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Inspiration doesn’t happen in avacuum; it is spurred and fosteredby something new. Perhaps it comesfrom the unfamiliar sights, sounds,
and smells of a new place, or an ahamoment during a conversation with a
new person. Whatever the stimulus, thefoundation must first be laid — choosing
a destination where attendees areunafraid to break out of their shell andtap into their creative energy.
In Japan, groups can grow and learn
together, nudged by the flourishes of acenturies-old culture, ripe with fascinating
traditions, fashions, cuisine, andtechnologies. It’s the birthplace of modern
marvels like LED lights, the laptop computer,and the best-selling car of all time, the Toyota
Corolla. It’s also the delightful culture thatgave the world ramen, emojis, and Nintendo.
Omotenashi, the Japanese tradition ofwholehearted hospitality, ensures that
attendees feel welcome and comfortable,
whether they are coming to present groundbreaking scientific research, network withcolleagues from far and wide, or forge
new business connections at an industry
gathering.
Japan is ramping up preparations forthe 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic
Games, building new venues and making
improvements to its already impressive
infrastructure. Meeting planners can reap thebenefits of that investment and elite hosting
experience for years to come. Associations
can count on a solid attendee turnout, asJapan has the largest national membershipwithin many international associations
and a stellar record hosting international
association events.

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Headquarters Tokyo, Japan
Email: convention@jnto.go.jp
www.japanmeetings.org
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Alicia Hinds, Convention Specialist
Tel: +1-212-757-5640
Email: jcb_nyc@jnto.go.jp
www.us.jnto.go.jp

Where knowledge and talent come together
Japan’s GDP is the third-largest in the world, relying
mostly on key industrial sectors of electrical manufacturing, automotive, aircraft and aerospace, informationand communications technology (ICT), finance, andpharmaceuticals — as well as medical research andbiochemistry. These, combined with the country’s
wealth of research and development institutes andworld-class universities, create a massive intellectual
capital that’s tough to match.
Gordon McBean, a Canadian climatologist andpresident of the International Council for Science, cites
the country’s high level of research and well-populatedscientific community as two big reasons why the council chose Tokyo to host its Global Forum on Science andTechnology for Disaster Resilience in November 2017.
“I think the Japanese science community is very strong
in the fields I work in — climate change, particularly
disaster-risk reduction,” said McBean. “One of thebiggest problems we’re seeing in unfortunate severe
weather events is what we call ‘risk interpretation toaction’ — if people hear a warning, do they know what
to do? Do they understand? Do they respond in a waythat reduces the impact on them and their children?”This is very important work, McBean said. “Here,
we see studies of this and scientists who have beenworking on these kind of issues in Japan and othercountries,” he said, “but bringing them together isreally important.”“When Japan won the bid four years ago, I was
delighted in many ways because I said, ‘the Japanese
will do everything for us’…they showed a lot of promise and a lot of understanding,” said Prof. Raad Shakir,president of the World Federation of Neurology, which
held its world congress in Kyoto in September 2017.
“Their attention to excellence is very impressive andvery noticeable.”
The six-day congress was held at the Kyoto International Conference Center (ICC Kyoto), the largest
conference complex in Kyoto, notable for its many
unique design features, including Japanese gardens
and a teahouse where groups can hold tea ceremonies.
Although modern, the architectural design takes inspiration from the surrounding mountains and traditional
Japanese motifs, providing a stately ambiance forgatherings of international importance. In late 2018,
ICC Kyoto will open a new hall with more than 21,500
square feet of space that will directly connect with

its existing 33,300-square-foot Event Hall, creating a
new space with close to 55,000 square feet capable ofaccommodating up to 4,000 guests.

Yokohama
Japan’s second-largest city is just 30 minutes awayfrom Tokyo by train and car, a huge plus for attendees
arriving into Tokyo on international flights. Yokohama isalso a gateway to many of Japan’s major tourist attractions, including Mount Fuji and Kyoto, for groups whowant to add on pre- or post-meeting trips. But this bustling port city has plenty more to offer groups besides
its ideal central location.
PACIFICO Yokohama, one of the country’s largest
convention and exhibition facilities, is located on thewaterfront of Minato Mirai, Yokohama’s central business
district and one of the city’s mostJapan has 26 Nobel
modern developments. Meaning
Prize winners,“the future port,” Minato Mirai
mostly in the areaswas built with meetings in mind.
of physics andThe district has every necessary
chemistry. In 2014,
Hiroshi Amano
component for groups, including
and Isamu Akasaki
hotels, restaurants, shops, andwon the Nobel
varied attractions, from an art
Prize in physics formuseum to an amusement park.
inventing a newenergy-efficient
In the spring of 2020, when PACIlight source, theFICO Yokohama opens its newest
blue light–emitting
addition, PACIFICO Yokohama
diode (LED).
North, the facility will complete
its vision of a cohesive convention city with flexible new spaces capable of accommodating everything from banquets to conventions.
PACIFICO Yokohama North will contain one ofJapan’s largest multipurpose halls, offering approximately 68,000 square feet of carpeted and columnfree space divisible into eight sections. The hall has
the capacity to host up to 6,000 guests as well as theflexibility to host all kinds of functions, from plenary
sessions to exhibitions to gala dinners. In addition,
PACIFICO Yokohama North will connect with PACIFICO
Yokohama’s current facilities by the outside pedestriandeck, creating greater opportunities for large-scalemeetings and conventions.
Yokohama’s harbor was Japan’s first to open to therest of the world and the city continues to set itself
apart as one of the most forward-thinking in the country. Japan has designated Yokohama as the national

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Yokohama, Japan’s First Port of Call PACIFICO Yokohama — one of Japan’slargest convention and exhibition facilities — is located on the waterfront of MinatoMirai. PACIFICO Yokohama North, a new addition, is set to open in 2020 (renderingat right as of Feb. 2018, subject to change).

center for life innovation, with the country makingmajor investments in the city’s research and development sector. Yokohama also has 28 universities, as wellas numerous research institutes, including the Japan
Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology.
PACIFICO Yokohama has made a similar commitment to progress. For example, the facility seeks tofollow the example of Minato Mirai’s sustainable urban
design by implementing smart conservation initiatives.
For the last five years, the facility has recycled morethan 90 percent of its waste. It’s also an intellectual
home base within the city — prominent internationalorganizations like the International Tropical Timber
Organization and World Food Programme have offices
at PACIFICO Yokohama.
For more information: PACIFICO Yokohama (PACIFICCONVENTION PLAZA YOKOHAMA) — Hiromi Murayama,
Sales & Marketing Division, Sales & Promotion
Department;
email: pr@pacifico.co.jp; tel: +81-45-221-2158;
www.pacifico.co.jp/english/

Aichi/Nagoya
With its central location and access to the Shinkansenbullet train and Chūbu Centrair International Airport,
Nagoya and its prefecture Aichi are ideal for groups
seeking a well-connected, cosmopolitan destination.
In December 2017, a group of meeting planners fromJAPAN 

around the world spent a few days exploring everything
Nagoya and Aichi have to offer for meetings and events.
What follows is a similar four-day itinerary for groups
that touches on everything the region has to offer.
Getting to Nagoya from Tokyo is easy, since the city
is about an hour and a half away by Shinkansen bullet train. If it’s a clear day, it’s possible to see Mt. Fuji
through the window. After arriving at Nagoya station,it’s time for check in. Aichi-Nagoya has approximately
26,000 hotel rooms, with familiar brands like Marriottand Hilton conveniently located in the city’s center.
Many of these properties come with meeting and event
space and are close to the area’s major attractions, likeHotel Nagoya Castle. The hotel’s Tenshu hall is one of
the city’s largest, offering views of the famous Nagoya
Castle and capacity for up to 3,000 guests. Wind down
the day with views of the sunset from Nagoya TV Tower’s 300-foot-high observation deck, then dinner at an
izakaya, a Japanese-style pub. The region is known forits Nagoya-meshi cuisine, which includes Miso-Katsu(deep-fried pork cutlets in miso sauce), Tebasaki (spicy
fried chicken wings), and Hitsumabushi (grilled eel
served with rice and a variety of condiment options).
Spend day two experiencing some of the region’s
most-popular attractions. About a 50-minute driveaway are two national treasures — Inuyama Castle,
the country’s oldest surviving castle, and Jō-an, a17th-century teahouse surrounded by beautiful gardens. Here, groups can stroll the historic center thatsurrounds the castle, try local snacks, and learn about3

Past, present, future Nagoya’s Oasis 21 complex is a multi-level park featuring
Spaceship-Aqua, whose huge glass water-flowing roof floats on air. One of only 12
original castles left in Japan, Inuyama Castle was initially constructed in 1537. Karakuri puppets are traditional Japanese mechanized puppets or automata, originallymade from the 17th to 19th century.

traditional Japanese tea ceremonies. Meiji-Mura, anopen-air museum, is a beautiful display of architecture
dating back to the mid 19th century and an ideal setting
for a team-building treasure hunt. Wrap up the daywith a visit to Nagoya’s Osu shopping district, a mix oftraditional and trendy stores.
On day three, explore the area’s most significant
historical sites and attractions. Pay a visit to Nagoya
Castle, constructed by Japan’s most famous samurai
hero, Tokugawa Ieyasu, in the 17th century. Visitors will
be impressed by the gorgeous interior of the castle
palace, reconstructed very faithfully to the original.
SCMAGLEV and Railway Park, a museum showcasing
Maglev and Shinkansen trains, can be used as a venue
for concerts, exhibitions, and receptions. Although theAichi-Nagoya region is known for its exceptional local
cuisine, it also has many restaurants with international
influences. For example, Garden Restaurant Tokugawaen, which serves a blend of French and Japanesecuisines, has elegant spaces for private group functions. After dinner, treat groups to a Karakuri puppet
show. These 400-year-old precursors to the robot movein a similar mechanical fashion.
Spend the last day learning about the region’s
diversity of high-quality craftsmanship with trips toNoritake’s headquarters and one of Toyota’s museums. Noritake, the world-famous tableware brand,originated in Nagoya in 1904. At its museum and craftcenter, groups can watch the manufacturing processof bone china or even paint their own chinaware. At
Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry andTechnology, groups can have lunch and learn about thehistory of Toyota’s manufacturing technologies.

For more information: Nagoya Convention & Visitors
Bureau — Mao Sasanabe, Assistant Manager, Convention
Marketing;email: convention@ncvb.or.jp; tel: +81-52-202-1146;
www.nagoya-info.jp/en/convention/

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