Cutting edge or centuries-old tradition? Experience both in Tokyo and Okinawa
Choose Tokyo and Okinawa for your meeting or incentive and discover why they are endlessly popular for international events. Centre wellness, both ancient and modern, and participants return refreshed in mind and body
Tokyo – always extraordinary
One of the world’s leading cities, Tokyo is a business event planner’s dream with two international airports and excellent infrastructure. A focus on wellness means events can both stimulate and relax, and the city is always evolving. Even if you think you know Tokyo, there’s always something new to experience.
Discover the new…
Curvy lines and calming gardens are designed into the sleek new Azabudai Hills development, created with London Olympics architect Thomas Heatherwick. Part of the lively Roppongi area, this urban haven of fruit trees and stunning views, focused on wellness, includes numerous options for unforgettable events.
The newly-opened Janu Tokyo from the Sanskrit word for soul – includes eight restaurants and a bar, many with Tokyo Tower views, as well as private dining rooms. Just steps away, on the highest public floor of Tokyo’s tallest building, the membership spaces Hills Sky Room and Grand Staircase offer exclusive possibilities for groups of up to 100, flooded with light and offering stunning views to wow your participants.
Underground is the MORI Building DIGITAL ART MUSEUM TOKYO, Azabudai Hills, a Tokyo must-see since opening in 2024. ‘Wander, explore and discover’ is the instruction as colourful artworks swirl across spaces, influenced by visitor interaction, creating an endless vista of changing lights.
… and the traditional
Temples punctuate this cutting-edge city, creating havens for reflection or activities such as prayer ceremonies or yoga. Whether you’re making the temple dragon roar or praying for successful business, it’s one of many opportunities to include local tradition into your itinerary.
For instance, decorate your own paper lantern with a meaningful kanji character in a tiny family-run business that still makes them the old-fashioned way.
Tokyo is surprisingly green, but its tranquil gardens are something else. Kiyosumi Garden’s traditional buildings can be used for parties by a peaceful lake reflecting the evergreen planting.
Groups will love Tokyo’s healthy and tasty food, whether that’s a Yakatabune dinner cruise around the bay, a traditional Kushiage (skewers) restaurant, where delicious courses arrive until everyone is full, or modern Japanese cuisine at Meiji Kinenkan.
Eko-in Temple serves as a unique venue
Eko-in Temple serves as a unique venue
Azabudai Hills
Azabudai Hills
Treat your participants to an atmospheric Yakatabune dinner cruise
Treat your participants to an atmospheric Yakatabune dinner cruise
Discover more
There is accommodation and event space for every need and budget, whether you choose a Japanese-owned hotel such as the ultra-modern The Capitol Hotel Tokyu with its water feature or The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo with some of the city’s best views and a 20th century feel.
Distinctively different: the lush islands of Okinawa
Just a short flight from Tokyo, Okinawa offers event participants the opportunity to discover a very different side of Japan. There is no word for goodbye in Okinawan: “see you later” is what they say on these subtropical islands. And hospitality is in their DNA, after a history of trading with other kingdoms before becoming Japanese in 1879.
Okinawa is one of five world Blue Zones where people live longer, healthier lives: 97th birthdays are celebrated in a hired open-top car. Diet (including seaweed and local vegetables), exercise, purpose in life and mutual help are among the reasons for its success.
Glorious Okinawan nature supports well-being with coral reefs, clear seas and extensive national forest. And there is plenty of local expertise and know-how - Okinawa hosted 1,500 business events in 2023.
Need to know
Most of Okinawa’s 1.4m population live in Naha on the main island. Okinawa is connected to 35 cities including direct services from Japan and neighbouring capitals, taking around 2.5 hours from Tokyo. Temperatures never drop below 10C.
Government support has helped Okinawa become a hub for academic and business exchanges. Extensive assistance is available through Okinawa’s MICE website and a network of DMCs. And it remains a very popular incentive destination or add-on to a business event in Tokyo.
Many hotels have attractive function rooms and there are two major conference centres, Bankoku Shinryokan, which hosted the 26th G8, and the Okinawa Convention Center, which can accommodate up to 4,000 delegates.
Nice to know
Naha has many hotels and there are other luxury, resort and boutique properties on the coast. These include the exclusive 18-room Hyakunagaran, built around a banyan tree; Halekulani Okinawa, a luxury 360-room hotel with a large function room and an event programme, and the 343-room Hyatt Regency Seragaki Island, Okinawa.
Try seagrapes, sea noodles and bitter melon stir-fried with local tofu. Eating izakaya-style involves small plates, drinks and entertainment for a fun and relaxed evening.
Hyakunagaran
Hyakunagaran
Halekulani Okinawa
Halekulani Okinawa
Ryukyu Traditional Dance
Ryukyu Traditional Dance
Nice to do
- Karate originated in Okinawa and different styles are practised here, training both mind and body: try a taster session.
- Feast your senses with Okinawan hospitality. Welcome ceremonies feature dancers in stunning red and blue hats and yellow kimonos. Tea ceremonies offer jasmine tea with a roast rice foam created with a bamboo whisk, served in Okinawan lacquerware bowls.
- Decorate traditional Okinawan lacquerware.
- Enjoy nature. Why not roast, grind and brew coffee in the forest before exploring on quad bikes or zipwires? Take a nature tour, perhaps including firefly viewing, kayaking and stream walking? Or go whale watching.
Okinawan lacquerware
Okinawan lacquerware
Okinawa Karate
Okinawa Karate
Zipwires at Yanbaru Adventure Field
Zipwires at Yanbaru Adventure Field
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