Lean Japan Tour – December 2026 | Lean Training in Japan
Join Shinka Management in Japan from 6–12 December 2026 for an intensive, one-week lean training program designed to connect lean principles with real operational practice.
This Lean Japan Tour takes participants beyond classroom theory. Through expert-led Toyota Production System training, practical improvement exercises and visits to Japanese organizations, you will see how lean thinking is applied on the shop floor, in management systems and in everyday problem-solving. The program combines professional development with direct exposure to the culture and business environment in which many of today’s most influential lean practices evolved.
Location: Tokyo, Japan
For program information, frequently asked questions and details of other available dates, visit our main Lean Japan Tour page. To discuss whether this lean training program in Japan is suitable for you or your team, please contact Shinka Management.
Download the Lean Japan Tour registration form for pricing, inclusions, booking details and further program information.
Delivered in English, this lean training program in Japan welcomes managers, leaders, improvement specialists and professionals from organizations around the world.
This Japan-based lean training experience is for professionals who want to strengthen their ability to lead improvement, develop people and apply lean principles in a practical setting.
During the week, participants learn directly from experienced lean practitioners, including former Toyota leaders and specialist consultants. You will visit operating sites, examine systems in their working context and take part in structured exercises that make concepts such as standard work, flow, kaizen and problem-solving more tangible.
Sample agenda based on previous Japan-based lean training programs
The December 2026 itinerary will be confirmed closer to the program, subject to host-company availability. The outline below indicates the type of learning, site visits and cultural experiences typically included in a Shinka Management Lean Japan Tour.
Sunday: Tokyo arrival, orientation and introduction to Japan
The program begins in Tokyo, allowing participants time to settle in before joining the group for an orientation, an introduction to business etiquette in Japan and a welcome dinner.
- Tokyo Sightseeing / Free Time
- Orientation & Japanese Business Etiquette Seminar
- Welcome Dinner
Monday: Lean leadership and the Toyota Production System
Travel to the Nagoya/Aichi region for the first program sessions and company visit. The day introduces the leadership behaviours, management systems and foundational TPS concepts that support sustained improvement.
- Travel to Aichi Prefecture
- Seminar | Lean Leadership in Japan
- Site Tour | Suzaki Industries | Toyota Supplier
- Seminar | Toyota Production System
- Group Dinner in Inuyama
Tuesday: Standard work, kaizen and learning by doing
Build on the previous day’s concepts through focused training and a practical team exercise. Participants explore how standard work creates a platform for improvement and experience the dynamics of kaizen through hands-on learning.
- Seminar | Toyota Production System Standard Work
- Hands-on Training | Kaizen Team Challenge
- Group Dinner | Traditional Japanese Restaurant
Wednesday: Observing flow and applying pull principles
Visit a Japanese operating site and continue the practical component of the program through a Kanban-based exercise. The day also provides time to experience the local area and its historical setting.
- Site Visit | Metal One Isuzu (Steel Service Center)
- Practical Training | Kanban Simulation
- Sightseeing at Inuyama Castle
Thursday: Learning from Japanese manufacturing operations
Factory visits provide an opportunity to observe different approaches to quality, people development, production control and continuous improvement. Participants are encouraged to compare what they see with the realities of their own organisations.
- Factory Tour | Auotomotive final assembly plant or supplier
- Factory Tour | Precision tools manufacturer
Friday: Reflection, application and return to Tokyo
The final full program day brings together further site learning with a guided debrief. Participants reflect on the lessons most relevant to their own workplaces and consider practical next steps for applying lean after returning home.
- Factory visit | Automotive Parts Supplier
- Factory visit | Electronics manufacturer
- Final seminar and Tour Debrief Session
- Return to Tokyo
Saturday: Tokyo departure or independent exploration
The formal program has concluded. Participants may depart Japan or use the day for independent sightseeing in Tokyo, depending on their travel arrangements.
- Self-guided Tokyo Sightseeing
- Departure
For almost two decades, Shinka Management has delivered lean training programs in Japan for professionals seeking to understand continuous improvement in its original business and cultural context. Our programs have included visits to manufacturers, healthcare organisations, service providers and public-sector institutions.
Every Lean Japan Tour is developed around a proven learning framework, while the final itinerary is shaped by host availability and the most valuable opportunities available for the group. This ensures that the experience remains practical, relevant and grounded in real examples of lean implementation.
- See lean at work: Visit Japanese organisations and observe how improvement principles are translated into daily operations.
- Learn from experienced practitioners: Gain perspective from former Toyota leaders and lean specialists with practical implementation experience.
- Turn concepts into capability: Participate in exercises covering kaizen, standard work, Kanban, problem-solving and the Toyota Production System.
- Understand the wider context: Develop insight into Japanese workplace culture, communication and leadership alongside the technical content.
- Focus on learning, not logistics: Accommodation, domestic travel, selected meals and interpreter support are coordinated by the Shinka Management team.
Trusted by professionals from more than 70 countries
Shinka Management has welcomed leaders and improvement professionals from around the world to Japan to study lean, kaizen and the Toyota Production System.
Paris, France
In 2019, I discovered lean management — and it was a revelation.
Lean taught me something essential: we do not transform an environment by waiting for a miracle. We transform it by choosing to improve ourselves every day, even by one millimeter — with discipline, humility, and consistency. Since then, this mindset has never left me. That is why spending one week in Japan, at the very source of lean, was such a meaningful experience for me.
I had the opportunity to be supported by Shinka Management, and this training now clearly ranks among my top three learning experiences. Shinka Management truly practices what it teaches. The organization, the quality of the content, the flow of the program, and the high standards throughout all reflected a genuine culture of continuous improvement. Everything was designed with rigor, consistency and efficiency.
For seven days, I was surrounded by participants from nine different countries, representing a wide range of business environments — from major tech companies to manufacturing plants. This diversity made the learning experience even richer.
The welcome and knowledge-sharing from the Japanese companies were exceptional. What impressed me the most was the generosity with which they shared Kaizen — not as an abstract concept, but as a living, practical, and collective discipline. Almost an obsession.
Every visit, every discussion and every detail seemed to convey the message: sustainable performance is built over time, through people, and with people.
Returning to the birthplace of this methodology allowed me to better understand the logic behind the mindset. I would highly recommend this training to any lean practitioner seeking a deeper understanding of the journey that shapes lean thinking and methods.
Industrial methods can absolutely create value in service organizations — when they are adapted with intelligence and rigor. And I’m eager to see what we do with a fresh perspective shared by Shinka Management.
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Hamilton, Waikato, New Zealand
An outstanding experience. The opportunity to learn and build knowledge with experts in the principles of lean management was first class. The Japan context simply makes all the difference in putting that learning into context and allowed me to get “under the hood” of how it is really applied in practice through a variety of hosted site visits. The Shinka team are just amazing and I have met some great people from all over the world by joining this tour. What are you waiting for?
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Denver, Colorado, United States
This was my third visit to Japan with Shinka Management and it is difficult for me to find the right words to express my gratitude for such a well-organized tour and my appreciation for the high quality and on-target content. In my previous visits I received very valuable information related to continuous improvement principles and lean theory. While I received further lean training, my main focus was to gain more skills, tools and strategies on how lean practices can be adapted and introduced into the development of people. As a founder and owner of a newly established company, it is crucial for me to set up a lean culture at the onset of the company’s journey to foster the mindset of continuous improvement. Thank so much to all the wonderful people at Shinka Management that make this amazing experience possible. I highly recommend Shinka Management to any organization interested in lean training and improving their business.
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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, and strict adherence to rules—a powerful reminder that leadership behaviour sets the foundation for a lean organisation.
The Shinka Management team, including Eri, Paul, Ichi, and Jan, displayed outstanding professionalism and hospitality, ensuring every visit, discussion, and learning session was smooth, respectful, and deeply enriching.
This tour is a must for anyone serious about deepening their lean mindset and bringing back actionable ideas for continuous improvement.
Milton, New Zealand
If you have embarked on a lean journey The Lean Study Tour should be on your bucket list!
It was inspiring to see the Toyota Production System in action as a management system, as well as the small improvements made day in and day out by dedicated and motivated teams all striving to continuously improve. The tour leaders did an outstanding Job of guiding us through Japan, and highlighting where TPS is improving society as well as manufacturing. Their subtle lines of questioning and coaching combined with observing TPS in action and the instruction of Japanese Sensei inspired tour participants on how they can effect change.
Every detail from transport to meals and accommodation were professionally managed and executed. Practical learning environments such as the Toyota group training center consolidated class room learning with hands on experimentation which lead to real “ah ha” moments with many tour participants.
This tour was an extremely rewarding and enjoyable learning experience. I highly recommend the Lean Study Tour.
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Reserve your place on the December 2026 Lean Japan Tour
The Lean Japan Tour is Shinka Management’s flagship lean training program in Japan. It is run several times each year for professionals who want more than a high-level introduction to lean: they want to observe it in context, learn from experienced practitioners and return with ideas they can apply.
The December program will follow Shinka Management’s established blend of site visits, expert instruction, practical exercises and guided reflection. While the host companies and detailed agenda may vary, the purpose remains consistent: to help participants build a clearer, more practical understanding of lean management and continuous improvement.
Visit our Lean Japan Tour page for further program information, participant feedback and other scheduled dates, or contact us to discuss registration.
Organisations represented on Shinka Management’s Lean Japan Tours
Contact us about a Lean Japan Tour
Discuss the December 2026 program with our team, request registration information or secure your place on this lean training experience in Japan.