One of the great international cities of the world, Tokyo blends modern culture and traditional Japanese influences harmoniously. For events and conferences, the city offers truly unique venues for groups of all sizes, with accommodation ranging from large convention facilities to small boutique hotels and ryokans (traditional Japanese inns), and a variety of Tokyo event venues.
Narita International Airport is the closest airport to Tokyo. Travel to central Tokyo Station via Japan Rail’s Narita Express takes only 53 minutes. With a quick transfer, the trip from Narita airport to the Ginza business and shopping district is 80 minutes.
There are six major conference venues in Tokyo: Tokyo Conference Center Ariake, Tokyo Conference Center Shinagawa, Tokyo Big Sight International Exhibition Center, Tokyo International Forum, Roppongi Academy Hills and Tokyo Midtown Hall & Conference.
Hotel venues in Tokyo include the Ginza’s largest hotels – the 931-room Imperial Hotel and The 314-room Peninsula Tokyo. Elsewhere, meetings properties include the Takanawa and Shinagawa Prince hotels and the Mandarin Oriental; while some of the newest hotels include the 251-room Capitol Hotel Tokyu and The Palace Hotel Tokyo near the Imperial Palace. (The landmark Tokyo Station Hotel, a Gothic Renaissance-style brick building constructed in 1914, will re-open on October 3, 2012.) For intensive cultural immersion, groups can sample traditional ryokan hospitality at Sadachiyo and Suigetsu Hotel Ogaiso.
Since Tokyo is located on the southeast coast of Honshu, the largest of Japan’s four main islands, special event venues in Tokyo may include floating venues include Symphony Tokyo Bay Cruise Ship (with 5 banquet rooms that can be chartered for exclusive use by up to 600 guests), Waterline Floating Lounge, and five yakabune (traditional pleasure boats) operated by Yakatabune Harumiya. There’s also Meguro Gajoen, with 25 meeting rooms, a Japanese garden and Maiogi ballroom with a capacity of 1,200. Tokyo Fashion Town Hall (TFT), a versatile event venue, has 3 exhibit halls. For pre- and post-meeting activities, executives can explore Japanese style management through factory tours; and families can visit Tokyo Disneyland or Noboribetsu Date Jidai-Mura, a samurai theme park also known as Edo Wonderland.
When it comes to fine-dining venues, Tokyo has the highest number of Michelin star restaurants on the planet. Diners can enjoy sushi, Teishoku (set menus) and high-end Kaiseki Ryori. At some dining establishments, guests can dine horigotatsu-style (with a sunken area below the dining surface for ample leg room). At others, diners sit on tatami mats at low tables. For teppanyaki, diners sit around a square table with a cooking grill.
