Welcome to the 'new look' Japan Meetings & Events
e-newsletter for MICE Planners.
We look forward to providing International Planners in the EMEA Region with relevant updates and important information to be able to book your next event in Japan, with confidence.
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Let's start with a Japanese proverb to kick off this first e-newsletter:
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We are excited about the following changes to travel restrictions in Japan.
Since 11 October 2022, the visa-waiver program from 68 countries has been reinstated.
FIT travel is allowed to resume.
Daily pax arrival caps have been removed.
At this stage, travellers are still required to either:
Be triple vaccinated and provide a vaccine certificate, OR
Have a negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours before departure.
Japan Airlines (JAL) has recommenced daily flights from October.
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Introducing Claire Bate-Roullin, our new Business Events Manager at JNTO London.
"I'll be attending the IBTM World Barcelona event at the JNTO stand (J40). Please drop by to say 'hello' and I look forward to meeting you all then!"
Best wishes,
Claire
LinkedIn | Email
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Click here to find out more about the IBTM World Event
29th November - 1st December 2022
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Osaka, aka the ‘Nation's Kitchen’, is Japan’s culinary capital. ‘Eat ‘til you drop’ is another well-used phrase in Dotonbori, the centre of Osaka’s entertainment district where you can sample street food delicacies such as okonomiyaki (savoury pancake), and takoyaki (bite-sized balls of battered octopus). Plus, there are over 90 restaurants with one, two or three Michelin stars!
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Glico Running Man Billboard in Dotonbori District
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Impressively, Osaka has also been named the #2 best major city in the world by Conde Nast in 2021 and will be the city hosting the World Expo in 2025.
Transport: Itami, Kobe and Kansai Airports are the nearest to Osaka. The city is easily explored by train, metro and bus and accessible from other cities by the Shinkansen (bullet train) and JR rail lines.
Key Business Sectors: Manufacturing in the electronics, pharmaceutical, chemical, machinery, food and construction industries as well as becoming widely known for its start-up company initiatives. Osaka also boasts a diverse economy with a significant distribution industry of major trading houses and specialised department stores as well as finance and other services. In addition, there are high-tech industries such as biotechnology, new materials and information & communications.
As the largest city in western Japan, Osaka is the base of companies from various industries. Of the 45 Japanese companies listed in the 2022 Fortune Global 500, 5 of them are headquartered here (with the rest predominantly in Tokyo). These are: Nippon Life (Insurance), Panasonic (Electronics), Daiwa House (Construction), Sumitomo Life Insurance and Sumitomo Electric Industries (Electronics). Many leading Japanese and international pharmaceutical companies such as Bayer Yakuhin and AstraZeneca are in central Osaka City and active research collaboration exists between them and Osaka University, well known for its world-class immunology research.
What to Visit: Osaka Castle, Dotonbori district, Kuromon Ichiba market and Tsutenkaku Tower. Don't miss The Glico Running Man LED-lit billboard in Dotonbori, advertising the famous Japanese confectionery company, now a firm part of Osaka’s identity.
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Osaka has a number of convention facilities set up for international meetings such as the Osaka International Convention Centre, also known as the Grand Cube. Located in Nakanoshima, it is one of Japan’s primary bases for cultural and economic exchange in Osaka and used for a wide variety of events including music concerts, exhibitions and conferences with a seating capacity of 2,754 people as well as 25 other conference rooms.
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Intex, Osaka
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The G20 summit was held here at Intex Osaka in 2019; the first one to be hosted by Japan. With a conference hall seating capacity of 400 plus 26 other conference rooms, Intex boasts the largest exhibition space in Osaka of 10,535m2, dividable into 10 areas.
The Knowledge Capital Congres Convention Centre features a main hall seating 1,750 plus 9 other conference rooms with a 1,700m2 exhibition space dividable into 3 spaces. It is conveniently connected to a walkway with JR Osaka Station, adjacent to a transport hub through which 2.5 million people pass every day.
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The Landmark Square, Osaka
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Experience a variety of entertainment spaces too!
The bustling Kuromon Ichiba market, famous for its fresh food, can be rented out as a venue for an evening gourmet event where visitors can sample the local food, cooked and served to you right on the spot.
Or you can venture up to the peaceful sanctuary of the rooftop at The Landmark Square (formerly the Osaka City Museum) which has the one and only banquet hall (135 seats) within the Osaka Castle Park so you can hold your special event at this historical heritage site looking right out onto Osaka Castle.
In addition, a new cultural hub, featuring the Nakanoshima Museum of Art, opened in February this year and offers multiple event spaces such as workshop rooms, a modern hall (300 seats), a light-filled reception space and 1,395m2 outdoor lawn.
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RIHGA ROYAL HOTEL OSAKA
Combining the elegant atmosphere of Osaka's State Guest House with the latest facilities, this is the flagship hotel of the RIHGA Royal Hotel Group. With one of the largest banquet halls (conference seating 1800 people and banquet seating 600) in Osaka, it has over 1,000 guest rooms. This hotel is conveniently located adjacent to the Osaka International Convention Centre.
Visit here
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INTERCONTINENTAL OSAKA
Located in one of Osaka's most vibrant dining and shopping destinations, next to the Congres Convention Centre and minutes from Osaka Station, you'll find luxury accommodation with beautiful views of the glittering city skyline from its 272 guest rooms. The hotel also offers Michelin-starred cuisine at Pierre restaurant and its very own Japanese bathhouse.
Visit here
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HYATT REGENCY OSAKA
A bayside, urban resort on Osaka Bay overlooking the sea, the hotel has views of the city and Yumeshima, the venue for the World Expo 2025. Its enormous banquet room seats almost 2,500 people (conference) and over 1,000 (banquet) and there are a total of 480 spacious guest rooms. Located next to Intex Osaka, there is also a complimentary shuttle bus to and from the city centre.
Visit here
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COMING SOON – A new Four Seasons 175-room hotel in 2024 and a Waldorf Astoria luxury hotel in 2025, ahead of the World Expo.
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Proudly hosted by Osaka
Expo 2025 will take place between 13th April and 13th October 2025 in Yumeshima, an artificial island near the mouth of the Yodo River.
The main theme for this significant event will be 'Designing Future Society for our Lives', with three sub-themes: Saving Lives, Empowering Lives and Connecting Lives.
The concept is that of a 'People's Living Lab', providing a space where 8 billion people from around the world will not only view exhibits, but co-create our future society. A place where the world's knowledge, including the latest technology, will be brought together and shared, for all to help resolve global issues facing mankind such as low birth-rates, the aging population, poverty and climate change.
Even before the Expo begins, an online platform for sharing challenges and solutions from around the world, will be launched.
Afterwards, Yumeshima will become a 'Smart Resort City' that will be a new base for international tourism and utilised for innovation, creation and industrial promotion that will deploy the cutting-edge technologies showcased at the Expo.
With visitor numbers projected at 28.2 million, be sure to start planning your meetings and conferences soon!
*Images courtesy of the Japan International Exposition Association 2025
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Thank you.
We look forward to assisting you with planning your next event in Japan.
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