*Picture of a Kazariyama (decorated float) made for the Yamakasa festival at the Canal City Hakata shopping centre, Fukuoka. Story of the 'Showdown between the Dragon and the Tiger'.
Welcome to the latest Japan Meetings & Events
e-newsletter for Associations.
We look forward to providing associations with relevant information and updates regarding hosting your future congress in Japan.
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Japan has a visa-waiver program for visitors from 70 countries / regions.
A convenient online application is also available for international travellers for quick and easy entry into Japan.
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Fukuoka is Kyushu's largest city and bustling commercial centre, and has a long history as Japan’s gateway to the rest of Asia. Its well-developed transportation network makes getting around so easy with quick access via Japan's famed Shinkansen (bullet) train, and planners also love the warmer weather here for an event destination.
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Fukuoka Cityscape
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Transport: Fukuoka International Airport has a direct connection from Tokyo either by air (1.5 hours) or by Shinkansen train (5 hours). Also accessible from Osaka by air (1 hour) or by Shinkansen train (2.5 hours). Fukuoka city centre is only 10 minutes away from Fukuoka International Airport by taxi, bus or metro to JR Hakata Station.
Key Business Sectors: Fukuoka has developed as an economic centre for western Japan and provides an attractive environment as a business location for companies focusing on both Japanese and East Asian markets. Fukuoka Prefecture has grown into a significant manufacturing base for the automobile industry, boasting a production capacity of over 1.5 million cars annually, mainly for Toyota, Nissan and Daihatsu. There is also an active clustering of related industries, including parts-manufacturing and R&D bases. In addition, Fukuoka Prefecture has clusters of food product businesses using fermentation and brewing technologies and bio-related industries.
What to Visit: Go for a stroll around Ohori Park which is centred around a large tranquil lake on the grounds of the old Fukuoka castle; head up the 234 m-tall Fukuoka Tower, the tallest seaside tower in Japan, for unimpeded panoramic views of the city, sea and mountains; visit the historic Hakata Old Town district where you'll find spiritual sites like Kushida Shrine and Shofukuji Temple or venture to the magnificent coastline and enjoy a range of watersports.
What to Eat: Fukuoka is highly regarded for its food culture. Fukuoka City was selected in the 'Food' category of the 'Best In Travel 2023' by Lonely Planet, and Fukuoka's 'Yatai' street food stalls in Hakata were chosen for '52 Places to Go in 2023' by The New York Times. Local gourmet dishes, such as 'Motsu Nabe' (offal hot pot), 'Mizutaki' (chicken hot pot), and 'Tonkotsu' ramen, as well as the abundance of seafood and mountain delicacies, can be enjoyed here.
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A large variety of meeting venues are on offer in Fukuoka.
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ACROS Fukuoka
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ACROS Fukuoka, an acronym for ‘Asian CrossRoad Over the Sea’, is situated by Tenjin Station and is famous for its 60 m ‘living’ wall of more than 50,000 plants. It includes a concert hall with excellent acoustics that can be used for academic societies and lectures. The Fukuoka Symphony Hall can accommodate 1,871 people seated theatre-style with a multi-purpose exhibition space of 700 m 2. The facility is equipped with simultaneous interpretation booths capable of handling up to six different languages as well as large, medium and small conference halls.
Located in the waterfront area, Fukuoka International Congress Centre is the heart of the convention zone and is a highly functional, multi-purpose venue for conferences and exhibitions including adaptable meeting rooms and simultaneous interpretation booths. A capacity for 5,000 attendees and it offers 19 other conference rooms as well as an exhibition space divisible into four separate areas.
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Fukuoka International Congress Centre
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In the same convention zone, Marine Messe Fukuoka Hall A (see inset picture) is a versatile facility used for many different types of large-scale events and exhibitions including an arena for sports events, and a hall for concerts with a maximum capacity of 15,000. Opened in Spring of 2021, Marine Messe Fukuoka Hall B, located adjacent to Hall A, boasts an extensive, pillarless space of 5,000 m 2.
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Opportunities to learn about and explore world-leading specialist facilities.
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TOTO Museum
TOTO is one of the leading companies in Kitakyushu, manufacturing products such as toilets and modular bathrooms with high water-saving performance, touchless functions, self-cleaning, and so on. It has created new lifestyles through challenges and innovations over 100 years. TOTO Museum has 100 environment-friendly measures, and you can enjoy exhibits of the history of plumbing equipment culture and development of the company's innovative products.
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Hakata Food & Culture Museum
At this cultural museum in Fukuoka City you can learn about how the famous Fukuoka food 'Mentaiko' is made. 'Mentaiko' is made from the roe (eggs) of salted, spiced and fermented Alaska pollock. It is also known as spicy cod roe or Japanese spicy caviar and has a bright orange or pink color with a unique spicy, salty, and slightly sweet taste. Observe the factory floor where the fish is produced and packed then finish with a tasting session, trying various types of Mentaiko.
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HILTON FUKUOKA SEA HAWK
The Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk is an oceanfront hotel with 1,052 guest rooms offering incredible views of Hakata Bay and into Fukuoka PayPay Dome, home of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Baseball team. Located 5 kms from central Fukuoka, you can also plan a conference here for 4,000 delegates with 37 meeting spaces, a convention hall, banquet halls with skyline views, professional event planners on hand, catering and A/V services available.
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THE RITZ-CARLTON, FUKUOKA
The Ritz-Carlton Fukuoka opened its 6th hotel in Japan this year in the Tenijin area of Fukuoka's CBD. Its 147 guest rooms and 20 suites are modern in design and take inspiration from the local traditions of lacquered woven bamboo and Hakata-ori and Kurume Kasuri textiles - the folding screens, paintings and the notion of 'weaving' is explored throughout the hotel design. Situated on the 19th to the 23rd floors, guest rooms offer the choice of bay, Fukuoka skyline, and park views.
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The people of Fukuoka love their festivals which range from massive spectacles with overwhelming crowds to smaller, more intimate ones.
Hakata Dontaku, a city-wide festival over two days in May, attracts 30,000 participants and two million spectators. Known as Japan's largest festival, this has been taking place annually for more than 800 years and features dancers and decorated floats called 'hana jidosha'. These flower buses were originally just decorated with brightly colored fresh flowers but have evolved to use electronic displays. Through the course of the festival, revelers dress in bright, traditional costumes and dance through the streets of Fukuoka.
The Hakata Gion Yamakasa is one of Japan's most exciting festivals and takes place in mid-July, attracting huge crowds annually. Based around Kushida Shrine, this thrilling festival culminates in a 4:59 AM race of loin-clothed men carrying massive and ornate floats (yamakasa) around the city as fast as they can run. Each float weighs one-tonne, is more than 10 metres tall and is decorated with lifelike figurines of samurai or popular anime characters. The floats are made by their teams with the expertise of master Hakata doll makers.
Find out more about other festivals in Fukuoka
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Hakata Donkatu Festival
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Thank you.
We look forward to assisting you with planning your next event in Japan.
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