Lean Japan Tour – March 2025 – Shinka Management Kaizen Tour
The March 2025 Lean Japan Tour will be held on Sunday 9th through to Saturday 15th March. The kaizen tour will include lean seminars, practical kaizen training, visits to factories for discussions with senior leaders and Japanese cultural experiences.
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 March 2025 lean study tour is targeted at English-speaking professionals from across the globe.

The Lean Japan Tour, hosted by Shinka Management, provides a comprehensive exploration of lean management practices, directly from the birthplace of these methodologies. This kaizen tour program offers participants the chance to engage with experts in the field, visit renowned factories, experience hands-on lean training, study the Toyota Production System and observe lean implementation and culture in action. The program also includes seminars and discussions with senior leaders, offering insights into the successful implementation of lean strategies.
During this journey in Japan, participants will experience Japan’s unique culture, gaining a holistic understanding of how cultural elements influence business practices and lean thinking. This kaizen tour program is ideal for professionals seeking to enhance their knowledge and application of lean principles in their organizations.
Example Itinerary (subject to change)
Sunday: Arrive Tokyo
- Tokyo Sightseeing / Free Time
- Orientation & Japanese Business Etiquette Seminar
- Welcome Dinner
Monday: Site Visits & Training
- Travel to Aichi Prefecture
- Seminar | Lean Leadership in Japan
- Site Tour | Suzaki Industries | Toyota Supplier
- Seminar | Toyota Production System
- Group Dinner in Inuyama
Tuesday: Seminars & Practical Training
- Seminar | Toyota Production System Standard Work
- Hands-on Training | Kaizen Team Challenge
- Group Dinner | Traditional Japanese Restaurant
Wednesday: Site Visit & Practical Training
- Site Visit | Metal One Isuzu (Steel Service Center)
- Practical Training | Kanban Simulation
- Sightseeing at Inuyama Castle
Thursday: Site Visits
- Factory Tour | Toyota Final Assembly Plant
- Factory Tour | Precision tools manufacturer
Friday: Site Visit & Debriefing
- Site visit | Automotive Parts Supplier
- Toyota Commemorative Museum
- Final seminar and Tour Debrief Session
- Return to Tokyo
- Farewell Dinner in Shibuya
Saturday: Tokyo – Recovery and Sightseeing
- Tokyo Sightseeing | Asakusa and Ginza
- Departure
Learn more about our kaizen tour programs
The Lean Japan Tour, run several times annually, is Shinka Management’s flagship lean professional development program. All kaizen tour programs have a similar structure, however the selection of factory visits and program content varies from tour to tour depending on host company availability.
For further information about our kaizen tours, see our Lean Tour page, or read through feedback from previous lean tour participants.
What our kaizen tour participants have said…
Not for the fainthearted, this action-packed tour will blow you away. It’s a one-week learning adventure supercharged with information on TPS (Lean) principles. The learning experiences and companies visited far exceeded expectations. The Japanese managers we met were friendly and excited to share their experiences. If you desire change within your organisation and are not…
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It was a fasntastic tour from the beginning to the end. It was very well-organised and informative. Sessions were followed with practical training which concentrated more on the ideas that had been explained. The factories visited were chosen in a way that allowed the participants to see a live supply chain work. Big thanks to…
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This trip really enlightened me in some specific lean topics and showed me all the beneficial aspects of lean manufacturing. The biggest take away for me was a deeper appreciation of not just the tools but the philosophy. The way the trip was organised and flowed was amazing. Thanks to Paul and David from Shinka…
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I am deeply grateful to Shinka Management, and to Paul, Eri and Ichi, for an outstanding Lean Japan Tour experience. Their expertise and hospitality made the journey both educational and enjoyable. The insights gained from visiting world-class lean organizations were invaluable, and the dedication of the Shinka team to ensuring we absorbed practical knowledge was…
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As I have had a previous unpleasant experience with lean training, I was worried about how much I could gain from this tour. At the end of this magnificent experience I can confirm that Shinka Management has exceeded my expectations. They are so organized, dedicated, helpful and generous. The tour was based on very-well known…
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Contact us about a Lean Japan Tour
Speak to us about our kaizen tours and other lean training programs.