Lean Management System – LEVEL 1 – Japan Study Tour

About the visit

21 – 29 November 2026

Join the leading Lean Training Programme in Japan in 2026 for an experience of a lifetime. We are proud to offer you this unique opportunity to gain practical knowledge and experience studying with Toyota gurus for one whole week in Japan. To understand how to best utilise Lean, we offer a unique opportunity to visit Japan and participate in a Lean training hosted by former managers from the Toyota Group. You will be guided by senseis with at least 30 years of experience through seminars, Gemba visits and by training in Toyota’s own training facilities.

Understand Why and How to use LEAN

The training covers the overall picture of the production system and builds a better understanding of how lean can be successfully implemented and sustained. What are the elements needed to run a successful Lean system? You will get an insight into what the best Japanese companies are doing to compete with the rest of the world.
You will find numerous references and inspiration to continuous improvements directly applicable to your business back home. During the week in Japan, we will also find the time to enjoy Japanese culture, food and points of interest.

Study Tour Package Includes:

  • 7 hotel nights in single rooms
  • Local transports in Japan according to program
  • Full board according to program
  • Farewell dinner
  • Course fee
  • Practice at Lean Training Center
  • Study visits
  • Facilitator
  • Interpretation (English or Swedish)
Excludes:
  • Flight
  • Travel insurance

Costs & To Book

£6,500 plus VAT, due to new restrictions we can advise on flights but not book on your behalf, pricing has been adjusted accordingly.
Onsite Host Companies: 10% Discount on all Bookings
Group Discount: 10% Discount on 4 or more places

Need Help or Advice?

For full terms and conditions and for details of our Company Insurance Policy please do contact us.

Any questions regarding the training, the travel to or within Japan – please do give us a call on +44 (0) 23 9246 8978.

The study tour is being delivered by SA Partners LLP and Onsite Insights in partnership with C2U Group.

Visit in 60 seconds / Awards

Lean Manufacturing … Company culture … Kanban … Kaizen … 5S … TPM … Visual Management … Managing full product lifecycle … Value stream mapping … Quality Problem Sheet … Five Whys? … Process flow … Environmental Management … Training & Development … Quality Control … Investor in People

Visit agenda

The training week will provide an invaluable insight into lean thinking. You will see it in action at Toyota and other leading-edge companies, where it originated and has matured over the last 100 years.

Learn the original thinking directly from former senior executives at Gifu Autobody, a Toyota-owned minivan manufacturer.  The Japanese sensei’s

(guru’s) will only teach based on real experience.

Time will be divided between the classroom, Gemba and practical workshops. The tour starts in the Nagoya region and ends in Tokyo, going from countryside to one of the largest cities in the world.

Saturday: Arrival day
Arrival in Japan. Accommodation included.

Sunday:  Tour Opening
We will take the opportunity to recover from jetlag and relax after the long flight by visiting the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology where we also will have lunch. In the museum we can follow the Japanese industrial history from looms to robotics. After the visit we travel to the destination of the day, Kakamigahara, where we will stay until Friday. The day ends with a common dinner and introduction of the week.

Monday: Training
The first day of training introduces the Production System by one of our hosts for the week. A Japanese senior manager will lead us through Toyota Production System from a manager perspective. From values, mindset to specific tools and methods. This session will prepare the group in what we can expect from the study visits, from the practice and from the following sessions. Your overall picture of the production system will be confirmed or completed. In the afternoon we go for a first study visit, guided by our sensei. Q&A. Common dinner.

Tuesday: Training
Next day, we continue to dig deeper into aspects of the production system and the Toyota way of managing and leading. How are all the puzzle pieces connected?

How is Kaizen work organized and performed? Etc. After lunch, we go for another study visit and if time allows, we will also end with a visit to a traditional knife maker. Common dinner.

Wednesday: Training
This day we spend in the Training Center where Toyota train their own people. We will increase our knowledge of Kanban when the group take part in a Kanban Role Play and we will train in how to perform a productivity improvement task following the Toyota methods. Common dinner.

Thursday: Training
We will be received by another host that will take us to two other visits as well as giving another perspective on operational excellence. Common dinner.

Friday: Conclusion
The last day ends with a study visit and a conclusion on this weeks learnings. We do final reflections before we board the bullet train that will take us to Tokyo. Free evening in Tokyo. Common farewell dinner.

Saturday: Tokyo
Free day/departure. Possibility to extend stay.