Friday 7 May to Sunday 16 May 2027
Discover how Japanese organisations implement Continuous Improvement daily. Visit leading organisations and apply new insights to your own organisation.
Japan is inextricably linked with Lean, Kaizen, and the Toyota Production System. Yet, continuous improvement goes beyond methods and techniques there. It is visible in the way organisations are led, employees collaborate, and problems are solved.
During the Japan Study Trip 2027, you will visit organisations and production sites, speak with professionals from the field, and discover the culture behind sustainable improvement. Through company visits, in-depth exploration, and collective reflection, you will translate what you see into your own work environment.
To understand why Japan is globally regarded as the birthplace of continuous improvement, it is not enough to merely visit companies. During the upcoming study trip, we will also investigate why the Japanese approach to continuous improvement is so much more effective than the approach often seen in Western companies.
The way Japanese organisations approach quality and continuous improvement is inextricably linked to how the country has developed over the past five centuries. Therefore, in addition to company visits, we will also focus on Japan’s history, culture, economy, and societal development.
This trip is intended for professionals working in quality management, operations, and/or continuous improvement. This study trip is beneficial for professionals from industry, automotive, as well as business services, government, and healthcare.
Understand the Japanese success factor Discover why continuous improvement works differently in Japan than in the Western world.
Experience in practice Witness examples in leading organisations.
Hands-on experience We will work in the Dojo and be trained by Toyota Senseis.
Apply to your own organisation Gain inspiration on how to apply Kaizen in your own organisation.
In 2027, Kyushu will be central: a region where high-tech industry, technology, and Japanese culture converge. It is not without reason that Kyushu is also called ‘Silicon Island’.
During the trip, we combine company visits with historical and cultural immersion in Nagasaki, Hiroshima, and Kyoto.
The exact travel dates are subject to discussion, as there is often a desire to stay a few extra days privately.
The programme below is an initial draft and subject to change.
We gather at Schiphol, from where we depart for Fukuoka. Our joint study trip begins from the gate.
We land in Fukuoka in the morning, after which we travel by coach to the hotel. After checking in, we depart for Nagasaki, where we will visit, among other places, Dejima Island, from which the Netherlands traded with Japan for over 220 years.
On Sunday, we will head into the Japanese mountains from Fukuoka to the impressive waterfalls and natural areas of Miyazaki. A relaxed introduction to the natural beauty of Kyushu, before the substantive programme of the study trip begins.
In the morning, we begin our study trip with a visit to Yaskawa Electric, one of the world’s leading robot manufacturers. In the afternoon, we visit one of Japan’s most modern car factories, Nissan Plant Kyushu.
Kyushu is also known as ‘Silicon Island’ thanks to its many semiconductor companies and recent investments by TSMC. We will visit a semiconductor company, and in the afternoon, we will visit Honda Kyushu, a modern production facility where automotive, craftsmanship, and continuous improvement converge.
We depart early in the morning by Shinkansen for Kyoto. Along the way, we stop in Hiroshima, where we visit the ‘Peace Memorial Park’ and take the ‘Atomic Bomb Dome Tour’. An impressive visit.
Today, we will spend the entire day at the DOJO training centre. Here, we will be trained by former Toyota Senseis in continuous improvement according to the Kaizen approach. Even the seasoned specialist in continuous improvement will learn a great deal here. This visit is highly valued every year.
In the morning, we go to IKEDO, a supplier to Toyota, among others. The company is known for its application of Karakuri techniques. Afterwards, we visit the Toyota Commemorative Museum and delve into the development of Toyota, Lean production, and quality management.
We travel to Kyoto and visit Fushimi Inari-taisha, Rokuonji Temple, and Kiyomizu-dera, among other sites. We will also experience a Japanese tea ceremony.
We depart for Kansai Airport early in the afternoon and fly back to the Netherlands. We arrive at Schiphol early on Monday morning. Would you like to stay a few extra days privately and, for example, fly back from Tokyo? This is negotiable.
Friday 7 May to Sunday 16 May
It is possible to book a few extra days privately, allowing you to explore Japan further on your own.
Study Trip: €3,500 Accommodation: €2,750 Flight: €1,250
Total: €7,500 excluding VAT*
Return flight, 4-star hotels, meals, local transport, Shinkansen, company visits, and excursions.
Not included: transport to and from Schiphol, travel and cancellation insurance and three dinners at your own expense.
* VAT exemption possible, ask for conditions.
“Deze studiereis gaf een unieke inkijk in de Japanse verbetercultuur. Een ervaring die mijn kijk op Lean heeft verrijkt.”
“Ik zag met eigen ogen hoe er continu 1 seconde, 1 stap of 1 yen verbeterd werd. ”
“Het was een ontzettend interessante en leerzame reis, en tegelijkertijd ook ontspannen en gezellig.”
Discover what changes when you don’t just study continuous improvement, but see, discuss, and experience it in the place where it is deeply embedded in the organisational culture.
Leave your details and receive the provisional programme. We will contact you personally to discuss whether the Japan Study Trip 2027 aligns with your ambitions and organisation.