, site visits show-casing lean principles, Japanese Culture and networking with the other members of the group. Both Ben & Paul were professional yet relaxed and friendly. Their relationships with key personnel in strategic lean businesses is impressive and their ability to translate quickly & accurately minimised the language…
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I would like to give my deepest thanks for helping us end the executive program on a high note. This week has summarized TPS / VPS in a very practical and eye-opening manner. The lean journey has become real and exemplified through the many visits we have done. The coaching by Hattori Sensei, and by…
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Contact us about a Lean Japan Tour
Speak to us about our tours.