Discover Tokyo’s spectacular new waterfront areas
When Tokyo was closed to visitors during Covid, it didn’t stand still. Now fully open, there are stunning new facilities to discover, with Japan’s famous omotenashi – traditional hospitality – always a pull factor.
Sustainability and planning for the future are to the fore in Tokyo’s three waterfront areas as they redevelop old sites with stunning developments prioritising people and the environment.
“Welcome back. It’s been three years and Tokyo has changed,” says Hironobu Fujimura, Director of Business Events Tokyo at Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau, greeting long-awaited meeting planners on a recent fam trip. The three areas of Tokyo Bay are, he says, “Sustainably focused with plenty of charming unique venues and equipped with exciting future technology.” Each is an independent MICE hub “happy to help organisers get the most out of our fantastic city.”
With almost 120 convention facilities, more than 200 banqueting halls and at least 12,000 hotel rooms, Shinagawa, Rinkai and the Shiba Tokyo Bay Area – incorporating Hamamatsucho, Takeshiba and Shibaura – accommodate events of all types and sizes. Within easy reach of Tokyo’s airports and transport hubs, and with a great exchange rate, they offer many opportunities to savour Japanese culture.
Where else could business travellers meet sacred monks, play in the country’s largest virtual reality games centre and cook a traditional Japanese meal?
As one visiting MICE planner commented:
“Japan has so much to offer. You can organise several trips a year and never tire of it.”
Shiba Tokyo Bay Area
Known as the ‘smart city’, Shiba Tokyo Bay Area is just 13 minutes from the airport with 18 convention facilities, 95 banqueting halls and 2,826 hotel rooms.
The perfect example of Tokyo’s focus on sustainability and technology is the 26-floor Tokyo Portcity Takeshiba building, which opened in 2020. This sleek urban complex with convention facilities combines high-technology robots and lower-floor gardens with rice paddies, local planting and beehives to soothe the senses. Luxury hotels include mesm TOKYO Autograph Collection, with a piano keyboard and a luxury coffee set in each room just part of the calming appeal.
When accessing the area via boat, the waterbus is highly recommended. Enjoy Tokyo's sightseeing spots from the waterfront. At the restored Takeshiba Tidal Flat, learn about this unique ecosystem in WATERS takeshiba.
Zojoji Temple offers an authentic cultural experience where participants can learn traditional prayer from a monk and receive blessings for health, prosperity, business success and protection. Outside, it can host a gala dinner for up to 1,200, perhaps with a warm welcome from samurai or women in traditional kimonos and Awaodori, a traditional Japanese dance and an exciting team-building activity.
Shinagawa
“In this city, we are creating a sustainable world looking to 100 years in the future,” promised a Shinagawa Community Development Division representative at the newly-opened Takanawa Gateway Station, designed by distinguished architect Kengo Kuma. The station’s opening was the first stage of the area’s development, with a new state-of-the-art complex, including conference and convention facilities due in 2025 and outstanding transport links closely following. The goal is to create a global gateway attracting a diverse range of visitors, with the stunning station building a perfect way to sample the future.
Shinagawa already offers 111 banqueting halls, 6,000 hotel rooms and 24 convention facilities, all an easy walk from the bullet train service.
The hottest nightlife spot in Shinagawa, featuring a 360° panoramic view of the city, is DINING & BAR TABLE 9 TOKYO on the 39th floor of Shinagawa Prince Hotel’s main tower. Nine different areas in this 2,000 sqm space include creative cuisine, grill dining, two lounges and three bars, providing organisers with the perfect party venue.
Modernists will adore the Tokyo Tower – the orange version of the Eiffel Tower with breathtaking views from observation decks at 150m and 250m, and available as party spaces. On the floors below, the recently opened RED° TOKYO TOWER is Japan’s biggest e-sports venue featuring many group-player games for unique team-building opportunities.
For a more traditional spin, why not cruise the bay on a traditional Yakatabune cruise ship seating up to 120 and eat a tempura bento-box while watching the traditional dance of a kimono-clad Furisode-san?
HAPPO-EN is the ideal venue for a gala dinner. Experience the best of Japanese culture, with gardens showcasing a carp-filled pond, ancient bonsai and a tea house and banquet rooms of various sizes and designs. Cultural experiences available include opportunities to make sushi, participate in a tea ceremony or eat Japanese dishes with a modern twist prepared in front of guests.
Rinkai
Alluring sea views, the city’s biggest exhibition space Tokyo Big Sight, 71 convention facilities, 3,455 hotel rooms, 20 banquet halls and impressive architecture, including the Fuji Television Building, are just part of what Rinkai has to offer.
The light and airy Tokyo International Cruise Terminal offers indoor and outdoor spaces with sea views and large screens. Nearby, the spectacular Rainbow Bridge curves into central Tokyo with stunning views from Hilton Tokyo Odaiba’s bedrooms and meeting rooms. Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games rowing and canoe sprint venue Sea Forest Waterway offers a mix of meeting rooms, a rooftop garden with panoramic views and future opportunities to use Tokyo 2020 legacy sporting facilities as a special venue for parties.
Everyone’s inner child will adore SMALL WORLDS TOKYO, a theme park with tiny moving towns, railway lines and a working airport available for rent. Participation is positively welcomed, with unique team-building workshop opportunities: where else could you remember your trip with a tiny perfect replica of yourself?
Plan your next event in Tokyo
Planners and organisers keen to host an event in Tokyo with a unique itinerary will receive comprehensive support from event professionals at Tokyo MICE Hubs, from site inspections, venue selection and vendor recommendations to the delivery of the event itself.
To plan your next event in the Tokyo waterfront area, click here:
Shiba Tokyo Bay
Shinagawa
Rinkai
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