2026 Japan Study Tour

Interested in what is happening internationally with ITS, C-ITS, Automation and more? Join ITS Australia and a senior delegation to experience on the ground activities in and around Tokyo with our government and industry partners.

In April 2026, ITS Australia will host a transport technology study tour in Tokyo, Japan. ITS Australia is proud to support a collaborative approach between our government transport agencies, our regulators as well as our research partners and industry. Bringing a high-level group together to explore the success of deployments and learnings in Japan will help us move forward with ambitious plans for Australia.

An ITS Australia delegation of senior leaders from government, industry and academia will travel to Tokyo from 21–23 April for a focused study tour on next‑generation intelligent transport systems. Led by CEO Susan Harris and Policy Manager Stacey Ryan, the group includes representatives from road agencies, technology providers, OEMs, universities and industry bodies from Australia and New Zealand, alongside Japanese counterparts from MLIT, ITS Japan, NEC, Toyota, Sumitomo Electric, NEXCO East and others.

The program opens on Tuesday with a visit to NEC’s Future Creation Hub to explore cutting‑edge digital and data‑driven transport solutions, followed by a Japan–Australia bilateral roundtable hosted at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in Kasumigaseki. Senior officials and experts from both countries will share policy and technical perspectives on road traffic management, ITS deployment and future mobility, before a VIP networking dinner in Ginza.

On Wednesday the delegation turns to connected and automated vehicles and infrastructure use cases through an “ITS Connect – Toyota Experience”, combining a formal meeting at Toyota’s Tokyo offices with technical briefings and demonstrations. In the afternoon, participants visit Sumitomo Electric’s Tokyo headquarters to examine advanced sensing, communications and expressway technologies that underpin safer, more efficient networks.

Thursday focuses on automation pilots and expressway operations resilience. The group meets Tier IV in Shinagawa for an automated bus demonstration and discussion on AV deployment in mixed urban environments, before travelling to NEXCO East’s Iwatsuki Control Centre in Saitama to see real‑time expressway control and traffic management in action. Across three days, the study tour provides a structured mix of briefings, site visits, demonstrations and roundtable dialogue designed to deepen Australia–Japan collaboration on ITS innovation, policy and implementation

High-level Program:

• ITS Connect – Toyota the future of passenger vehicles, infrastructure use cases and deployment.
• Iwatsuki Traffic Control Centre
• Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Roundtable with Australian Consulate and ITS Japan
• NEC experience
• Sumitomo Electric - Traffic Light Management 

Draft Itinerary:

• Monday 20 April: Delegates arrive in Tokyo, Japan.
• Tuesday 21 April AM: NEC Experience
• Australian Consulate Roundtable - Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
• Tuesday 21 April PM: VIP Dinner with Australian and Japanese dignitaries
• Wednesday 22 April AM: Toyota ITS Contact Platform: V2X, the future of passenger vehicles, infrastructure use cases and deployment - Sumitomo Electric
• Thursday 23 April:  Tier IV Automated Bus Demonstration -  Iwatsuki Traffic Control Centre Experience.

What's included:

• On-site transport and other site visits/meetings.
• VIP Dinner on Tuesday and workshop catering.
• Facilitated introductions and engagement support.

What's not included:

• Flights.
• Accommodation Mercure Hotel Ginza
• Airport Transfers.
• Travel Insurance.

Places on the tour are strictly limited. To secure a spot you must register your interest.

Registration fee: $1500 +GST

US Study Tour Report