Lean Japan Tour – September 2023 – Shinka Management Kaizen Study Mission
The September 2023 Lean Japan Tour will be held on Sunday 10th through to Saturday 16th September. The kaizen study mission will include lean seminars, practical kaizen training and visits to factories for meetings with senior management.
Location: Tokyo, Japan
For further details of the tour and to read about past kaizen and kaikaku 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 September 2023 Lean Japan Tour is a kaikaku study mission 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 implementation in Japan seminar
- Metal One Isuzu plant visit
Tuesday: Nagoya – Site Visits & Training
- Toyota Production System seminar
- Toyota Body Seiko visit
Wednesday: Nagoya – Practical Training
- Lean leadership seminar
- Toyota final assembly plant tour
- Sightseeing to local castle
Thursday: Nagoya – Site Visits
- Hands-on kanban simulation and kaizen activity
- Suzaki Industries factory tour (Toyota supplier)
Friday: Nagoya – Site Visit & Debriefing
- Site visit or Toyota Commemorative Museum
- Final seminar and tour debrief session
Saturday: Tokyo – Recovery and Sightseeing
- Sightseeing in Tokyo to Asakusa and Ginza
- Departure from Tokyo
Learn more about our Kaizen study missions
The Lean Japan Tour program is Shinka Management’s flagship development program for lean practitioners. For further detail about our kaikaku study missions, see the Lean Japan Tour page, or view our past participants’ Lean Mission Testimonials.

What our lean study mission participants have said…
For me, the Lean Japan Tour was a journey through different companies guided by experts who explained the tools and demonstrated how to live in a work culture based on continuous improvement. This allowed me to discover new concepts and approaches to facilitate the successful implementation of a kaizen culture in American companies.
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I personally believe that an understanding of lean as a holistic concept combined with lean tools is necessary for all managers in any business. Shinka Management introduced us to the origins of lean production and provided a great opportunity to observe real companies where TPS principles are both implemented and being polished daily. Important parts…
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Personally and professionally I found the week extraordinarily rewarding – not only as a fantastic Lean Japan Tour but as a cultural experience not to be missed. Imagine if you will… taking a group of people you had never met before, under your wing, in one of the most crowded cities in the world. Plenty…
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I enjoyed every aspect of this extremely well organised kaizen tour including: factory visits, translations by Paul and Ben, TPS training, sightseeing, accommodation, transportation, and meals. This tour is a must for anyone trying to understand / implement LEAN into their business or organisation. I hope the tour continues for many years to come as…
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The tour has given me the opportunity to understand in a practical way what I learned theoretically. I have checked that the theory is possible to put in practice. This has been the first time that I have felt the lean manufacturing philosophy first hand. Congratulations to the Shinka Team. The organisation has been perfect…
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Contact us about a Lean Japan Tour
Speak to us about our tours.