Lean Japan Tour – April 2027 – Lean Manufacturing Study Tour
Join Shinka Management in Japan for a week-long Lean Manufacturing Study Tour combining expert instruction, hands-on learning and visits to Japanese companies recognized for their approach to continuous improvement.
The April 2027 Lean Japan Tour is designed to connect lean theory with real-world practice. Through seminars on the Toyota Production System, practical kaizen exercises and factory and company visits, participants gain a deeper understanding of how lean principles are applied and sustained within Japanese organizations.
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Visit our main Lean Japan Tour page for program information, FAQs, participant feedback and other available dates, or contact Shinka Management to discuss joining the April program.
Download the Lean Japan Tour registration form for further details and to secure your position.
The April 2027 program will be conducted in English and is open to company owners, leaders, managers, engineers, improvement professionals and lean practitioners from organizations around the world.
Lean Manufacturing Study Tour in Japan
Japan provides a unique environment in which to study lean manufacturing. Many of the management systems, improvement practices and production concepts now applied around the world were developed and refined within Japanese industry, most notably through the Toyota Production System.
The Lean Japan Tour gives participants an opportunity to explore these approaches through several complementary forms of learning. Classroom seminars establish the principles and thinking behind lean and TPS. Practical workshops and simulations allow participants to apply key concepts themselves. Company and factory visits then provide the opportunity to observe how these ideas translate into everyday management and operational practices.
Throughout the week, participants are encouraged to look beyond individual tools and techniques and consider the management systems, leadership behaviors and organizational culture required to sustain continuous improvement over the long term.
Experienced Japanese practitioners, including former Toyota managers and senior industry leaders, contribute to the program and provide insight into both the technical and human aspects of lean transformation.
From Lean Theory to Practice
One of the strengths of the Lean Japan Tour is the connection between what participants learn in the training room and what they subsequently observe at the genba.
Seminars explore subjects such as the Toyota Production System, standard work, visual management, problem solving, kaizen and lean leadership. Hands-on activities reinforce these concepts through practical application, while company visits provide opportunities to see established systems operating within real working environments.
Rather than simply identifying lean tools during a site visit, participants are encouraged to consider why particular systems have been introduced, how they are managed and what enables them to remain effective.
This combination of theory, practice and observation helps participants develop insights that can be adapted to the needs and circumstances of their own organizations.
What to Expect from the April 2027 Lean Manufacturing Study Tour
Shinka Management has been facilitating lean study programs in Japan since 2007. Over this period, our participants have visited organizations across manufacturing and other sectors to study different approaches to lean management, kaizen and operational excellence.
The April 2027 program will include:
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Lean and TPS seminars – explore the principles, systems and management thinking underlying the Toyota Production System.
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Hands-on practical training – reinforce learning through kaizen activities, simulations and structured exercises.
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Factory and company visits – observe lean practices directly within Japanese workplaces and discuss their application with host organizations.
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Lean leadership insights – consider the role of leaders in developing people, solving problems and creating a culture of continuous improvement.
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Genba-based learning – develop the ability to observe processes, identify improvement opportunities and understand the thinking behind operational systems.
- Japanese business culture – gain useful context regarding the management practices and cultural environment in which Japanese approaches to improvement have developed.
- Peer learning – share observations and experiences with participants from different organizations, industries and countries.
Shinka Management coordinates the program throughout the week, including training, company visits, interpreting, transportation and cultural support, allowing participants to focus on learning and making the most of their time in Japan.
Example Itinerary Based on Previous Lean Japan Tours
Sunday: Arrival and Orientation
- Arrive in Tokyo
- Tokyo Sightseeing / Free Time
- Tour Orientation
- Japanese Business Culture Seminar
- Welcome Dinner
Monday: Company Visits and Training
- Travel to Aichi Prefecture
- Seminar | Lean Leadership in Japan
- Site Tour | Toyota supply-chain manufacturer
- Seminar | Toyota Production System
- Group Dinner in Inuyama
Tuesday: Toyota Production System and Practical Training
- Classroom training | Toyota Production System
- Seminar | Standard Work
- Hands-on Training | Kaizen Team Challenge
Wednesday: Site Visit & Practical Training
- Site Visit | Steel processing facility
- Practical Training | Kanban Simulation
- Sightseeing at Inuyama Castle
- Group Dinner | Traditional Japanese Restaurant
Thursday: Lean Manufacturing Factory Visits
- Factory Tour | Auotomotive tier one supplier
- Factory Tour | Precision manufacturing company
- Discussions with management and host-company representatives
- Travel to Nagoya
Friday: Company Visits and Program Debrief
- Factory visit | Automotive Parts Manufacturer
- Factory visit | Electronics manufacturer
- Final seminar and Tour Debrief Session
- Return to Tokyo
Saturday: Tokyo – Recovery and Sightseeing
- Tokyo Sightseeing | Asakusa and Ginza
- Departure
Feedback from our clients regarding our lean manufacturing study tours…
Cupertino, California, United States
Great experience delivered by passionate professionals. The training is well-balanced between real life factory/hospital visits (lean in action), theory (basic concepts, why it makes sense) and exercise (set up your own mini factory line using lean concepts). All of this where it started: Japan. Definitely recommend the tour for any professional looking for ways to…
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Broughton, Chester, United Kingdom
The tour has been a once in a lifetime experience and a real insight into Japanese Industry and culture. The warm welcome and organisation of the week including travel, hotels, places to eat and all visits were exceptional. The Toyota Group and Isuzu factory tours really demonstrated the Toyota Production System followed up with great…
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Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Paul Smith and the team at Shinka Management, in particular Eri Dennis, did an incredible job planning and leading our tailored Japan Study Tour in March 2024. Our team of construction and training professionals learnt and more importantly experienced so much about lean management and Japanese construction, manufacturing and factory practices. Without the expertise and…
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Christchurch, New Zealand
I highly recommend the Lean Study Tour of Japan as an experience not to be missed. Having attended the tour for the past three years, supporting our clients, I have come away with new learnings every time. Whether you are new to Lean Thinking or well into your Lean Journey you will undoubtedly have an…
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Ripley, England, United Kingdom
The Shinka Lean Japan Tour provided an exceptional opportunity to experience Lean thinking and the Toyota Production System (TPS) at its source. Seeing manufacturing operations firsthand brought the principles of continuous improvement and waste elimination to life in a way that classroom learning alone cannot achieve. One of the most valuable aspects of the tour…
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A Practical Professional Development Experience
The April 2027 Lean Japan Tour is suitable for participants at different stages of their lean journey.
Those relatively new to lean gain an intensive introduction to the principles and practices of the Toyota Production System within the environment where many of them originated.
Experienced lean and operational excellence professionals have the opportunity to challenge their existing understanding, compare different approaches and explore the management practices that enable continuous improvement to be sustained.
The program is particularly relevant for:
- Senior leaders and executives
- Operations and manufacturing managers
- Lean and continuous improvement professionals
- Engineering and quality leaders
- Production and supply-chain professionals
- Consultants and lean practitioners
- Organizations developing or strengthening their own lean operating systems
Participants return home with new perspectives, practical ideas and a stronger understanding of the relationship between lean tools, management systems, leadership and organizational culture.
Learn More About the Lean Japan Tour
The Lean Japan Tour is Shinka Management’s flagship Japan-based lean training program, bringing together seminars, hands-on exercises, company visits and cultural experiences within an intensive week of professional development.
Programs are conducted several times each year. While the overall learning framework remains consistent, individual tours feature different host companies and experiences according to availability and the learning opportunities offered by each organization.
Visit our main Lean Japan Tour page to learn more about program inclusions, training content, previous company visits and feedback from participants.
Past Participants on Shinka Management’s Japan Study Tours
Join the April 2027 Lean Japan Tour
Contact Shinka Management to discuss the April 2027 Lean Manufacturing Study Tour or download the registration form to secure your position.