Lean Japan Tour – March 2027 | Kaizen Study Tour Japan
Join Shinka Management in Japan from Sunday, 28 February to Saturday, 6 March 2027 for an immersive Kaizen Study Tour exploring lean management and continuous improvement at their source.
The March 2027 Lean Japan Tour combines factory visits, practical training, seminars and discussions with experienced Japanese industry leaders. Participants will see how organizations in Japan apply the Toyota Production System and kaizen in day-to-day operations, while developing practical insights they can take back to their own workplaces.
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Visit our main Lean Japan Tour page for full program information, FAQs, participant feedback and other dates, or contact Shinka Management to discuss joining the program.
Download the Lean Japan Tour registration form for further details.
The March 2027 program will be conducted in English and welcomes leaders, managers and lean practitioners from organizations around the world.
Experience Kaizen in Japan
A kaizen study tour provides something that classroom training alone cannot: the opportunity to observe continuous improvement within the environment in which many of its principles were developed and refined.
During the March 2027 Lean Japan Tour, participants will visit Japanese companies to observe production systems, workplace organization, visual management, standard work and improvement activity at the genba. Factory visits are complemented by seminars, practical exercises and discussions designed to help participants understand not only what Japanese organizations do, but also how and why their lean cultures are sustained.
Training covers key elements of the Toyota Production System (TPS) and the management practices that support kaizen over the long term. Participants also have opportunities to engage with experienced Japanese practitioners, including former Toyota managers and senior industry leaders.
The result is a highly practical professional development experience for those seeking fresh ideas, greater lean capability and a deeper understanding of continuous improvement.
What to Expect from the March 2027 Kaizen Study Tour
Shinka Management has been leading lean study missions in Japan since 2007, providing participants with access to Japanese organizations across manufacturing, healthcare, government and service industries.
Each Lean Japan Tour is developed around the learning opportunities available at the time of the program. Rather than focusing on particular company names, we select host organizations that can demonstrate valuable examples of lean management, kaizen and the Toyota Production System.
The March 2027 program is expected to include:
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Factory and company visits – observe lean management and kaizen directly at the genba.
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Toyota Production System training – develop a deeper understanding of TPS principles and their practical application.
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Hands-on kaizen activities – apply concepts through structured exercises and simulations.
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Management discussions – learn from the experiences of Japanese leaders and lean practitioners.
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Japanese business culture – understand some of the cultural and management context behind continuous improvement in Japan.
- International peer learning – exchange ideas and experiences with professionals from different industries and countries.
Throughout the week, Shinka Management provides the coordination, interpreting and cultural support required to make the experience both productive and enjoyable.
Example Itinerary Based on previous Kaizen Study Tours
Sunday: Arrive in Tokyo
- Tokyo Sightseeing / Free Time
- Tour Orientation
- Japanese Business Culture and Etiquette Seminar
- Welcome Dinner
Monday: Lean Leadership and Company Visits
- Travel to Aichi Prefecture
- Seminar | Lean Leadership in Japan
- Site Visit | Suzaki Industries | Toyota Supplier
- Seminar | Toyota Production System
- Group Dinner in Inuyama
Tuesday: TPS and Practical Kaizen Training
- Seminar | Toyota Production System and Standard Work
- Hands-on Training | Kaizen Team Challenge
- Group Dinner | Traditional Japanese Restaurant
Wednesday: Site Visit and Practical Training
- Company Tour | Metal One Isuzu (Steel Processing Facility)
- Hands-on Practical Training | Kanban Simulation
- Cultural Experience and Sightseeing at Inuyama Castle
Thursday: Factory Visits
- Factory Tour | Auotomotive supplier
- Factory Tour | Precision tools manufacturer
- Management Discussions and Reflection
Friday: Company Visits & Tour Debrief
- Factory Visit | Automotive Parts Supplier
- Museum Visit | Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology
- Debrief Session
- Return to Tokyo
Saturday: Tokyo – Sightseeing and Departure
- Self-Guided Sightseeing | Asakusa and Ginza
- Departure
Shinka Management has had the privelege of hosting clients from over 70 countries to date on our Japan study tours…
Kassel, Germany
My expectations for the tour were exceptionally high, but the Shinka Management team exceeded them all. The opportunity to engage with a sensei who possesses decades of experience in the Toyota Production System (TPS) was invaluable. The factory tours, coupled with discussions with managing directors and plant managers, offered profound insights into the organizational culture,…
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Pune, Maharashtra, India
The Lean Japan Tour by Shinka Management was a truly impactful experience. The learning on Kanban, Standardized Work, Karakuri, and Japanese factory structure was practical, insightful, and directly relevant to strengthening lean culture in our operations. What inspired me most was seeing leaders in the Japanese companies we visited personally demonstrate discipline, respect for standards,…
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Orange, California, United States
Outstanding lean tour hosted by Shinka Management. When researching lean tours in Japan, I wanted to choose the provider offering the most credible program – rich in technical depth and practical, hands-on learning. I’m happy to say this turned out to be a world-class experience that I highly recommend. The program combined expert training and…
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Bowhill, South Australia, Australia
Shinka Management need to be commended for the tour that they ran in Japan. The experience has enlightened and energised me to intensify the lean efforts within our organisation. The tour was packed full of knowledge building as well as relationship building with other participants all whilst experiencing a cultural treat that normally only a…
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Pforzheim, Germany
The Lean Japan Tour was the best lean management experience I have had. I wish I had done this earlier, so I could have done some things differently. One learns that some aspects of lean that one thought one knew, really have a different dimension to them. It helps to see lean management where it…
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Learn More about the Lean Japan Tour
The Lean Japan Tour is Shinka Management’s flagship Japan-based professional development program for leaders and practitioners seeking a deeper understanding of lean management, kaizen and the Toyota Production System.
Programs are held several times each year, with each study tour providing a different combination of company visits and learning experiences according to host-company availability and the strengths of the organizations visited.
Explore our Lean Japan Tour programs to learn more about the format, inclusions and experiences of past participants.
Past Participants on Shinka Management’s Japan Study Tours
Join the March 2027 Lean Japan Tour
Experience lean and kaizen where they originated.
Contact Shinka Management to discuss the March 2027 Kaizen Study Tour or download the registration form to reserve your position.