4 June 2026

ITS Australia releases Japan Study Tour report, highlighting pathway from pilot to deployment

ITS Australia releases Japan Study Tour report, highlighting pathway from pilot to deployment

Melbourne Australia, 4 June 2026: ITS Australia has released its official report from the recent Japan Study Tour, offering members, industry stakeholders and policymakers a first-hand view of how one of the world’s most advanced transport ecosystems is translating innovation into real-world deployment.

The report captures insights from a three-day delegation to Tokyo with ITS Australia members including New Zealand Transport Authority, Yunex Traffic, Transmax, UTS, FCAI, Deakin University, Intelematics, Road Aid and NEC. Leaders engaged with key government agencies, infrastructure operators and global technology providers, including Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), ITS Japan, Toyota, NEC, Sumitomo Electric and NEXCO East.

Rather than focusing on emerging technology alone, the report highlights a critical shift underway in Japan’s approach to transport innovation, moving beyond pilots to establish integrated, operational systems at scale.

Key findings from the report include:

Deployment is a systems challenge, not a technology gap

Japan’s progress reflects alignment across policy, infrastructure, operations and data, rather than reliance on standalone pilots.

Operations are central to delivering outcomes

Traffic control centres and network management systems play a decisive role in turning data and connectivity into real-world performance improvements.

Integration defines success

Connected vehicles, infrastructure and data platforms are developed and deployed as part of a single ecosystem, not separate initiatives.

Collaboration enables scale

Strong coordination between government, industry and research organisations underpins consistent, network-wide deployment.

The report also reflects on the importance of international engagement in accelerating progress, with the Japan-Australia Leaders Roundtable and multiple bilateral discussions creating new pathways for knowledge exchange and collaboration.

Susan Harris, CEO of ITS Australia, said the study tour reinforced the value of global partnerships in shaping the future of transport.

“These kinds of engagements create the foundation for meaningful knowledge exchange and collective advancement,” Ms Harris said.

“Study tours such as this play an important role in moving beyond observation to active engagement. They help build the relationships, understanding and trust required to accelerate deployment domestically, while contributing to a globally connected ITS community working toward safer, smarter and more sustainable transport systems.”

The Japan Study Tour forms part of ITS Australia’s broader commitment to international engagement, supporting members to better understand global best practice while positioning Australia as an active contributor to the future of intelligent transport systems.

Read the full Japan Study Tour report here.

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